The 10 Most Used Apps in 2023

Intro

2023 was an exciting year for individuals all over the world. Throughout the year, many different applications played vital roles in sustaining and aiding entrepreneurs, marketers, business people, and average individuals in conducting their everyday activities.

From marketing content to diverse consumers to enjoying a random comedy video, these apps were nothing short of integral to all aspects of daily life.

Today, let’s look at the ten most used apps in 2023.

1. TikTok

TikTok, a video-sharing social media platform, has been in the public’s eye throughout the year 2023. Enjoying the patronage of users from all generations, the app has become synonymous with relaxation and helpful content.

Despite being user-friendly, many governments have considered placing bans on TikTok due to concerns about national security. This development has caused some Texans to try out a similar homebred app in the name of Clapper targeted at Gen X and Gen Y users. In a similar vein, the top recommended apps for Texas in readwrite.com for betting are based overseas, as gambling apps are not yet licenced locally in the state.

2. WhatsApp Messenger

WhatsApp enjoyed many upgrades all through this year. In the wake of multiple instant messaging apps, it topped the relevance chats with increased user-inclined updates. From increased chat and user security to an increase in the number of participants on video calls, the application strove to remain at the top of the instant messaging food chain.

3. YouTube

YouTube is the most popular music and video streaming app worldwide. In the quest to stay dominant, YouTube also introduced several new features ranging from AI assistance to variable playback speed and volume stabilization.

Notably, YouTube clamped down on the use of ad-blockers in the app this year. As a result, users must either uninstall their ad blockers and watch ads or pay for YouTube Premium to be free from such ads.

4. Instagram

Instagram is another social media platform widely sought after all through 2023.

Created for ease of curating and sharing pictures and videos of memorable moments, users flocked to Instagram, especially after its reveal of how specific, powerful algorithms help determine who sees what posts.

Adding music to photo carousels and redesigning reels is part of why Instagram retained some of its decade-long popularity this year.

5. Threads

2023 also saw the rise in Threads, Meta’s brainchild, created to assuage the complaints from dissatisfied users of X, previously known as Twitter.

Many thought it impossible for a new app to break into the sacred space held by X in the social media world. However, with rising dissatisfaction over harmful content on X, Threads found its break into the market pretty straightforward. It amassed a record-breaking 150 million downloads in just the first week of launch.

6. Google

Google remains the most prominent search engine across the world. This year, Google further solidified its search engine dominance by infusing AI into its search to help users with searches further. According to Statista, Google dominates about 83.49% of the global desktop search market.

7. Gmail

Gmail is Google’s email service provider, widely lauded as the most popular email service, boasting over 1.2 billion users. Its popularity is linked to how easy it is to set up and use and its accessibility worldwide, drawing from Google’s already large customer base.

Gmail was included in the 2023 updates, receiving its own AI assistance for mail writing, as well as increased security and emoji reactions.

8. Capcut - Video Editor

Owned by Tiktok’s parent company, ByteDance, CapCut is a video editing application that helps users make the most compelling video content for their social media websites from their smartphones. It is also available on Windows, and it allows anybody armed with a YouTube video to create video content from scratch.

9. Max: Stream HBO, TV and Movies

Max is a streaming platform that brings together all of HBO movies. It makes it easy to access blockbuster movies, series, and even HBO originals, which cannot be gotten elsewhere. Max is the property of Warner Bros, Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment.

10. Temu

2023 was a good year for Temu due to its wide range of discounts offered to users on purchases ranging from household items to clothes and tech accessories. Temu’s online marketplace is owned by PDD Holdings, which is registered in Massachusetts.

Conclusion

2023 has been a good year across the internet space, with social media apps topping the charts in terms of utility and relevance, alongside impressive SaaS marketing statistics highlighting their growing influence. Considering these apps and the SaaS platforms that made the cut in 2023, what do you think 2024 would hold for these global giants in terms of usage? Would they remain dominant? Would their thrones be usurped by other upcoming apps the same way threads attempted this year? What do you forecast?

For us, only time will tell.