ChatGPT didn’t make it into the top 10 apps of 2024, but AI is still ruling the scene
7 min read
Half of the top-ranked apps in 2024 come from Meta and ByteDance (think TikTok and CapCut). What’s interesting? All of these apps rely on AI to deliver a high-quality user experience.
The study comes from Setapp, an ultimate platform for getting hand-picked secure apps for Mac and iPhone. To compile this list, we collected data on the most downloaded and highest-rated apps on the App Store and Google Play. After scrubbing the data for accuracy, here’s what we found.
10 most popular apps in 2024
Spoiler: Social media and messengers reign supreme. Again.
1. Instagram
Instagram remains a major player in the social media space, and content personalization remains one of its key features. Last year, Meta finally revealed how its algorithms curate content for each user. For example, to build a personalized feed, the AI selects about 500 posts from the accounts a user follows, assigns each a relevance score, and then displays them in the feed accordingly. Users can even learn more about why they see a particular post by clicking the three dots in the top right corner and selecting 'Why you see this post.'
- Category: Social media
- Downloads: 696 million
- Average rating: 4.5
- Final score: 90
2. TikTok
A user may not drop a single like, but TikTok's AI algorithms will still figure out what content they prefer. And this year, TikTok expanded its advertising opportunities for brands and creators. They launched TikTok Symphony – a set of AI tools for creativity. It helps generate videos based on just a few inputs, creates scripts, assists with brainstorming, and even improves existing videos.
- Category: Social media
- Downloads: 654 million
- Average rating: 4.6
- Final score: 85
Expert opinion
I think TikTok Symphony is just the beginning of what AI can bring to apps. It can really help people shift their roles to more creative, strategic tasks, allowing them to focus on high-level decision-making rather than execution.
I'm also outsourcing as many routine tasks as possible to AI. Google Notebook LM allows me to upload and accurately analyze large volumes of source material tailored to my needs. Spellar AI creates meeting summaries, and Ready to Send generates draft emails. Examples abound.
My team and I also work on Setapp AI+, a comprehensive solution for those looking to integrate sophisticated AI technology into their daily operations. I’m excited about AI’s potential to automate and personalize processes, making user experiences even smoother.
3. Facebook
With 3 billion active users per month (as of April 2024), Facebook is ahead of Instagram and TikTok. Like these apps, Facebook uses AI to personalize content and can draw on user actions from both Facebook and Instagram. At the same time, Facebook has the lowest average rating of all the top apps, suggesting mixed user experiences, possibly due to concerns over privacy and data management.
- Category: Social media
- Downloads: 553 million
- Average rating: 4
- Final score: 83
Expert opinion
I believe privacy and security should be a priority for both developers and users. For users, the basic security toolkit includes a VPN (especially when connecting to public networks) and a password manager (to avoid the temptation of reusing passwords). These two tools alone can make you more secure than millions of others online.
4. WhatsApp
With 2 billion monthly active users, Whatsapp is known for its end-to-end encryption and secure and reliable communications. Recently, it launched Meta AI (now available to a limited number of users). This chatbot can generate images, engage in conversations, and search for information.
- Category: Messaging
- Downloads: 475 million
- Average rating: 4.55
- Final score: 74
5. CapCut
CapCut brings AI into video editing and makes it feel like magic. It can create AI characters to narrate a video, clone voices, clean audio from extraneous noise, create voiceovers with AI text-to-speech, and more. The app is considered a strong competitor to Adobe and Canva. In addition to being easy to use, it also seamlessly integrates with TikTok (both products of ByteDance) and offers many powerful features, most of which are free.
- Category: Video editing
- Downloads: 389 million
- Average rating: 4.55
- Final score: 64
6. Telegram
Telegram is known for its robust privacy features, including secret chats and self-destructing messages. Its extensive functionality, such as channels, bots, and large file-sharing capabilities, distinguishes it from other messaging apps. It is particularly well-regarded among users who prioritize security, advanced communication features, and cross-platform experience.
- Category: Messaging
- Downloads: 355 million
- Average rating: 4.35
- Final score: 60
7. Snapchat
Snapchat doesn’t attract much interest from people over 35. However, when it comes to the 13-34 demographic, the app reaches more than 75% of this population in some countries. The app appeals to younger audiences, who prefer its unique features like ephemeral messages, snapstreaks, and AR lenses. Snapchat’s continuous innovation in AR technology and partnerships with brands for filters and lenses keep users hooked.
- Category: Social media
- Downloads: 343 million
- Average rating: 4.4
- Final score: 59
8. Subway Surfers
Subway Surfers, a runner that never ends, is a standout in the gaming category. Released 12 years ago, it became the first game to break the 1 billion downloads barrier on Google Play. Its simple yet addictive gameplay, regular updates, and seasonal events keep players coming back for more. The game’s vibrant graphics and easy-to-learn mechanics have garnered a broad audience, making it a classic in the mobile gaming scene.
- Category: Gaming
- Downloads: 304 million
- Average rating: 4.45
- Final score: 54
9. Zoom
After a spike during the pandemic, Zoom's revenues have leveled off and are crawling. However, its intuitive interface and reliable performance have cemented its place as a top communication app. Now, Zoom is jumping on the AI bandwagon with the introduction of Zoom AI Companion. It can summarize meetings and chat chains, bring users up to speed if they missed a part of the meeting, and assist in crafting polished emails and messages.
- Category: Communication
- Downloads: 300 million
- Average rating: 4.50
- Final score: 54
10. Temu
The addictive nature of Temu, a shopping app, is often compared to TikTok. Experts believe that Temu's AI recommendation algorithms work similarly: they analyze the time the user spends on a product, the speed of switching between items, etc. Within minutes, Temu profiles the user and offers the most relevant products. Coupled with a well-designed interface, a diverse product range, and competitive prices, Temu is now competing with shopping giants like Amazon and Shein, even though it only launched in 2022.
- Category: Shopping
- Downloads: 274 million
- Average rating: 4.65
- Final score: 51
Key insights and future trends
What trends can the top apps of 2024 reveal? Let's dive into the key ideas and trends that show where the industry is headed and what we can expect in the coming years.
- The rise of AI. Almost every leading app uses AI, whether to rank content or to introduce innovative, powerful features. The application of AI goes beyond improving the user experience; it also helps experts focus on high-level decision-making rather than execution.
- Social media evolution. Apps like Instagram and TikTok continue to dominate with their engaging features, such as short-form video and eCommerce integration. We can expect future social media apps to further blend entertainment with shopping, creating a seamless user experience.
- Improved user experience. High user satisfaction with apps such as Temu and CapCut indicates that users value seamless functionality and intuitive interfaces. Future apps will likely focus on personalized experiences and integrating AI to meet individual user needs better.
- Productivity and communication. WhatsApp and Zoom highlight the importance of reliable, secure communication tools. As remote working and digital collaboration remain prevalent, future apps will likely enhance these features with more robust security measures and better integration across platforms.
- Gaming and entertainment. Subway Surfers illustrates the balance between engaging content and accessibility. Future trends may include more immersive experiences through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), as well as more interactive content.
How we conducted the research
Data collection
The data for this article were sourced from multiple reputable platforms, such as G2, TechRadar, GetApp, and more, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the findings. The collection process involved two main categories of data: app ratings and number of downloads.
App ratings
We utilized the official APIs of the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to gather the ratings of the most popular mobile applications. These APIs offer a reliable and consistent way to access real-time data regarding app performance metrics.
Google Play Store: Ratings were extracted using the Google Play Developer API, as documented on the Google Developers website. This API provides detailed information about app ratings, reviews, and other performance metrics directly from the Google Play Store.
Apple App Store: Similarly, ratings for apps on the Apple platform were gathered using the App Store Connect API, which is available through the Apple Developer documentation. This API allows for extracting comprehensive app performance data, including ratings and reviews, from the Apple App Store.
Number of downloads
The number of downloads for each app was obtained from reliable third-party sources specializing in app market analytics. These sources compile and provide access to extensive app usage statistics, ensuring a high level of data accuracy.
Business of Apps: Data on the number of downloads were extracted from Business of Apps, a leading platform for app industry statistics and insights. Detailed download statistics were obtained from their data section.
Appfigures: Additional download numbers were sourced from Appfigures, a well-regarded service that provides app market intelligence. Data were retrieved from their app statistics page, which aggregates information from various app stores to provide comprehensive insights into app performance.
Data processing and analysis
Once collected, the data were processed to ensure consistency and accuracy. Duplicate entries were removed, and discrepancies between sources were cross-checked and resolved. The processed data was then analyzed to determine a final score for each app based on popularity and user satisfaction.
Limitations
While the data sources used are reputable and reliable, this study has inherent limitations. The availability and accuracy of download numbers can vary depending on the source, and rating data may not fully capture the user experience due to potential biases in user reviews.
Bottom line
The top 2024 apps show what users love. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook lead the way in social media, while Temu excels in shopping. Surprisingly, highly rated apps like Microsoft Authenticator and Pinterest have fewer downloads.
In gaming, Subway Surfers is the favorite, and Duolingo is praised for education. These trends confirm the importance of innovation and great user experiences.
Looking ahead, expect to see more seamless cross-platform functionality, improved security measures, and the integration of AR and VR into games and entertainment. Not surprisingly, AI will play a significant role in future app development, improving personalization and efficiency.
