Apps

Apps

In the tech-centric world, mobile apps influence how we work and play. The digital revolution, cryptocurrencies, means that human activity is increasingly moving to the digital world as an entire generation normalises using mobile apps for work or leisure.  

What are the world’s most popular Apps by Downloads?

These are the apps which impact the way we work, interact with others, and entertain ourselves.

TikTok was the most popular app worldwide by downloads in 2022, 

maintaining its title for the fourth consecutive year. 

TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short-form videos on any topic

It’s mainly mobile-based, although you can still watch TikTok videos using the web app. The platform allows users to get creative with their content using filters, stickers, voiceovers, sound effects, and background. 

With the advent of smartphones, TikTok has become the video-sharing app on demand.   

The video platform had 672 million downloads in 2022.

TikTok also doubled its annual revenue to $9.4 billion, according to Business of Apps. 

TikTok is the only app from a Chinese company to see this level of success in international markets.

TikTok has also had its share of setbacks after being banned from countries, including India and Pakistan, for a short period. 

In recent months, lawmakers in the US, Europe and Canada have escalated efforts to restrict access to TikTok, the massively popular short-form video app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, citing security threats.

Social media apps filled the top spot of the most popular downloads

Meta is the most prominent there with Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, while Facebook Messenger tied with the shopping app Meeshu for 10th place.

Telegram is also amongst the top popular apps downloaded. 

The cloud-based instant messaging service created, with the intent of challenging Facebook Messenger, placed 5th with 310 million downloads.

AI apps downloads are gaining in popularity fast

In 2020 and 2021, most necessary business apps, including Zoom and Microsoft Teams grew quickly and saw massive success, particularly during the lockdowns. 

However, downloads for these apps fell in 2022, with the lifting of global lockdowns. Other travel, food, and shopping-centered apps, including Google Maps, McDonald’s, and Shein helped fill the void. 

But artificial intelligence apps, including Lensa AI and ChatGPT, have seen the best downloads most recently.  

Perhaps these AI-infused apps help lead the pack, regarding downloads for the most popular 2023 apps.

Online dating apps also experienced a boom over the past few years as an alternative way for people to hook up

Tinder, Bumble and eharmony are the top global dating apps in 2023.

Lockdowns of the early 20s spurred the trend of online dating apps.

Truman Du highlights the most popular apps, in 2022 using download data tracked by Business of Apps.

So, what exposure do you have in your portfolio regarding apps in this digital revolution?