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Consumer spending on apps has reached a record $ 32 billion (approximately Rs 2.34.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2021, according to a report. While the coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected many businesses around the world, it has had a positive effect on the app market around the world, as people began downloading more apps to their devices and paying more for purchases within of the app since early 2020. Both apps from the Apple Store and Google Play have seen an increase in app downloads and in-app purchases.
Market intelligence firm App Annie said in its latest report that the first quarter of 2021 was the largest for the app market worldwide, as it reached the $ 32 billion milestone in in-app purchases in App Store and Google Play. This was 40 percent more than the first quarter of 2020.
The firm said that smartphone users spent around $ 9 billion (roughly Rs. 65.9 billion rupees) more on apps and games in the first quarter than they did in the same quarter last year.
In terms of platform-based growth, App Annie noted in its report that growth in the first quarter was shared equally by Android and iOS. “Consumer spending grew 40 percent year-over-year to $ 21 billion (roughly Rs. 1.53.8 billion rupees) on iOS, and by the same percentage year-over-year to about $ 11 billion (roughly Rs. .80.6 billion rupees) on Google Play, “it read.
Similar to the growth in consumer spending, total downloads also grew significantly. App Annie said App Store and Google Play downloads combined increased 10 percent to 31 billion in the first quarter.
On Google Play, apps in the Games, Social, and Entertainment categories posted the highest quarter-on-quarter growth in terms of consumer spending. This was a bit different from the App Store, where the largest categories by consumer spending growth were Games, Photography & Video, and Entertainment.
Google Play also posted the highest quarter-over-quarter download growth in the Social, Tools and Finance categories. Other top categories on the official Android app store include Weather (40 percent) and Dating (35 percent).
In the App Store, Games, Finance and Social networks were the main categories that generated the most downloads. The biggest highlight, however, was Health and Fitness, as app downloads in that category increased 25 percent quarter-on-quarter. It makes sense as a large number of smartphone users continued to stay in their homes and engage in physical activities indoors due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The top apps by downloads, consumer spending, and monthly active users (MAU) on the App Store and Google Play were TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook in the first quarter. The Annie app, however, noted that the Signal messaging app emerged as the fastest growing app by downloads and MAUs, while Telegram was third in downloads and number two in MAUs. This could be due to recent criticism of WhatsApp for its new privacy policy.
Top mobile apps for Q1 2021 include TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook
Photo Credit: App Annie
Indian app MX Takatak, a local alternative to TikTok, was also seen as the fastest growing app by downloads in the quarter. However, TikTok topped the list of top downloads, followed by Facebook and Instagram.
TikTok was also the second-leading app in terms of consumer spending, although YouTube dominated that front and Tinder was third. For the MAUs, Facebook led the market, followed by WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
App Annie in January reported that mobile app downloads reached a milestone of 218 billion in 2020. However, the latest results suggest that we may see even more growth this year.
Games continue to lead the application market
Games topped other categories by hitting $ 22 billion (roughly Rs. 1.61.3 billion rupees) in the quarter, according to the App Annie report. Gamers on the iOS platform spent the most at $ 13 billion (roughly Rs. 95.3 billion rupees), up 30 percent year-over-year. However, Android gamers spent $ 9 billion (roughly Rs. 65.970 crore), 35 percent more.
The Annie app said a billion games were downloaded each week in the first quarter, showing an increase of 15 percent from 2020 and 35 percent from the weekly average recorded in the same quarter of 2019. Google Play downloads they grew 20 percent year-over-year to 11 billion.
Supersonic Studio’s casual survival title Join Clash 3D became the most downloaded game of the quarter. It was followed by Among Us and DOP 2: Delete One Part.
On the consumer spending front, Roblox led the market, followed by Genshin Impact, Coin Master, and Pokemon Go. However, titles including Among Us, PUBG Mobile, and Candy Crush Saga topped the list of games that received the most MAUs in the quarter.
The best mobile games of the first quarter of 2021 include Join Clash 3D, Roblox and Among Us
Photo Credit: App Annie
Game downloads on mobile devices exceeded total downloads by 2.5 times in 2020. But in 2021, App Annie projects that mobile games could reach $ 120 billion (roughly Rs. 8.79.6 billion).
“Mobile gaming strategy – product development, partnerships, international expansion, user acquisition, marketing, monetization, and retention – is more important than ever, and game publishers must have a clear vision of the market and the path ahead. ahead, “said the firm. .
Does WhatsApp’s new privacy policy mean the end of your privacy? We talked about this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.
