OpenAI’s ChatGPT, ride-hailing giant Uber, e-commerce platform Temu, and streaming service Netflix ranked among the most downloaded smartphone apps worldwide in 2025, according to Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2026 report.
The annual study tracks downloads from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, analysing performance across major categories including Artificial Intelligence, Social Media, Retail, Finance, Video Streaming, Travel and E-hailing, Sports, Gaming, and Food & Drinks.
ChatGPT Ranks as the Most Downloaded App Globally
Across all app categories, ChatGPT secured the top spot in global downloads for 2025, underscoring the accelerating adoption of generative AI tools by everyday users.
ByteDance-owned TikTok ranked second, reflecting the continued global appeal of short-form video content, particularly among Gen Z audiences. Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Messenger followed in third, fourth, and fifth positions, highlighting Meta’s sustained influence in mobile usage.
The remainder of the top 10 included CapCut, Temu, Google Gemini, Telegram, and Snapchat.
Sensor Tower noted that its download estimates were calculated on a per-user basis, meaning only one download per Apple or Google account was counted.
Social Media Downloads Decline as Usage Time Increases
Within the social media category, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Messenger emerged as the five most downloaded apps globally in 2025. Telegram, X (formerly Twitter), and WeChat also featured among the top performers.
Despite strong engagement, total social media app downloads declined by 12 per cent, falling from 9.14 billion in 2024 to 8.07 billion in 2025, the lowest level recorded since 2022.
However, total time spent on social media platforms increased slightly, rising from 3.3 trillion hours to 3.4 trillion hours. Social and messaging apps accounted for more than 60 per cent of total time spent across all mobile apps in 2025.
Retail Apps: Temu Tops Downloads, Amazon Leads Engagement
In the retail segment, Temu and SHEIN led global downloads, followed by Amazon Shopping, Meesho, and Shopee.
While Temu dominated downloads, Amazon remained the most widely used retail app, averaging 685 million monthly active users in the fourth quarter of 2025. Other apps completing the top 10 included Alibaba, Flipkart, AliExpress, Mercado Libre, and Myntra.
Overall, retail app downloads dipped by 2 per cent year-on-year to 6.4 billion, attributed to slower expansion by major Chinese retailers, rising U.S. tariffs, and saturation in key global markets.
Finance Apps Record Historic Growth
Finance apps continued to gain traction in 2025, led by digital wallets and peer-to-peer payment platforms.
PhonePe, PayPal, Navi, Paytm, and Google Pay ranked as the most downloaded finance apps globally, reflecting a consumer shift toward payments, credit, and lending services rather than cryptocurrencies.
Total finance app downloads rose 6 per cent year-on-year, reaching 8.2 billion, marking the first time the category crossed the 8-billion threshold. Time spent within finance apps also grew by 8.5 per cent, reaching 42 billion hours.
Video Streaming Gains Momentum from Short-Form Dramas
In video streaming, DramaBox, ReelShort, and Netflix emerged as the most downloaded apps worldwide in 2025.
Downloads in the category surged by 39 per cent, increasing from 3.8 billion to 5.3 billion, driven largely by renewed global interest in short-form drama content.
Total time spent on video streaming platforms also rose by 8 per cent, reaching 109 billion hours, signalling changing viewing preferences among mobile users.
AI Apps See Explosive Growth in Engagement
AI assistant apps dominated the artificial intelligence category, with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Doubao, and Perplexity leading global downloads.
AI apps recorded a 240 per cent surge in time spent, jumping from 13.4 billion hours to 48.1 billion hours in 2025. Session volumes also exceeded one trillion, pointing to deeper and more frequent user engagement. Other AI apps ranking in the top 10 included xAI’s Grok, Seeker, Meta AI, and Microsoft Copilot.
Travel and E-Hailing Apps Continue to Grow
In the travel category, Uber emerged as the most downloaded app globally, followed by Google Maps, Wave, and inDrive, reinforcing Uber’s strong international presence.
Overall, travel app downloads and time spent grew by 3 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, with growth driven largely by emerging markets where digital adoption and travel infrastructure continue to expand.
Sports Apps Reach New Download Highs
Sports apps also recorded a strong performance in 2025. Dream11, DAZN, BeSoccer, My11Circle, Flashscore, Sofascore, and ESPN topped global downloads.
Total sports app downloads reached nearly 1.2 billion, surpassing the 2023 peak and signalling record-high fan engagement.
However, in-app purchase revenue declined from $1.6 billion to $1.4 billion, reflecting ongoing challenges in sports streaming and the impact of piracy, despite increased regulatory crackdowns.
