Most Popular Apps: Global Stats & Rankings
Written by Backlinko Team
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.
Most Popular Apps Statistics (Highlights)
- Instagram was the most downloaded app worldwide in December 2024, with 48 million downloads.
- In December 2024, ChatGPT was the most downloaded AI app, amassing 31 million installs worldwide..
- Temu was ranked the most downloaded shopping app worldwide in December 2024, with 27 million downloads.
Most Popular Apps Worldwide
Instagram was the most downloaded app in December 2024 with 48 million downloads worldwide across Google Play and iOS App Store.
ChatGPT was the most downloaded AI app with 31 million installs worldwide in December 2024.
Here’s a full ranking of the most downloaded apps worldwide in December 2024:
| App | December 2024 Downloads Worldwide |
|---|---|
| 1. Instagram | 48 million |
| 2. TikTok | 45 million |
| 3. WhatsApp | 38 million |
| 4. Facebook | 37 million |
| 5. ChatGPT | 31 million |
| 6. CapCut | 29 million |
| 7. Temu | 27 million |
| 8. Telegram | 25 million |
| 9. Threads | 24 million |
| 10. Snapchat | 22 million |
Source: Appfigures
Most Popular Apps Worldwide (November 2024)
In November 2024, Instagram once again retained its position as the most downloaded app in the world with 53 million downloads across Google Play and iOS App Store.
Here’s a complete list of top 10 most downloaded apps worldwide in November 2024:
| App | November 2024 Downloads Worldwide |
|---|---|
| 1. Instagram | 53 million |
| 2. TikTok | 45 million |
| 3. WhatsApp | 44 million |
| 4. Facebook | 37 million |
| 5. ChatGPT | 32 million |
| 6. Threads | 30 million |
| 7. Temu | 30 million |
| 8. Telegram | 24 million |
| 9. CapCut | 22 million |
| 10. Snapchat | 21 million |
Source: Appfigures
Most Popular Apps by Country (Q1 2024)
United States
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.
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 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.
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).
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.
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.
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
Most Popular iOS Apps Worldwide (H1 2024)
Temu was the most downloaded app in the App Store worldwide in H1 2024, with 53.5 million installs.
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
Most Popular Android Apps Worldwide (H1 2024)
In H1 2024, Instagram was the most downloaded Android app worldwide with 213.9 million installs.
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
Most Popular Social Apps Worldwide (Q1 2024)
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).
Here’s a complete list of most popular social apps worldwide in Q1 2024:
| App | Downloads |
|---|---|
| 166 million | |
| 141 million | |
| TikTok | 137 million |
| WhatsApp Messenger | 115 million |
| Telegram | 79 million |
| Snapchat | 67 million |
Sources: Appfigures, Sensor Tower
Most Popular Shopping Apps Worldwide (2023)
Temu was the most downloaded shopping app worldwide in 2023, with 337.72 million downloads.
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
Most Popular Apps in the US (2023)
Threads claimed the top spot on the list of most downloaded apps in the US in 2023 with 192.7 million downloads.
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 |
| 67.3 million | |
| MONOPOLY GO! | 57.5 million |
| Cash App | 55.7 million |
| Snapchat | 52 million |
Source: Apptopia
Most Popular Apps Worldwide of Previous Years (2022, 2021, 2020)
2022
TikTok was the most downloaded mobile app with 672 million downloads across App Store and Google Play in 2022.
Here’s a complete list of the most popular apps worldwide by downloads in 2022:
| App | Downloads in 2022 |
|---|---|
| TikTok | 672 million |
| 548 million | |
| 424 million | |
| CapCut | 357 million |
| Snapchat | 330 million |
| Telegram | 310 million |
| Subway Surfers | 304 million |
| 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.
We’ve listed the most popular apps by downloads worldwide in 2021:
| App | Downloads in 2021 |
|---|---|
| TikTok | 656 million |
| 545 million | |
| 416 million | |
| 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.
Here’s a list of the most downloaded apps worldwide in 2020:
| App | Downloads in 2020 |
|---|---|
| TikTok | 850 million |
| 600 million | |
| 540 million | |
| 503 million | |
| Zoom | 477 million |
| Messenger | 404 million |
| Snapchat | 281 million |
| Telegram | 256 million |
| Google Meet | 254 million |
| Netflix | 223 million |
Source: Forbes