25 Facts about Mobile Apps You Didn’t Know

The majority of people have a smart phone… and the majority of people are using it as way more than just a phone. It’s a handheld mini-computer with tons of apps and features. Do you wonder which of these apps is top of the ranks in popularity? Do you know how often the average person looks at their phone in a day? Read on to find out all these answers and more as we explore 25 interesting facts about mobile apps that you never knew!

Download-Related Facts

1. Download projections for apps in 2018 stand at 269 Billion. That’s around 33 apps for every person on Earth.

2. The most downloaded app of all time is Facebook. This shows the importance of social media and has many implications for marketers.

3. Previously, the most downloaded apps belonged to Google. Namely, YouTube and Google Maps. Each had over a billion downloads.

4. Android Play Store has the highest number of applications available for download, totaling 2.8 million apps.

5. Apple’s App Store is the second largest, offering a total of 2.2 million apps. (The reason The App Store carries less than Google Play is that Apple has applied higher coding standards and excludes poorly developed apps.)

6. The number of downloads from Android Play Store is significantly higher than The App Store. The main cause is simple: there’s more Android owners than there are iPhone.

Monetary Facts

7. Mobile applications are generated over $77 billion in total revenue by the end of 2017. This is a huge increase in comparison with to the total revenue in 2012, which was $18.56 billion.

8. App developers earn money from the development of apps, and from payouts by the respective app stores. Apple alone has paid out over $50 billion to app developers since 2008.

9. The most profitable app, at this time, is ‘Clash of Clans’ by Supercell. Since its launch in 2012, it has raked in over $5 billion. This is around $1.5 million a day. This shows how profitable app development can be.

10. By 2024, over 42% of all sales in the UK are expected to be supplemented by applications. This means that app development is set to become a core element for driving sales.

11. In-app advertisement is one of the largest sources of revenue generation. By 2018, it is expected that in-app revenues will generate around $16.9 billion dollars.

12. The ‘I Am Rich’ app was priced at $999.99. This app’s only function was that it displayed a shiny gem with a positive affirmation. 8 people downloaded the app before being pulled by App Store moderators.

13. The drive for lower prices has set a benchmark for app prices. The typical price a user pays for an app $0.99. App owners are now settling for profits from increased sales rather than higher profit margins.

14. Over 60% of apps in Apple’s App Store have never been downloaded.

General Facts

15. App developers from in India charge the lowest amount, around $8/hour. In comparison, the highest cost of app development is incurred from North America with per hour costs as high as $225.

16. India is the second largest app market after the USA. Amongst billions of WhatsApp users, over 68% are from India. This represents India as an emerging market for the app development and IT industry.

17. Over 65% of mobile users spend a majority of their time on social media apps.

18. In the US, the average adult spends 4 hours and 39 minutes on communications apps. This is around 1/5th of the day. This reveals the great potential of communication apps such as Snapchat and Tinder.

19. Users spend a lot of money on gaming apps, while lifestyle apps have considerably lower retention rates. Around 1% of the total smartphone usage is on health and fitness apps.

20. We are fast moving towards an ‘app culture.’ Now we have apps for smartwatches, TVs, and even tea kettles.

21. A typical smartphone user unlocks their phones over 80 times a day. This generates over 2,700 strokes/swipes per day.

22. Pokémon Go set a new trend for users and app developers by utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology. The use of this innovative new app led to some fatal injuries and ambush-style robberies.

23. Apple users spend 24% more time using iPhone apps than they do on iPads.

24. Most people would prefer an app over a website, given that the same functionality is extended to the app. Apps are more user-friendly on mobile devices. With a majority of people on-the-go, internet usage is shifting from desktop to smartphone, and apps are the most convenient.

25. Free apps with in-app purchase options are the most popular. This trend is expected to continue for the next few years due to increasing competition.

Mobile apps have taken over our lives. Everyone depends on their mobile apps for communication, payment, rewards, and entertainment. There are billions of apps, and they’re generate billions of dollars for the application development industry. Apps are here to stay, especially with developers churning out new and interesting apps on a daily basis. As a marketer, take these facts into consideration and you will be on your way to implementing the latest technology in a way that can greatly benefit your business!