Designing a mobile application is a significant investment. Acquiring users isn't cheap. Entering the mobile market is an iterative process requiring comprehensive research, extensive planning, and unwavering commitment. Success in today's mobile app design market isn't easy. But the truth is, having a mobile app is inevitable.
Before you begin designing your mobile application, it's crucial to fully understand the mobile ecosystem. Only then can you make informed decisions about your mobile strategy, tailored to your specific needs.
Below is a comprehensive list of 50 mobile statistics to get the wheels turning and provide more insights into your target market. These statistics are categorized into 5 areas: mobile usage, mobile performance, mobile marketing, industry trends, and 2019 predictions.
Mobile Usage Statistics
If you have any doubts about the importance of mobile presence, consider how society prioritizes mobile activities.
1- By 2020, there will be approximately 6 billion mobile users.
2- In 2018, there were 194 billion app downloads.
3- Over the past two years, App Store users spent 75% more, reaching $101 billion globally.
4- In-app subscription models saw a 120% increase, excluding gaming apps.
5- In 2018, users spent an average of three hours on their smartphones.
6- Mobile users in the US have over 100 apps installed on their smartphones.
7- On average, mobile users check their smartphones 47 times a day.
8- About 80% of users check their phones at least an hour before bed, with 35% checking within 5 minutes of sleep.
9- 16-24 year-olds spend 20% more time in apps.
10- Mobile apps accounted for 57% of total digital media consumption in 2018.
The evidence is clear: people are reliant on their smartphones. If the majority of your audience is mobile-first or mobile-only, your business needs to connect with them based on their priorities.
Mobile Performance
Users have exceptionally high standards for mobile performance. You need to test your digital content across various screen sizes and devices.
Every mobile app must be thoroughly tested. Performance factors like load times, app crashes, and complex registration forms create poor user experiences and hurt market success.
11- 71% of app deletions are due to app crashes.
12- 67% of bugs are reported from iOS devices.
13- 44% of app flaws are user-reported.
14- 47% of apps require more testing time.
15- 58% of users are incompatible.
16- 52% of users are frustrated by overall app performance.
17- 29% of users leave an app immediately if they don't find it valuable.
18- 70% of users abandon an app because it takes too long to download.
19- 43% of users will abandon your app download if it takes longer than three seconds.
20- 65% of users say a poor user experience negatively impacts their opinion of a brand.
If your app isn't thoroughly tested, it's not ready for market. A documented testing process is a critical element in any mobile strategy.
Mobile Marketing
Achieving progress in the mobile app market is challenging, even for established institutions. Drafting a mobile marketing plan is a cornerstone of successful product launches.
21- Only 54% of marketers say they currently use a mobile app platform for sales and customer acquisition.
22- The cost of acquiring a user has decreased from 29.9% to $2.89 over several years.
23- The cost of acquiring a user who completed the registration form was $4.58 in 2018, a 44.2% decrease.
24- Using a multi-channel engagement strategy is a powerful retention method. User retention is 62% higher than apps using only one channel.
25- The most popular App Store Optimization (ASO) method is description updates, accounting for 46% of statistics.
26- App icon updates were the second most common ASO method at around 30%, a 24% increase from previous years.
27- Last year, 65% of digital advertising spend in the US went to mobile.
28- The total volume of top paid app downloads increased by 10%.
29- Apple's App Store leverages over 25% of advertising platforms annually.
30- Throughout the year, the Google Play store leverages approximately 20% of advertising platforms.
App Growth Trends by Industry
Looking at mobile app growth trends across various industries provides diverse perspectives on how to connect with users. App statistics vary based on loyalty, usage duration, and in-app activity.
Banking App Design
31- Banking app downloads exploded in 2018, reaching 3.4 billion downloads - a 75% increase in two years.
32- The average banking app usage duration is 3.1 minutes.
Food, Restaurant, and QSRs App Design
33- Food and beverage ordering via apps increased 130% in 2018 compared to 2016.
34- Food delivery apps in Canada and the US increased by 255% and 175%, respectively.
Travel App Design
35- In 2018, car-sharing app usage increased by 25%.
36- In contrast, bike and scooter-sharing apps saw a 530% growth in users last year.
37- The average travel app usage duration is 2.8 minutes.
Retail App Design
38- November 2018 had the highest mobile app-based online shopping by total time spent.
39- Online shopping and retail app usage duration is 4.6 to 5 minutes.
40- In the US, mobile shopping has increased by 70% in the past two years.
2019 Predictions
41- App Store user spending will reach $120 billion in 2019.
42- 10 minutes of every hour of digital media consumption next year will be spent watching online videos on mobile.
43- In 2019, 60% of apps will monetize through in-app advertising.
44- Usage of entertainment and online video apps will increase by 460%.
45- Mobile gaming will capture up to 60% of the market share.
46- User acquisition will be easier in 2019, but the cost of converting users to customers will more than double, increasing by about 63%, making loyalty harder to build.
47- The cost of acquiring female users who shop online will likely remain at $94.16 in 2019.
48- The cost of converting female users to customers will also be high, averaging $53.12 in 2018.
49- In 2018, female user engagement was 39.6%, which is 44.4% higher than male users. This trend will continue in 2019.
50- 78% of teenagers will use a smartphone as their primary device.
