The most used mobile apps globally are generally social media platforms, with TikTok and Instagram topping the list for downloads in 2024, followed by Facebook, WhatsApp, and Temu. Other frequently used apps include those for communication, entertainment, and utilities, like CapCut, Snapchat, Telegram, and ChatGPT.
Top social media and communication apps:
- TikTok: Was the most downloaded app globally in 2024.
- Instagram: A highly downloaded and used photo and video-sharing app.
- Facebook: Remains one of the most downloaded apps worldwide.
- WhatsApp: Continues to be a leading communication app, especially in regions like India.
- Snapchat: Is consistently among the most downloaded apps.
- Telegram: Another popular messaging and social app.
- Messenger: A key communication app from Meta.
- X (formerly Twitter): Frequently ranks among the top apps for social networking.
Other popular apps:
- Temu: This e-commerce app saw high download numbers globally in 2024.
- CapCut: A video editing app that is also highly popular, partly due to being associated with TikTok.
- ChatGPT: An AI chatbot that has quickly gained a large number of downloads.
- YouTube: Remains a top choice for video content consumption.
- Google Maps: A frequently used navigation app.
Mostly used are:
The most used mobile apps globally are primarily social media and communication platforms, with pre-installed system apps also seeing high usage. The apps with the largest number of monthly active users include:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Messenger
Overview by Category
| Category | Popular Apps |
|---|---|
| Social Media/Communication | WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Telegram, Messenger, X (Twitter) |
| Utilities/System | Google Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Play Services, Samsung One UI Home |
| Entertainment/Media | YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video |
| Shopping | Amazon Shopping, Temu, Walmart |
| Finance | Cash App, Venmo, Google Pay |
Key Trends
- Social media and communication apps dominate global usage, with billions of users connecting daily.
- Pre-installed system apps from major developers like Google and Samsung also rank highly in terms of active users because they come standard on many devices.
- Emerging sectors include AI-powered apps (like ChatGPT), shopping platforms (like Temu), and health tech applications.
For more details on specific app rankings, you can explore reports from industry analysts like Business of Apps or refer to the Wikipedia list of most popular Android apps.
List as per Wikipedia:
| App | Publisher | Category | Similarweb top 50 apps ranking (As of November 2025) |
Store Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Google LLC | Communication | 1 ( -) |
( ) |
| Google LLC | Tools | 2 (-) |
() |
|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | Social | 3 (-) |
19 (-) |
|
| Google Messages | Google LLC | Communication | 4 (-) |
() |
| Samsung One UI Home | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Personalization | 5 (-) |
() |
| Gmail | Google LLC | Communication | 6 (-) |
() |
| YouTube | Google LLC | Video Players & Editors | 7 (-) |
() |
| Messenger | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Communication | 8 (-) |
23 (-) |
| Samsung Clock | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Tools | 9 (-) |
() |
| Social | 10 (-) |
7 (-) |
||
| Google Maps | Google LLC | Travel & Local | 11 (-) |
() |
| Amazon Shopping | Amazon Mobile LLC | Shopping | 12 (-) |
33 (-) |
| Google Play services | Google LLC | Tools | 13 (-) |
() |
| Google Photos | Google LLC | Photography | 14 (-) |
() |
| TikTok | TikTok Pte. Ltd. | Social | 15 (-) |
4 (-) |
| Samsung Calendar | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Productivity | 16 (-) |
() |
| Google Phone | Google LLC | Tools | 17 (-) |
() |
| WhatsApp LLC | Communication | 18 (-) |
9 (-) |
|
| Samsung Clock | Google LLC | Tools | 19 (-) |
() |
| Cash App | Block, Inc. | Finance | 20 (-) |
13 (-) |
| Samsung Calculator | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Tools | 21 (-) |
() |
| Snapchat | Snap Inc | Communication | 22 (-) |
25 (-) |
| Discord | Discord Inc. | Communication | 23 (-) |
44 (-) |
| Yahoo! Mail | Yahoo | Communication | 24 (-) |
() |
| Spotify | Spotify AB | Music & Audio | 25 (-) |
69 (-) |
| Walmart Shopping & Grocery | Walmart | Shopping | 26 (2) |
20 (-) |
| YouTube Music | Google LLC | Music & Audio | 27 (-) |
() |
| Microsoft Outlook | Microsoft Corporation | Productivity | 28 ( 2) |
() |
| Google Calendar | Google LLC | Productivity | 29 (-) |
() |
| Samsung Internet Browser | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Communication | 30 (-) |
() |
| NewsBreak | Particle Media Inc. | News & Magazines | 31 (-) |
198 (-) |
| reddit Inc. | Social | 32 (-) |
38 (-) |
|
| X (Formerly Twitter) | X Corp. | News & Magazines | 33 (-) |
36 (-) |
| Telegram | Telegram FZ-LLC | Communication | 34 (-) |
32 (-) |
| Google Calculator | Google LLC | Tools | 35 (-) |
() |
| Google Drive | Google LLC | Productivity | 36 (-) |
() |
| Lifestyle | 37 (-) |
62 (-) |
||
| Temu | Temu | Shopping | 38 (-) |
3 (-) |
| Moto Camera 3 | Motorola Mobility LLC. | Photography | 39 (1) |
() |
| ChatGPT | OpenAI | Productivity | 40 (1) |
2 (-) |
| Samsung Notes | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Productivity | 41 (-) |
() |
| Contacts | Google LLC | Communication | 42 (-) |
() |
| Propel | Propel Inc | Finance | 43 (5) |
35 (-) |
| Life360 | Life360 | Lifestyle | 44 (1) |
37 (-) |
| Netflix | Netflix, Inc. | Entertainment | 45 (1) |
52 (-) |
| Google Meet | Google LLC | Communication | 46 (1) |
() |
| Chase Mobile | JPMorgan Chase | Finance | 47 (1) |
199 (-) |
| Pandora – Music & Podcasts | Pandora | Music & Audio | 48 (1) |
181 (-) |
| Pixel Camera | Google LLC | Photography | 49 (2) |
() |
| TextNow | TextNow, Inc. | Communication | 50 (1) |
43 (-) |
Which app is mostly used in India?
WhatsApp is the most used app in India, followed by other popular apps like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. WhatsApp is the top messaging app, while Instagram is a leading social media platform, and YouTube dominates video sharing.
Communication and Social Media:
- WhatsApp: India’s most used messaging app, valued for instant messaging, voice/video calls, and secure communication.
- Instagram: A leading social media platform, especially popular with younger users due to its visual content.
- Facebook: Remains a primary social networking destination in India.
- YouTube: Dominates the video-sharing space, offering a wide variety of content.
- ShareChat: A homegrown Indian app that is very popular, especially for its regional language content.
Other Popular Apps
- PhonePe: A very popular digital payments app for UPI transactions and bill payments.
- Meesho: An e-commerce app that is frequently among the most downloaded.
- Flipkart: One of the top e-commerce platforms in India.
- JioCinema: A streaming platform with growing popularity.
