App happy: 33 billion mobile apps downloaded this summer

Some 33 billion mobile applications were downloaded worldwide in Q3 2020, according to the app analytics and market data platform, App Annie.

This volume was driven by a 10% increase in downloads from Google Play (Android) and a 20% increase from the App Store (iOS). This is largely explained by new user needs resulting from the covid-19 pandemic (isolation, homeworking, etc.).

Between the countries still under lockdown and those fearing a second wave, users in the world are downloading and using an increasing number of mobile applications. According to App Annie, applications relating to communication, as well as those favoring remote working (work, education, shopping, etc.) are proving particularly popular.

As a direct result, in-app spending from July to September 2020 rose to US$28 billion, a figure up 20% compared to the same period in 2019.

What's more, cell phone users have never passed so much time using their applications, with an average 180 billion hours of use each month during the summer a spectacular 25% increase year-on-year. Usage even outstrips Q2, when the figure was already close to 150 billion hours.