Smartphone users across the world collectively spent 5.3 trillion hours browsing apps and websites in 2025, underscoring the expanding role of mobile devices in daily life.
The data comes from the State of Mobile 2026 report published by Sensor Tower, a leading authority on mobile market intelligence.
Sensor Tower noted that the figure, excluding third-party Android app stores in China and select markets, represents a 3.8% increase year-on-year compared to 2024.
Breaking Down the Scale of Mobile Usage
In real-world terms, 5.3 trillion hours equate to roughly 605 million years of combined human time spent online.
The report estimates that the average global user spent slightly under 600 hours online in 2025, equivalent to about 25 days over the year, or 3.6 hours per day. The calculation covers iOS and Android users across 80 countries, excluding China.
How the Data Was Compiled
Sensor Tower said its market insights team generated app download and in-app purchase revenue estimates using its proprietary mobile intelligence platform.
The findings are based on iOS App Store and Google Play download and revenue estimates collected between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2025, allowing for long-term trend analysis.
Global App Downloads Hit 149 Billion
According to the report, users downloaded 149 billion new apps worldwide in 2025. While this represents a relatively modest 0.8% year-on-year growth, it still averages around 284,000 downloads per minute.
The sustained pace highlights continued demand for mobile services such as news, gaming, social networking, and productivity tools.
Users Engage With More Apps Than Ever
Sensor Tower found that the average smartphone user engaged with 34 apps per month in 2025, marking a 5.4% increase from the previous year.
Daily usage also intensified, with users accessing an average of 10 different apps each day, reinforcing how central mobile applications have become to everyday routines.
Social Media Accounts for the Largest Share of Time Spent
Social networking platforms dominated mobile engagement, with users spending nearly 2.5 trillion hours on social media apps across iOS and Android in 2025, a 5% increase year-on-year.
The report links this growth to continued smartphone adoption and long-term behavioural shifts accelerated during the pandemic.
Top apps by time spent include:
- TikTok
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Google Chrome
- JioHotstar
- WhatsApp Business
- Google Maps
Other frequently used apps include Truecaller, Spotify, ChatGPT, PLAYit, Gmail, WEBTOON, Zoom, and CapCut.
AI Apps See Rapid Rise in User Engagement
Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories in mobile usage.
Sensor Tower reported that AI Assistant apps ranked among the top 10 subgenres by time spent in 2025, recording a 426% year-on-year increase. This reflects growing reliance on AI for information, productivity, and everyday tasks.
Although AI Companion apps have not yet reached the global top 20, the report said they are gaining momentum, ranking 23rd worldwide after a 68% increase in engagement time.
Generative AI Usage Surges
Time spent on Generative AI apps reached 48 billion hours in 2025, representing about 3.6 times the level recorded in 2024 and nearly ten times the usage levels seen in 2023. The sharp rise signals how quickly AI-powered tools are becoming embedded in mobile internet behaviour.
Mobile Remains the World’s Primary Internet Gateway
Overall, the State of Mobile 2026 report shows that global mobile internet usage continues to deepen, driven by social platforms, entertainment services, and the accelerating adoption of AI technologies.
With smartphones remaining the primary point of internet access for billions of users worldwide, time spent on mobile apps and websites is expected to keep rising in the years ahead.
