Semrush helps you:

  • Do keyword research
  • Audit your local listings
  • Perform competitor analyses
  • Manage social media accounts
  • And much more!

Backlinko readers get:

A 14-day trial for premium features. 55+ tools.
Free access for core features.

Newsletter Sign Up

Backlinko readers get unlimited
access for 14 days. 55+ tools.

Close

Find Out What's Stopping
You From Ranking Higher

✓ Analyze rankings, traffic, and competitors
✓ Find SEO issues blocking your growth
✓ Get a step-by-step improvement plan
Find Keyword Ideas in Seconds

Boost SEO results with powerful keyword research

Free Keyword Research Tool

Most Popular Apps: Global Stats & Rankings

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.

Most Popular Apps Statistics (Highlights)

  • ChatGPT was the most downloaded app worldwide in April 2025, with 52 million downloads.
  • TikTok and Instagram were the most downloaded social apps worldwide in April 2025, with 39 million downloads each.
  • Temu was ranked the most downloaded shopping app worldwide in April 2025, with 25 million downloads.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (April 2025)

ChatGPT was the most downloaded app in April 2025 with 52 million downloads worldwide across Google Play and iOS App Store.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (April 2025)

Here’s a full ranking of the most downloaded apps worldwide in April 2025:

Note: Includes downloads of lite app versions where available.
App April 2025 Downloads Worldwide
1. ChatGPT 52 million
2. TikTok 39 million
3. Instagram 39 million
4. Facebook 31 million
5. WhatsApp 27 million
6. Temu 25 million
7. CapCut 24 million
8. Threads 22 million
9. Telegram 22 million
10. Snapchat 19 million

Source: Appfigures

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (March 2025)

In March 2025, ChatGPT ranked as the most downloaded app in the world with 46 million downloads across Google Play and iOS App Store.

Most Popular Apps Worldwide (March 2025)

Here’s a complete list of top 10 most downloaded apps worldwide in March 2025:

Note: Includes downloads of lite app versions where available.
App March 2025 Downloads Worldwide
1. ChatGPT 46 million
2. Instagram 46 million
3. TikTok 45 million
4. Facebook 36 million
5. WhatsApp 35 million
6. Temu 32 million
7. CapCut 27 million
8. Telegram 25 million
9. Snapchat 23 million
10. Threads 23 million

Source: Appfigures

Most Popular Apps by Country (2024)

United States

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

Temu was the most downloaded app in the US in 2024

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

Rank, App
1. Temu
2. TikTok
3. Threads
4. Instagram
5. WhatsApp Messenger
6. ChatGPT
7. CapCut
8. SHEIN
9. Facebook
10. Telegram

United Kingdom

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

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

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

Rank, App
1. Temu
2. SHEIN
3. Threads
4. ChatGPT
5. TikTok
6. Vinted
7. Tesco Mobile
8. Microsoft Authenticator
9. WhatsApp Messenger
10. Telegram

Australia

The most downloaded app in Australia in 2024 was Temu. The official Australian government app (myGov) claimed the second spot in the ranking of most downloaded apps in Australia.

The most downloaded app in Australia during the 2024 was Temu

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

Rank, App
1. Temu
2. myGov Australia
3. Threads
4. ChatGPT
5. WhatsApp Messenger
6. TikTok
7. Facebook Messenger
8. CapCut
9. Ticketmaster
10. Facebook

Canada

The most downloaded app in Canada in 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 2024 was Temu

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

Rank, App
1. Temu
2. ChatGPT
3. Threads
4. TikTok
5. WhatsApp Messenger
6. Facebook
7. Amazon Prime Video
8. Instagram
9. Facebook Messenger
10. CapCut

India

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

In 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 2024:

Rank, App
1. Instagram
2. Meesho
3. Facebook
4. WhatsApp Messenger
5. PhonePe
6. Flipkart
7. JioCinema
8. Truecaller
9. Snapchat
10. WhatsApp Business

France

In 2024, Temu was the most downloaded app in France, followed by ChatGPT and TikTok.

During the 2024, Temu was the most downloaded app in France

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

Rank, App
1. Temu
2. ChatGPT
3. TikTok
4. WhatsApp Messenger
5. SHEIN
6. Threads
7. Telegram
8. CapCut
9. Instagram
10. Facebook

Germany

Temu was the most downloaded app in Germany in 2024.

Temu was the most downloaded app in Germany in 2024

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

Rank, App
1. Temu
2. Threads
3. ChatGPT
4. WhatsApp Messenger
5. Instagram
6. Facebook
7. SHEIN
8. Telegram
9. TikTok
10. Lidl Plus

Source: Sensor Tower

Most Popular Apps of Previous Years (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020)

2023

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 Worldwide (2023)

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

App Downloads in 2023
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