With over 3.2 billion smartphone users worldwide, it’s no surprise that the mobile app industry is booming. In addition, there are 1.14 billion tablet users worldwide and this number has grown by about 36% over the past six years. App usage is still growing steadily, with no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future.
According to the analytical report, the application business generates more than 10 billion euros in revenue per year in the European Union, while more than 529,000 jobs have been created in 28 EU countries due to the growth of the application market.
Several types of mobile applications are currently available:
Games
This is the most popular category of mobile applications. Undoubtedly, gaming applications top the list of most downloaded application types on all major platforms. What makes games so interesting is the immersive experience they provide to players. According to statistics, the section of gaming applications is 21.53% of the total number of applications in the Apple App Store. Companies are investing more and more time and resources in creating games and mobile versions of famous stationary games because it is a very profitable market. One of the most popular types of games is action games. The most successful mobile games, such as Candy Crush Saga or Angry Birds, are becoming known around the world.
Shopping Apps
The e-commerce industry experienced explosive growth in 2020 as the only way out for us was to shop through our smartphone screens. If we talk about statistics, then in 2020 the volume of global e-commerce reached 3.9 trillion dollars. This trend will continue in the post-COVID world. Shopping apps make it easy for consumers to find the best products from around the world and buy them online.
Lifestyle and entertainment apps
Growing in popularity, they cover many aspects of personal lifestyle and communication, such as dating, social networking, and video sharing (and watching). Want to watch a TV series or flip through tens of thousands of 15-second clips? Want to participate in relevant (and exciting) discussions around the world? Entertainment apps are the best option. Some of the more widely known apps like Netflix, Facebook or TikTok fall into this category.
Educational Apps
This category includes mobile apps that help users acquire new skills and knowledge. After the complete fiasco with COVID-19, when education, in particular, was limited to the digital environment, educational or self-learning applications have played an important role in maintaining a steady flow of information. The whole point of an educational app is to make digital classrooms easier and provide resources that can help people learn some new skills.
Mobile Commerce Apps
The most popular shopping apps like AliExpress, Amazon or eBay offer mobile users the experience of their desktop versions. M-commerce apps provide customers with easy product access and convenient payment options for an optimal shopping experience. Learn more about the definition of mobile commerce and the types of mobile commerce.
And now have a look at the most downloaded mobile applications: Chrome, YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, FB Messenger.
