Have you ever wondered what drives someone to use a Mobile app? 

Or, how much time do they spend on mobile Apps they downloaded? Or, what type of Mobile App do people use the most?

The encouraging news is…

In this blog, I have shed light on the 50+ most up-to-date mobile app stats, trends, facts and projections you can actually use to make sure your own mobile app aligns with what your target audience prefers in 2021 and beyond. 

Well to be precise, I have pulled research from the links of App Annie, Mary Meeker, Statista, Sensor Tower and many more trusted sources to give you an insight that matters the most. 

Let’s start! 

Mobile App Usage & Download Statistics

I’ll kickstart with stats about mobile app usage trends and download habits. 

Undoubtedly, these numbers highlight what’s going on in the mobile app market today and even portray the altitude of mobile users.

1. Mobile App Installs Up By 23.3% Post COVID-19 Pandemic

Undoubtedly, COVID-19 epidemic altered the way people interacted, carried businesses, and consumed media. 

Although, the mobile app space has experienced unprecedented growth as more and more people use their mobiles for almost everything. So, mobile app downloads have experienced tremendous growth of 23.3% since pandemic, especially in food delivery, fitness segment and work-from-home. 

Besides, your mobile app can reap advantage of emerging mobile trends by integrating the following features: 

• Offer seamless navigation and an easily accessible shopping experience that makes it easy for users to purchase. 
• Ask your partnered app development company to optimize your app for voice searches and control as more users avoid touching their smartphones in public scenarios. 
• Invest in-app store ads and in-app to maximize your mobile engagement and drive more conversions.

2. Approx 90% Of Internet Time User Spent On Mobile Apps 

According to eMarketer, the void between mobile browser and app usage is widening. In 2020, eMarketers predicted that mobile adults spend around 4 hours every day using mobile internet, and 88% of that time spent using mobile apps instead of a browser. 

This clearly portrays the importance of businesses and companies not only optimizing their website for mobile but also developing personalized and responsive apps. 

3. Upsurge In Mobile Web Traffic Since 2015

Mobile accounts are responsible for approximately half of the web traffic across the globe. 

Precisely, in the Q1 of 2021, mobile devices (tabs aside) generated 54.8% of global website traffic, constantly hovering around the 50 per cent mark since the beginning of 2017. 

4. More Than 2.8 Million Mobile Apps Are Available In The Google Play Store

As of July 2021, there were 2.89 million apps launched in the Google Play Store. While, undoubtedly the Android OS leads the pack for market share globally, it’s exciting to understand that competition here is not crowded unlike Apple App Store.

5.  “MOBILE” Is Responsible For 40% Revenue In B2B Firms

According to mobile usage stats, B2B marketing forerunners are using mobile to engage customers as often as in any other scenario and are also rewarded with quicker decision making and higher customer loyalty.

6. 91% People Use Mobile Devices At Home and 72% At Work

These days, people use mobile apps everywhere. Almost a mind-boggling 79% of smartphone owners use these devices when with their family or friends. Whereas 73% use mobile devices while having dinner, 71% waiting in long queues, 63% while shopping, 62% while travelling, and 74% during their miscellaneous time.

7. People Spend 50% Time Scrolling Social Apps 

Social apps are the most frequently downloaded apps, but they are also where smartphone users spend a more significant chunk of their time, to be precise 50% of total usage time. 

Second place is curated by video and entertainment apps like TikTok and Netflix, coming in at 21% of the total usage time. According to App Annie reports, the lines between the two aisles are beginning to blur as new generations turn to them for the same objective. 

So, investing in the game apps with the right app developers in Dubai proves the best move to cement your footsteps. 

8. Upsurge In Mobile App Downloads Since 2016

According to Statista, the number of downloads in 2016, 2017 and 2021 gradually witnesses a rise in downloads. In 2021, users are projected to download approximately 196 billion mobile apps from the Google Play Store. 

9. 63% Mobile Traffic Comes From Video (Ericsson)

Whether you believe it or not, videos are responsible for driving a big portion of mobile traffic. According to mobile traffic stats, 63% of mobile traffic comes from video, and this number is forecasted to grow to 76% by 2025. 

Besides, from a marketing viewpoint, you should focus on capturing the attention of your audience. So, finding the experts will help you create a coherent strategy to beat the competition. 

10.  Just 52% Of Smartphone Users Have Installed Game Apps On Their Phones

Despite gaming apps being the most commonly created, just 66% of smartphone users have a minimum of one gaming app on their mobile. On the contrary, more than 95% of all mobile users have a communication or social app, utility or tool app, web browser, and entertainment app.  

11. Google Owns The Lion Share Of Mobile Apps

There’s no doubt, Google and Facebook’s share of the top 15 mobile apps in the USA has increased in the past few years, dominating other apps. According to a report, around 80% of the digital time users spend on mobile and 88% of those minutes are spent within the apps. 

In the last few years, among every ten apps being used in the user’s smartphone, around eight mobile apps are owned by Google, including Google Maps, Google Search, Google Drive, YouTube, Spotify, etc… 

These is a great business move, and the best part is you don’t need to be an Alphabet to do it. 

12. App Installed Vs App Ratio – A Small Portion Users Use

Considering the data from Simform, users tend to use a relatively small proportion of the apps they have installed on their smartphones.  

Even the ones aged between 21-30 have the highest number of mobile apps installed on their device, with 67 on average. Out of these, although, these merely use 25. 

As observed for older demographics, the proportion gets even smaller. At the same time, the youngest 11-20 category of users is the only domain that uses most of the apps they install. Also, note that these young users use the most significant number of apps on average.  

13. More Than 40,000 New iOS Apps Gets Rolled Out Every Month 

New iOS apps are rolled out at a slower rate in comparison to Android apps. This may be because of Google Play Store reportedly being affordable and easier to step in – and, as already mentioned above, there are far more Android users than iOS users in the world. 

In some scenarios, it is better to cater to the numbers with the best app development in Dubai, but not always. It’s often observed, businesses choose to build for both platforms.

14. Music Apps Are Launched Daily Than Any Other App Category

Unsurprisingly, users spend most of their time in social and communication apps. But, they frequently visit their music apps compared to any other app type – launching them nearly three times in a day, on average. 

This will be hard to believe, considering how often users seem to log in to Facebook or Instagram, their text app, and even checking emails daily. I was expecting to see the social and communication category somewhere on the top of this chart, but it’s not; it’s difficult to completely understand this data. 

15.  The Changing Media Consumption 

In the last few years, the way we consume media has transformed exceptionally. Everyday, mobile use skyrockets, underscoring the move away from offline media.

All in all, we are taking in more media than at any point in time in the past decade.

Millennials and Gen z App Usage 

16. 21% Millennials Open Their Mobile Apps 50 Times Every Day

Every day, millennials open their mobile apps more than any other generation. 

Are you one of them?

 Truthfully, I’m. It’s evening, and I’ve probably opened my two social accounts around ten times, my email app, a weather app, and not to forget my texting apps. 

It’s not that hard to get to 50! 

Today’s young generation is tech-savvy and always-on mobile. So, it’s high time to partner with the best mobile app development companies in Dubai and build trust and reliability.

17. 70% of Millennials Say Social Networking Are The Most Commonly Used

Among millennials, the number who list social media apps as their most frequently used app category is at 69%.  

In the second place, at 55%, is messaging apps – because the most popular use of apps is connecting and communicating with others. So, if your target audience is the millennial generation, consider integrating features in your app that allows users to connect with their peers and be a part of the community.  

18. Around 37% of millennials Consider “Data Usage” Crucial To Decide If They Like A Mobile App. 

Millennials consider excessive data usage as a dealbreaker. 

A perfect example of bracing this is Pokemon Go – when it was first launched, the app quickly became a viral hit. Still, users were constantly frustrated with how much data it ate up, and many deleted it also. 

As you develop your own mobile app, remember that high data usage may result in users hitting the delete button without any second thought.

Mobile App Marketing Statistics

19. $201 BIllion Worth Global In-App Advertising (App Annie)

With mobile driving the bigger portion of the digital ad spendings, businesses are embracing new ways of advertising. As consumers spend over four hours on their smartphones, it’s a great opportunity for businesses to partner with top mobile app development companies in Dubai to reach their target audience. 

20. Push Notifications Offers 90% Delivery Rate (e-goi)

Push notifications are trusted marketing channels that have a high open-rate. In addition, it has seven times manifolded click rate and a 50% higher opening rate in comparison to email. Besides, 70% of users also consider push notifications to be beneficial, and 34% of users consider this an appropriate way to receive promotions. 

21. In-App Messages Increases Retention By 4 Times (Mobile Marketing Magazine)

If your core objective is to boost retention, in-app messaging is the right approach to go. Statistics show that this method boosts retention by up to four times. 

22. 38.66% Of Users Prefer Push Notifications In The Morning (Magenest)

If sent at the right time, push notifications can have an excellent response. Users prefer to see notifications in the morning and catch up with the news or uncover a great deal. 

Also, Mobile Marketing Statistics present that 38.38% of users prefer getting notifications during the weekends, while 36.69% of users would want to receive notifications in the evenings. 

23. In-App Notifications Of High-Performing Apps Reach 45% Of Users (Airship, Reckless)

In-app notifications are considered one of the most effective mobile marketing methods, especially for high-performing apps. Other app marketing statistics show that in-app messaging has a 75% open rate higher than email and pushes notifications. 

Mobile Marketing Trends 

24. GPS Targeted Mobile Ad Spending Will Grow To $32.4 billion In 2021 (Slideshare)

Despite the fact location-targeted ad spending is receiving a big chunk of the total ad spend pie. A projected growth rate of over 160% in 5 years is a clear sign of how mobile spending is transforming. 

These mobile marketing industry statistics are important for businesses to stay relevant and get good results. 

25. 71% Marketers Consider Mobile Marketing As The Foundation Of Their Business (Feedough)

The marketers are waking up to the potential of mobile and are planning their marketing accordingly. Besides, they have started to realize the marketing needs to be more customer-centric, customer-managed, and up-to-date with the advancements in mobile marketing technology. 

26. “Mobile-Optimized Templates” Are 66% Marketers Favorite 

According to Email Monday, 66% of marketers opt for mobile-optimized Templates. But, before we conclude with this stat, the basic step to ensure mobile-friendliness is to have a website design that works across all devices. 

So, to save on your time and keep your customer happy, hire the best app developers in Dubai. 

27. A Steep Rise In Ad Spending Globally 

While consumers’ habits are changing tremendously, businesses adapt their marketing strategists to match the latest mobile marketing trends and stay abreast. Even advertising experts are investing more of their budget in mobile marketing. 

In 2020, mobile advertising global spending amounted to $223 billion, and it’s projected to surpass $339 billion by 2023. All in all, mobile advertising has been rapidly accelerating in the last couple of years, but it’s expected to slow down to about 10% by the end of 2023.  

28. 84% Of Marketers Are Using Location-Based Marketing Techniques (Statista)

A significant portion of marketers engages with their audience by leveraging location data. According to Statista mobile marketing facts, 89% of marketers consider sales as the main advantage of using location-based mobile marketing. While 94% of marketers said, they are planning to integrate this tactic in their next upcoming campaign. 

Finally… It’s Your Turn 

As mobile apps are an inescapable part of our daily lives, 2021 continues to be a big year for the mobile app industry. 

Although mobile usage and penetration are at an all-time high, every piece of data provided here is analyzed and shows the trends still going upward. 

This is the motivation needed by anyone who has a mobile app idea or plans to build one. But, on the contrary, it’s daunting to develop and manage an app without staying up-to-date on the latest research and trends. 

Hopefully, this guide will assist in understanding what your audience is actually doing and unlocking the differences that entirely misses the mark and one’s that are wildly successful.

So, if you are looking for a reliable app development company in 2021 to help you drive business value with a robust mobile strategy, get started with Free Project Discussion with the best app developers.