Discover the Most Popular Phone Apps of All Time

Facebook has been a top-ranked app for years, with over 2.7 billion monthly active users as of 2020. Its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

Instagram, which was acquired by Facebook in 2012, has over 1 billion active users and is one of the most widely used social media apps. Its users spend an average of 53 minutes per day on the app.

Snapchat is another extremely popular app, with over 290 million active users. Its users are highly engaged, with an average of 30 minutes per day spent on the app.

See what others are reading: Why Is My Phone Opening Apps on Its Own

The Top 10 Apps are a force to be reckoned with, boasting incredible user engagement and downloads. User reviews for the most popular apps reach as high as 24 million on Android and 19+ million on iOS.

These apps have taken the world by storm, with over 5+ billion installs on Android alone.

Social media is a huge part of our lives, and it's no surprise that some of the most popular phone apps are social media platforms.

On a similar theme: Social Media Apps on a Phone

Instagram has over 1.4 billion monthly users, making it one of the biggest social media platforms. It's a great way to find educational content, entertaining videos, or information about your favorite celebrities.

Instagram's innovative features like live broadcasting, IGTV, and Instagram stories allow you to promote your business and sell products. The reels feature of Instagram lets you create and share short creative videos, which is so popular that it's giving tough competition to TikTok.

Facebook is another giant in the social media world, with over 2.9 billion active users. It's been around since 2004 and has become a favorite among people for its reliability and ease of use. You can post updates, share photos and videos, and interact with others by reacting to posts and leaving comments.

If you have a low-end device or slower data network, Facebook Lite is a great option. It's a lighter version of the app that still has all the main features.

Here are some of the most popular social media apps, along with their user reviews:

Telegram is another popular social media app, with over 500 million active users. It's known for its powerful data protection, self-destructive chats, and no ads. You can also join public and private channels to receive regular updates or learn something new.

Snapchat is another popular app, with 306 million active daily users. It's known for its creative features like drawing and stickers, as well as its augmented reality-based special effects and sounds.

Related reading: Is Tiktok the Most Popular App

Gaming is a massive industry, and it's no surprise that some of the most popular phone apps are games. Candy Crush Saga, for example, has been downloaded over 5 billion times on Google Play alone.

This legendary puzzle game is a go-to boredom killer for millions, with an estimated $1 billion in sales in 2020. Its simple and rewarding game plan, combined with constant updates and a sense of accomplishment, makes it a hit with users.

Installs: 5+ billion (Google Play)

Some other popular gaming apps include Subway Surfers and Pokémon GO. Subway Surfers has been downloaded over 500 million times on Android, and its simple controls and extreme replayability make it a favorite among users.

Subway Surfers' endless running gameplay, where players must escape the police while collecting valuable items, is a great plan that many can enjoy. The game's increasing pace and challenge make it a great way to cure boredom.

Additional reading: Phone Apps to Play with Friends

Here are some key features that make these gaming apps so popular:

These features, combined with the convenience of playing on a phone, make gaming apps a staple of many people's daily lives.

RescueTime tracks how you spend your time on your phone, providing a detailed breakdown of your daily activities.

The average user spends around 3 hours and 15 minutes per day on their phone, with 45% of that time spent on social media.

Using apps like Freedom and SelfControl can help you stay focused by blocking distracting websites and apps.

The Pomodoro Technique, popularized by apps like Tomato Timer, involves working in focused 25-minute increments, followed by a 5-minute break.

Many productivity apps, such as Todoist and Trello, allow you to organize your tasks and projects into boards and lists.

By using apps like Evernote and OneNote, you can keep all your notes and ideas in one place, making it easier to refer back to them later.

The average person checks their phone around 150 times per day, with many of those checks being out of habit rather than necessity.

Using apps like IFTTT (If This Then That) can help you automate repetitive tasks and workflows, freeing up more time for focused work.

Music and podcasts are a big part of many people's phone app experience. Spotify is a top choice for streaming music and podcasts.

Spotify offers a vast library of songs and podcasts, with millions to choose from. You can listen for free, making it a great option for those on a budget. Its strong focus on user experience is also a major draw.

Some of the features that make Spotify stand out include easy search functionality, artist following, and the ability to share music with friends.

Consider reading: Spotify Kids

Spotify is a popular music streaming app that lets you listen to millions of songs and podcasts for free. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to search for your favorite artists, videos, and songs.

Spotify offers a vast music library, with millions of songs at your fingertips. You can also follow your favorite artists and share music with friends.

One of the best things about Spotify is that you can listen to music without paying, making it a great option for those on a budget.

Explore further: Spotify Live

Google Photos has become a go-to app for image storage, with over 39 million user reviews on Android and 329K on iOS.

The app's pre-installation on Android devices is a big plus, but its ability to store images without affecting quality or resolution is what really sets it apart.

Google Photos offers secure, fast, and reliable storage from Google, which is a huge advantage for users.

As of June 2021, users have 15 GB of free space to back up their photos, which is a generous offer.

Here are some key reasons why Google Photos is so popular:

Navigation is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, and Google Maps is the most popular app for this purpose. With over 126 million user reviews on Android and 22 million on iOS, it's clear that people rely on Google Maps for its excellent GPS navigation and rich map data.

Google Maps is available on both Android and iOS, with over 14.6 billion installations on Android devices alone. This makes it a must-have app for anyone who wants to navigate unfamiliar areas or find the fastest route to their destination.

One of the reasons Google Maps stands out is its real-time traffic updates, which make it perfect for driving. You can also use it to explore unfamiliar areas, making it a great tool for both locals and tourists.

Here are some key features that make Google Maps so popular:

Whether you're a seasoned driver or just visiting a new city, Google Maps is an essential app to have on your phone. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive map data make it a trusted companion for anyone who needs to navigate.