The hottest apps on the market

Carrying the momentum from 2020 was always going to be difficult for apps like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, which noticed rapid growth in 2020 as millions of businesses, schools and people adapted their workspace to a virtual environment.

However, while countries re-opened their offices, pubs and borders, the effects of the pandemic and the return of Covid through delta and omicron has led to continued use of these applications and the changes to how we work are likely to be the new normal.

Outside of the workplace, TikTok remained the most popular app worldwide for the second year in a row. It managed to divert a potential sale to Oracle and Walmart, with the Biden Administration reverting a previous order to sell the app authorized by President Trump.

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Its ban in India has led to a new segment of TikTok-like apps, vying to take the short-video crown in the country. Several of these apps have added over 50 million users this year alone, with TikTok reportedly missing out on a potential 250 million active users because of the ban.

Facebook still dominated total download charts, with four of the top 10 most downloaded apps published by the social network.

In a year when several app sectors saw five years growth in a few months, it is impressive that most managed to keep pace with 2020 downloads. Total downloads were down, with top apps like TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat losing over 100 million downloads in 2021.

Some newer categories, like cryptocurrency, saw much higher downloads and usage in 2021 than in the previous year. Others, such as travel, transport and dating, benefited from the opening up of tourism and hospitality.

We have collected data and statistics on the most popular apps by country and by category. Read on below to find out more.

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Most Popular Apps Key Statistics

• TikTok was the most downloaded app globally in 2021, with 656 million downloads

• Among Us was the most downloaded globally in 2020, with 285 million downloads

• Four of the ten most downloaded apps of 2021 were published by Facebook

Most Popular Apps by Country

In this section, we take a look at the most popular apps in each country. We cover global, Brazil, China, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Most Popular Apps 2021 (Global)

TikTok retained its spot as the most downloaded app in 2021, although total downloads decreased by 194 million in 2021. Facebook had three apps in the top five.

AppDownloads 2021TikTok656 millionInstagram545 millionFacebook416 millionWhatsApp395 millionTelegram329 millionSnapchat327 millionZoom300 millionFacebook Messenger268 millionCapCut255 millionSpotify203 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Apps 2021 (United States)

TikTok remained the most popular app in the US as well, increasing its total downloads for the year by two million. Cash App is another 2021 success story, with more users and downloads than 2020, possibly due to the influx of new cryptocurrency buyers.

AppDownloads 2021TikTok94 millionInstagram64 millionSnapchat56 millionCash App56 millionZoom52 millionFacebook Messenger51 millionFacebook47 millionWhatsApp47 millionYouTube47 millionHBO Max45 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Apps 2021 (United Kingdom)

Millions of Brits downloaded the NHS App in 2021 to access their Covid pass, which let them attend festivals, large events and go on holiday. TikTok dipped in popularity, and Microsoft Teams surpassed Zoom in total downloads.

AppDownloads 2021NHS App22 millionWhatsApp20 millionMicrosoft Teams19 millionTikTok18 millionZoom16 millionNHS Covid-1914 millionInstagram12 millionYouTube12 millionUber Eats10 millionDisney+10 million

Source: AppMagic

Most Popular Apps 2021 (China)

WeChat is the most popular app in China, which acts as a home screen for Chinese phone users, with thousands of mini-programs loaded inside the app. Pinduoduo has seen the most growth from 2020 to 2021.

AppMonthly Active Users 2021WeChat1,005 millionAliPay845 millionTaobao750 millionPinduoduo740 millionDouyin686 millionQQ638 millioniQiyi605 millionTencent Video605 millionBaidu494 millionSogou Pinyin468 million

Source: Statista

Most Popular Apps 2021 (India)

TikTok’s ban in India made way for several clones built by Indian developers, with MX TakaTak, Moj and Josh all competing for the short-video crown. Instagram is also competing with Reels, which it has marketed heavily in the country.

AppDownloads 2021MX TakaTak181 millionInstagram178 millionFacebook176 millionSnapchat166 millionMeesho158 millionMoj139 millionFlipkart133 millionLudo King129 millionJosh127 millionPhonePe120 million

Source: AppMagic

Most Popular Apps 2021 (Brazil)

Brazil had three primary apps in 2021: TikTok, Shopee and Kwai, which each had 70 million downloads. NuBank and PicPay fought for the title of #1 neobank in the country.

AppDownloads 2021TikTok79 millionShopee76 millionKwai74 millionNuBank38 millionWhatsApp35 millionPicPay35 millionShein34 millionInstagram34 millionFacebook33 millionResso33 million

Source: AppMagic

Most Popular App by Category

In this section, we take a look at the ten most popular apps of the year by app category. All values are global unless stated otherwise and do not include downloads from third-party Chinese Android app stores.

Most Popular Games 2021

Subway Surfers reclaimed the title of most downloaded game in 2021, it has been a top five downloaded game every year since 2014. Roblox had more downloads than last year, while Among Us was downloaded about half as many times as in 2020.

AppDownloads 2021Subway Surfers191 millionRoblox182 millionBridge Race169 millionGarena Free Fire – New Age154 millionAmong Us152 millionHair Challenge138 millionJoin Clash136 million8Ball Pool130 millionLudo King125 millionCandy Crush Saga119 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Social Apps 2021

While the launch of Instagram Reels hasn’t slowed down TikTok, it made Instagram more popular, as one of the few social apps to see more downloads in 2021 than 2020.

AppDownloads 2021TikTok656 millionInstagram545 millionFacebook416 millionWhatsApp395 millionSnapchat327 millionTwitter171 millionMX TakaTak128 millionDiscord121 millionWeChat109 millionJosh111 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Communication Apps 2021

WhatsApp was the most downloaded communications app for the second year in a row. Telegram, considered the alternative WhatsApp for people fearful of tracking, gained a lot of new users after WhatsApp’s privacy change.

AppDownloads 2021WhatsApp480 millionTelegram429 millionSnapchat383 millionMessenger363 millionZoom353 millionGoogle Meet225 millionWhatsApp Business223 millionMicrosoft Teams170 millionDiscord134 millionWeChat104 million

Source: AppMagic

Most Popular Entertainment Apps 2021

Netflix has also retained its position as most downloaded entertainment app, although it had 60 million less downloads than in 2020. Disney+ surpassed Amazon Prime Video in downloads, and HBO Max entered the top 10.

AppDownloads 2021Netflix173 millionYouTube166 millionGoogle Play Games131 millionDisney+126 millionAmazon Prime Video120 millionYouTube Kids91 millionHBO Max73 millionTwitch69 millionHotstar56 millionPluto TV54 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Music & Audio Apps 2021

Spotify has new competition, in the form of TikTok-owned Resso, which is making waves in Latin America and India. It has already surpassed the downloads of YouTube Music, Amazon Music and SoundCloud.

AppDownloads 2021Spotify203 millionResso85 millionYouTube Music79 millionStarMaker76 millionShazam75 millionSoundCloud52 millionAmazon Music44 millionWynk Music38 millionMusic Player38 millionJioSaavn35 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Shopping Apps 2021

Southeast Asian shopping apps dominated 2021, with Shein even breaking into US and European markets. These apps quickly produce items based on trends and sell at heavily discounted prices through flash sales and coupons, similar to Wish.

AppDownloads 2021Shopee203 millionShein190 millionMeesho153 millionAmazon148 millionFlipkart93 millionAliExpress84 millionWish72 millionPinduoduo67 millionLazada67 millionAlibaba62 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Food & Drink Apps 2021

McDonalds surpassed Uber Eats to be the most downloaded food & drink app of 2021. The fast-food chain added more functionality to its app, in partnership with Uber and Just Eat Takeaway, to run delivery through it.

AppDownloads 2021McDonalds116 millionUber Eats72 millionDoorDash43 millionStarbucks30 millionfoodpanda28 millionZomato27 millionMeituan Takeaway26 millionDomino’s24 millionGrab23 millionToo Good To Go21 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Travel Apps 2021

Google Maps was the most downloaded travel app in 2021, which is perhaps a slight indication that we’re not fully out of lockdown, but are eagerly planning it out. Bolt and Grab both saw increases in downloads this year.

AppDownloads 2021Google Maps106 millionUber94 millionBooking.com63 millionGoogle Earth57 millionAirbnb44 millionDiDi27 millionBolt25 millionLyft23 millionWhere is my Train23 millionGrab23 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Education Apps 2021

Education apps have been downloaded fewer times in 2021 than 2020, as many schools transition back to face-to-face learning. Google Classroom is still the most popular app, but had 53 million less downloads in 2021.

AppDownloads 2021Google Classroom75 millionToca Life World68 millionDuolingo65 millionBrainly64 millionPhotomath46 millionPictureThis37 millionKahoot! Play & Create25 millionCake23 millionBYJU’s22 millionQanda21 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Dating Apps 2021

Tinder is still the most popular dating app globally, with almost double the downloads of Badoo. CuteU, a real-time video matching app, saw the most growth in downloads in 2021.

AppDownloads 2021Tinder67 millionBadoo35 millionBumble22 millionTantan20 millionCuteU18 millionGrindr12 millionPlenty of Fish11 millionLamour11 millionHinge10 millionHappn9 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Health & Fitness Apps 2021

Once again, Leap Fitness has multiple fitness apps in the top ten, with Home Workout, Six Pack in 30 Days and Lose Weight for Women all gaining more than 20 million downloads. Flo, a period tracking app for women, reached number one for the first time.

AppDownloads 2021Flo35 millionMiFit35 millionHome Workout – No Equipment33 millionSix Pack in 30 Days28 millionLose Weight for Women27 millionCalm24 millionMuscle Booster22 millione-Nabiz22 millionStrava22 millionMyFitnessPal22 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Money Transfer Apps 2021

PayPal remained the most popular money transfer app, with 106 million downloads. India’s mobile payment market is a three horse race, with Google Play slightly ahead of PhonePe in downloads and both far ahead of Paytm, considered by some to be the PayPal of India.

AppDownloads 2021PayPal106 millionGoogle Pay82 millionPhonePe79 millionAliPay68 millionCash App57 millionPaytm37 millionVenmo31 millionZelle17 millionWestern Union12 millionRemitly5 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Cryptocurrency Apps 2021

Binance remains the most popular cryptocurrency exchange by downloads, usage and volume. Crypto.com surpassed Coinbase in total downloads, although Coinbase still has more users.

AppDownloads 2021Binance64 millionCrypto.com41 millionCoinbase40 millionTrust16 millioneToro8 millionCoinbase Wallet7 millionCoinMarketCap7 millionCoinSwitch7 millionVoyager6 millionBtcTurk4 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Apps of Previous Years

We have collected statistics of the most downloaded apps and games of previous years as well.

Most Popular Apps (2020)

AppDownloads 2020TikTok850 millionWhatsApp600 millionFacebook540 millionInstagram503 millionZoom477 millionMessenger404 millionSnapchat281 millionTelegram256 millionGoogle Meet254 millionNetflix223 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Games (2020)

AppDownloads 2020Among Us!264 millionSubway Surfers227 millionGarena Free Fire218 millionPUBG Mobile175 millionGardenscapes171 millionRoblox158 millionHunter Assassin155 millionTiles Hop151 millionJoin Clash149 millionBrain Test138 million

Source: Apptopia

Most Popular Apps (2019)

AppDownloads 2019WhatsApp769 millionTikTok727 millionMessenger723 millionFacebook682 millionInstagram438 millionLikee 327 millionSHAREit321 millionSnapchat275 millionSpotify226 millionNetflix225 million

Source: AppMagic

Most Popular Games (2019)

AppDownloads 2019Garena Free Fire277 millionPUBG Mobile268 millionSubway Surfers 227 millionFun Race 3D210 millionColor Bump 3D205 millionMy Talking Tom 2162 millionRun Race 3D158 millionSand Balls – Puzzle Game154 millionHomescapes153 millionStack Ball152 million