The 20 Most Popular Android Apps in the Google Play Store

Many of the Android apps we recommend aren’t popular in the wider community. Of course, they’re all excellent—we wouldn’t suggest lousy apps—but often you can file them into the “niche” category.

For something different, let’s take a step back and look at some of the all-time most popular Android apps in the Google Play Store. These are the ones that Android’s 2.8 billion active users have downloaded most frequently.

A Note on Stock Android Apps

We’re not going to include apps that come preloaded on stock Android devices. This means we’re excluding Google Play Services (more than 10 billion downloads), Gmail (13 billion), Google Maps (12.7 billion), YouTube (13.7 billion), and a few others. We also aren’t including apps pre-installed on Samsung phones.

We’ve used AndroidRank’s data to determine the estimated downloads of these popular apps listed below. The numbers in parentheses denote the placement change from July 2022, when we last updated this list.

1. WhatsApp (=)

9.66 billion downloads

Back in July 2018, WhatsApp had 2.9 billion downloads on Android devices, placing it third on the list of the most installed apps. In 2023, it reached a new milestone of 9.6 billion downloads, showing a remarkable growth of more than 300% in five years.

WhatsApp—which is the world’s most popular instant messaging tool—has been under Meta’s ownership since a $19 billion buyout in early 2014. If you don’t fancy using a Meta-owned app messaging app, try out one of the many WhatsApp alternatives.

Download: WhatsApp (Free)

2. Facebook (=)

Image Credit: Meta

7.57 billion downloads

It’s not surprising to see Facebook as the world’s second-highest downloaded app. Despite seemingly endless scandals, questionable privacy practices, and the #DeleteFacebook movement, it still reigns supreme and is one of the most popular Google Play Store apps.

Not everyone is happy though, as this app has 52 million one-star ratings. Perhaps it’s justified; the app is bloated with pointless features that few people bother to use.

Download: Facebook (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. Messenger (=)

5.61 billion downloads

The presence of Messenger in this list reinforces the control that Meta’s empire has over the smartphone app marketplace. Messenger has grown in popularity over the last few years, with the increased availability of bots making the service more useful than ever. There are also ways to use Messenger without Facebook.

This app is now also safe for kids, as you can easily change your child’s information and use the Messenger Sleep Mode to avoid any distractions when they are studying or napping.

Download: Messenger (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. TikTok (+2)

4.51 billion downloads

TikTok’s ongoing growth shows no signs of abating. The app, which lets users create and share short video clips, broke one billion downloads in July 2019 and has exploded in popularity over the last four years. If you are a creator on the platform, there are several methods you can try to get more fans and followers on TikTok.

Download: TikTok (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Instagram (-1)

4.14 billion downloads

Instagram is yet another Meta-owned app, which the company acquired in 2012. It is one of the most downloaded apps on the Play Store, and has significantly fewer negative reviews than its big brother, with just 30 million giving the app a single star. With features like Instagram Reels, the app has become much more enjoyable!

Download: Instagram (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. Facebook Lite (+6)

2.92 billion downloads

And we’re back to Facebook. The Lite version of the app is aimed at users with low-end devices (packing 1GB or 2GB of RAM) and those who only have access to slower data networks. There are a few subtle usability changes, but all the main features are present and work as expected.

Download: Facebook Lite (Free)

7. SHAREit (+8)

2.21 billion downloads

It’s not all about social networks and games with popular Android apps. SHAREit is the first non-Google productivity app to make the list. The app offers a way to transfer large files between devices in seconds. According to the developer, it’s over 200 times faster than Bluetooth.

Download: SHAREit (Free, in-app purchases available)

8. Netflix (+9)

1.88 billion downloads

Netflix now has almost 238 million subscribers. The service’s blend of original content and old favorites has proved to be a winning formula, and while the growth slowed as streaming competition heated up, the signs are that Netflix’s introduction of an ad-supported has worked well. It is the only video-on-demand streaming app to make the top 20.

Download: Netflix (Free, subscription required)

9. Snapchat (=)

1.71 billion downloads

Instagram might be stealing all of Snapchat’s best features, but the latter still manages to rack up more than 330 million daily users. However, as a percentage of the total downloads on Android and iOS combined, that figure remains low. Is it time to start worrying about the app’s future?

Download: Snapchat (Free, in-app purchases available)