On average, each person has more than20 appson their smartphones. People enjoy finding interesting and useful apps to use in their free time. Thousands of new apps are launched daily, but only those with exceptional user experiences remain installed on phones. By early 2023, app downloads, spending on apps, and active users have significantly increased. Over37 billion appswere installed in the first quarter alone, with about 28 billion on Android and 8 billion on iOS devices.
Businesses are putting more effort into having apps because more people like to shop, order food, and watch shows online on apps. This has made more people use apps. So if you are curious about the most used app in the world in 2023, we’ve prepared a list below packed with data for you.
And while there are many mobile applications out there, we’ve only selected the most popular apps of 2023. UsingStatistaand other trusted sources of the most downloaded apps data in 2023, we’ll discuss the overall usage ranks of them to find out what is the most popular app in 2023.
17 Most Used Apps in the World (2023)
The overall usage rank of any number for an app means that among all the apps tracked, that app is thenthmost used app in the world in 2023. This indicates that the app is quite popular and widely used worldwide compared to other apps. A lower number is generally better which indicates high popularity and widespread usage compared to many other apps.
On the other hand, if the overall usage rank is high, it suggests that the app is less popular or less frequently used compared to others and indicates lower levels of usage and popularity.
17. Shopee
As of Monday, April 15, its overall usage rank is35188. In 2023, Shopee was the most popular shopping app in Malaysia, with over4.4 milliondownloads. Lazada was second with around 2.78 million downloads. Shopee is a popular online marketplace owned by Sea Group. Founded in Singapore in 2015, it's now one of Southeast Asia's biggest e-commerce platforms. Shopee is available in countries like Singapore and Indonesia.
16. Tiktok
As of April 15, 2024, its overall usage rank is239. TikTok was one of the most downloaded apps in 2023 and topped the list for consumer spending. Although initially seen as a space for Gen Z, TikTok has gained many new users since the global lockdowns in 2020. In March 2023 alone, TikTok had over7 milliondownloads in the US which was good for marketers, as TikTok offers various marketing opportunities, from organic content to paid ads. However, concerns about the app's safety in the United States are growing, and it will be interesting to see how this impacts download numbers going forward.
15. Tinder
As of April 15, 2024, its overall usage rank is187. In 2023, Tinder made$1.91 billionin revenue, a 6.9% increase from the year before with its75 millionmonthly active users, including 10.4 million subscribers, with most users under 35 and mostly male. With Tinder, the world's top free dating app, you can connect with millions of other single people who are ready to meet someone you like.
14. CapCut
As of April 15, 2024, its overall usage rank is106. In March 2023, CapCut received over6 milliondownloads. By August 2023, CapCut had490 millionusers on iPhones and Android phones combined. CapCut, TikTok's video editing tool, ranked third among the most downloaded apps in 2023. With the increasing popularity of video marketing, CapCut offers tools for both casual users and professionals.
13. Zoom
As of April 15, 2024, its overall usage rank is103. Zoom has about2 millionusers, with the highest number (29.71%) in the 25 to 34 age group. The U.S. accounts for37% of Zoom's trafficand the Americas generate 71% of its revenue. However, in 2023, Zoomrevealedits first net loss after 2018. COVID-19 made Zoom popular for online meetings and was one of the most downloaded apps. It became well-known for video conferencing and was easy to use for remote work. Now, with more options for calling, Zoom is famous for virtual hangouts to compete with Microsoft, Google, and others.
12. SHEIN
As of April 15, 2024, its overall usage rank is85. SHEIN-Fashion Shopping Online had a total of over53 milliondownloads across all app stores in 2023, with most downloads coming fromusers in Brazil. The United States ranked second with over 36 million downloads, and Mexico followed with over 27 million downloads. SHEIN sells clothing, jewelry, and home goods from China at low prices. It became popular because of its affordability and gained attention on TikTok through viral videos showcasing its cheap products.
11. Roblox
As of April 15, its usage rank is80. In 2023, Roblox earned $2.7 billion, a25% increasefrom the previous year. Roblox is extremely popular, especially among kids. It had over300 millionusers in May 2023. This platform lets users play games and create their own. It's a prime example of successful user-generated content. Although most Roblox users are under 13, it's still an intriguing advertising opportunity for marketers, who can create branded games or experiences within the platform.
10. Temu
As of April 15, 2024, the app Temu ranks45thin overall usage. In 2023, the top 4 most downloaded apps were all from China. Temu, a Chinese app, was at the top. It's a marketplace app that sells a wide range of products, from home goods to jewelry and kitchen supplies, all at very low prices compared to Amazon. Some users worry about the quality of the products. But still Temu got over31 million downloadsin the US in March 2023. The app launched in September 2022, so it's still new.
9. Netflix
As of April 15, 2024, Netflix is the38thused app. It still has a lot of people using it regularly. In 2023, Netflix had about270 millionsubscriptions worldwide making it one of the most used apps in 2023. Each paying subscriber paid around$11.64 per monthon average in 2023, which is 7.58% more than in 2019. In the US and Canada, the average monthly payment per subscriber was $16.28 in 2023, which is 87.99% higher than in Latin America.
8. Twitter (X)
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, Twitter's overall usage rank was29. In 2023, Twitter had about 421 million people using it every month and around220 millionpeople using it daily. According to Elon Musk, who owns Twitter now, the platform reached a record high of 550 million monthly active users worldwide in 2023. Elon Musk madesignificant changes to Twitter(now called X) such as releasing Twitter files, giving more importance to community notes, and challenging California's strict laws. These actions show his focus on being open, involving the community more, and questioning rules that limit free expression..
7. Cash App
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, Cash App is ranked27thin terms of usage. In March 2023, Cash App was downloaded over50 millionpeople were active users of it, making it the most popular apps 2023. The app's revenue for 2023 increased to $14.3 billion, which is34.9% highercompared to the previous year, with a gross profit of $4.32 billion. It lets users send and receive money directly through the app. Users can also use banking services provided by the app and even buy stocks or bitcoin.
6. Snapchat
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, Snapchat is ranked21stin overall usage. In 2023, it had414 millionactive users daily. Snapchat is popular among young people, especially in the United States. Since 2019, Snapchat's daily users have been steadily increasing. Snapchat is not only for fun but also for business. It has a feature called Instant Create that allows you to quickly create ads and share them based on location to target specific audiences. This makes Snapchat a useful tool for marketing purposes.
5. Spotify
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, Spotify is ranked20thin overall usage. In 2023, its revenue grew to€13.24 billion, a 12.9% increase from the previous year. However, Spotify has never made a net profit. The platform has 551 million monthly users, including 220 million subscribers by offering 100 million songs and five million podcasts. Spotify is a digital service for music, podcasts, and videos that allows you to access content from creators around the world. You can use Spotify for free to play music and podcasts, but upgrading to Spotify Premium offers additional features.
4. Whatsapp
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, WhatsApp is ranked15thin overall usage. In 2023, WhatsApp was the top messaging app worldwide and started gaining popularity in the United States. In March 2023 alone, it was downloaded nearly6 milliontimes. Businesses use WhatsApp to keep in touch with clients and customers by sending personalized messages, special offers, and more. WhatsApp offers various marketing opportunities as its use for marketing continues to expand.
3. Instagram
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, Instagram is ranked in thetop 10apps in overall usage. Alongside WhatsApp, another popular Meta app in 2023 was Instagram. This app, loved by Gen Z and Millennials, allows users to share photos and videos. Although Instagram doesn't share all its stats, it had over768 milliondownloads in 2023 in the United States alone. Instagram is particularly useful for marketing purposes. With features like Instagram Reels, Lives, and Stories, marketers have various ways to engage their audience.
2. Facebook
As of Monday, April 15, 2024, Facebook is ranked4thin overall usage. In 2023, Facebook reached3 billionmonthly active users. By the fourth quarter of 2023, the monthly active user count grew to 3.065 billion, following the milestone achieved in the second quarter of 2023. On average, American users spend about30.9 minuteson Facebook every day, which is more time than they spend on other top platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Facebook, along with WhatsApp Messenger and Snapchat, was among the most downloaded apps in 2023.
1. YouTube
As of April 15, 2024, YouTube is ranked3rd mostused app worldwide. In 2023, YouTube had2.7 billionactive users, making it hugely popular, just after Google and Facebook. YouTube Shorts, which are videos under 15 seconds, got over70 billionviews daily in 2023. Asurveyfrom 2023 found that 48.6% of YouTube viewers are men and 51.4% are women.
Final Thoughts
Mobile apps are becoming increasingly important, with lots of people using them every day. The most used apps in 2023, whether IG for reels, Shopee for shopping or TikTok for videos, show what people like. If you want to make an app that does well in 2024 and beyond, and join the list of most used apps, talk to our expert app developers at Maven Digital. We can help you make an app that people will love to use.
