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Most Popular Apps

Backlinko Team

Written by Backlinko Team

Most Popular Apps – Blog post image

Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives and take up a sizable share of screen time today.

Below you’ll find the latest data on the most downloaded apps worldwide and in select countries, including a breakdown by platform and category.

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find on this page:

  • Instagram was the most downloaded app worldwide in Q2 2024, with 182.8 million downloads.
  • Temu was the most downloaded shopping app worldwide in 2023, with 337.2 million downloads, 1.8x more than Amazon Shopping.
  • TikTok was the most downloaded iOS app worldwide in June 2024, with 15 million downloads.
  • Instagram was the most popular Android app worldwide in June 2024, with 53 million downloads.

Instagram was the most downloaded app in Q2 2024 with 182.8 million downloads worldwide across Google Play and App Store.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (Q2 2024)

A total of 4 Meta-owned apps (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp Messenger, and WhatsApp Business) were included in the list of top 10 most popular apps in Q2 2024.

Here’s a full ranking of the most downloaded apps worldwide in Q2 2024:

Note: Includes downloads of lite app versions where available.
App Q2 2024 Downloads Worldwide
Instagram 182.2 million
Facebook 146 million
TikTok 117.7 million
WhatsApp Messenger 113.9 million
Telegram 85.1 million
Temu 79.6 million
CapCut 73.8 million
Messenger 69.4 million
WhatsApp Business 57 million
Spotify 50.02 million

Source: Appfigures

United States

Temu was the most downloaded app in the US in Q1 2024.

Temu was the most downloaded app in the US in Q1 2024

Here’s a complete ranking of the most popular apps across iOS and Google Play in the US in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Temu =
2. TikTok =
3. Threads +6
4. Instagram =
5. WhatsApp Messenger =
6. SHEIN =
7. Max -4
8. CapCut =
9. ChatGPT -2
10. Facebook =

United Kingdom

Temu ranked as the most downloaded app in the UK in Q1 2024. SHEIN (Temu’s competitor) took the second spot in the ranking.

Temu ranked as the most downloaded app in the UK in Q1 2024

Here’s a complete list of the most popular apps in the United Kingdom in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Temu =
2. SHEIN +4
3. Vinted =
4. Microsoft Authenticator +3
5. WhatsApp Messenger -1
6. TikTok -1
7. Threads +2
8. Tesco Grocery & Clubcard -6
9. ChatGPT -1
10. Telegram +3

Australia

The most downloaded app in Australia during the first quarter of 2024 was Temu.

The most downloaded app in Australia during the first quarter of 2024 was Temu

The official Australian government app (myGov) claimed the second spot in the ranking of most downloaded apps in Australia.

Here’s a full list of the top apps in Australia in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Temu =
2. myGov =
3. Threads +7
4. Messenger +10
5. ChatGPT -2
6. WhatsApp Messenger +1
7. TikTok -2
8. Microsoft Authenticator -4
9. CapCut -3
10. Ticketek AU +15

Canada

The most downloaded app in Canada during the first quarter of 2024 was Temu. ChatGPT took the second spot in the ranking of the most popular apps in Canada.

The most downloaded app in Canada during the first quarter of 2024 was Temu

Here’s a complete list of the most downloaded apps in Canada in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Temu +1
2. ChatGPT -1
3. Threads +3
4. TikTok -1
5. WhatsApp Messenger -1
6. Facebook +1
7. Amazon Prime Video +2
8. Messenger +2
9. Microsoft Authenticator -4
10. Instagram +1

India

In Q1 2024, Instagram secured the top spot as the most downloaded app in India, followed by Facebook and Meesho (online shopping platform).

In Q1 2024, Instagram secured the top spot as the most downloaded app in India

Here’s a complete ranking of the top 10 apps in India by downloads in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Instagram =
2. Facebook +4
3. Meesho -1
4. PhonePe +1
5. WhatsApp Messenger +5
6. JioCinema +1
7. Snapchat +1
8. Flipkart -4
9. WhatsApp Business +2
10. Truecaller +2

France

During the first quarter of 2024, Temu was the most downloaded app in France, followed by Threads and SHEIN.

During the first quarter of 2024, Temu was the most downloaded app in France

Here’s a complete list of the top 10 most downloaded apps in France in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Temu =
2. Threads +26
3. SHEIN +3
4. ChatGPT -2
5. WhatsApp Messenger -2
6. Facebook +3
7. Telegram -2
8. TikTok -4
9. CapCut -2
10. Instagram -2

Germany

Temu was the most downloaded app in Germany in Q1 2024.

Temu was the most downloaded app in Germany in Q1 2024

Here’s a comprehensive list of the most downloaded apps in Germany in Q1 2024:

Rank, App Rank Change (vs. Q4 2023)
1. Temu =
2. Threads +13
3. ChatGPT -1
4. WhatsApp Messenger -1
5. Instagram =
6. Facebook +2
7. SHEIN +4
8. Telegram -1
9. TikTok -3
10. Lidl Plus -6

Source: Sensor Tower

Temu was the most downloaded app in the App Store worldwide in H1 2024, with 53.5 million installs.

Most Popular iOS Apps Worldwide (H1 2024)

A total of 4 Google-owned apps (Google Maps, Google, YouTube and Gmail) were included in the the ranking of top 10 most downloaded iOS apps worldwide in H1 2024.

Here’s a complete list of the 10 most popular iOS apps worldwide in H1 2024:

App H1 2024 Downloads Worldwide
1. Temu 53.5 million
2. Google Maps 50.6 million
3. Google 50.2 million
4. Instagram 49.9 million
5. Threads 48.9 million
6. YouTube 48.4 million
7. CapCut 47.8 million
8. WhatsApp Messenger 46.2 million
9. Gmail 42.4 million
10. Telegram 40.9 million

Source: Appfigures

In H1 2024, Instagram was the most downloaded Android app worldwide with 213.9 million installs.

Most Popular Android Apps Worldwide (H1 2024)

A total of 9 apps generated over 100 million downloads worldwide on Google Play in H1 2024.

Here’s a complete list of top 10 most popular Android apps worldwide in H1 2024:

App H1 2024 Downloads Worldwide
1. Instagram 213.9 million
2. WhatsApp Messenger 182.5 million
3. Facebook 139.9 million
4. Telegram 122.9 million
5. Facebook Lite 107.8 million
6. TikTok 104.8 million
7. Snapchat 102.7 million
8. WhatsApp Business 102.0 million
9. Facebook Messenger 100.3 million
10. CapCut 93.8 million

Source: Appfigures

In Q1 2024, Instagram was the most downloaded social app worldwide with 166 million downloads across Google Play and App Store, closely followed by Facebook (141 million) and TikTok (137 million).

Most Popular Social Apps Worldwide (Q1 2024)

Here’s a complete list of most popular social apps worldwide in Q1 2024:

App Downloads
Instagram 166 million
Facebook 141 million
TikTok 137 million
WhatsApp Messenger 115 million
Telegram 79 million
Snapchat 67 million

Sources: Appfigures, Sensor Tower

Temu was the most downloaded shopping app worldwide in 2023, with 337.72 million downloads.

Most Popular Shopping Apps Worldwide (2023)

Here’s an extended list of the most downloaded shopping apps worldwide in 2023:

App Downloads
Temu 337.72 million
SHEIN 261.94 million
Amazon Shopping 188.12 million
Shopee 160.67 million
Meesho 147.75 million
Flipkart 142.68 million
AliExpress 101.08 million
Mercado Libre 95.85 million
Alibaba 91.9 million
Lazada 65.41 million

Source: Statista

Threads claimed the top spot on the list of most downloaded apps in the US in 2023 with 192.7 million downloads.

Most Popular Apps in the US (2023)

Here’s a complete list of the most downloaded apps in the US in 2023:

App Downloads
Threads 192.7 million
Temu 113 million
TikTok 80.9 million
CapCut 69.3 million
SHEIN 68.4 million
WhatsApp Messenger 68.2 million
Instagram 67.3 million
MONOPOLY GO! 57.5 million
Cash App 55.7 million
Snapchat 52 million

Source: Apptopia

2022

TikTok was the most downloaded mobile app with 672 million downloads across App Store and Google Play in 2022.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (2022)

Here’s a complete list of the most popular apps worldwide by downloads in 2022:

App Downloads in 2022
TikTok 672 million
Instagram 548 million
WhatsApp 424 million
CapCut 357 million
Snapchat 330 million
Telegram 310 million
Subway Surfers 304 million
Facebook 298 million
Stumble Guys 254 million
Spotify 238 million

Source: Apptopia

2021

TikTok hit 656 million downloads in 2021, more than any other mobile app across Google Play and App Store.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (2021)

We’ve listed the most popular apps by downloads worldwide in 2021:

App Downloads in 2021
TikTok 656 million
Instagram 545 million
Facebook 416 million
WhatsApp 395 million
Telegram 329 million
Snapchat 327 million
Zoom 300 million
Messenger 268 million
CapCut 255 million
Spotify 203 million

Source:Apptopia

2020

TikTok was the most downloaded app across Android and iOS devices in 2020 with 850 million downloads.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (2020)

Here’s a list of the most downloaded apps worldwide in 2020:

App Downloads in 2020
TikTok 850 million
WhatsApp 600 million
Facebook 540 million
Instagram 503 million
Zoom 477 million
Messenger 404 million
Snapchat 281 million
Telegram 256 million
Google Meet 254 million
Netflix 223 million

Source: Forbes