What are the top mobile app development trends for 2024? What kind of apps are loved most?

The multi-billion-dollar app development industry is ever-evolving and persistently changing from time to time. It is growing like never before, making the competitive advantage of this industrial landscape a strategic necessity. The role of the latest trends and projects is undeniably progressive, with the day-by-day surging demands of users to bring something exponential out of this phenomenal tech world. So, whether you are an industry professional, an entrepreneur, or a tech enthusiast, keeping in touch with the forthcoming developments in mobile app development technology and solutions is important.

When Apple’s app store was first launched in 2008, there were just 500 apps on offer. Today, millions of paid and free apps have already been developed by iOS app developers, making over 1.803 million apps available in Apple's App Store only. Simultaneously, 3.553 million mobile apps are available in the Google Play Store, out of which 110 are paid apps.

Statista reports that there have been over 255 billion apps downloaded in 2023, constituting a 25 billion increase in the apps downloaded in the previous year. This demonstrates how imperative apps have become in our lives when 9 to 10 apps are accessed daily by the users for searching, binge-watching, playing games, ordering food, and so many other reasons.

Delving deep into technology, we will further discuss the top trends leading the app development industry and the future of apps in 2024. But first of all, we will discuss what kinds of apps are popularizing in a global context and attracting their audiences the most.

How are mobile applications impacting the world today?

As the number of smartphone users grows, popular app downloads are significantly increasing. TikTok, Meta’s Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp are reported to be among the top-ranked apps loved by the majority of users, followed by TikTok’s video editing tool, CapCut.

Zoom and Microsoft Teams as business communication apps have continuously declined in downloads in the previous year as well. A bit of a decline was also seen in the education apps for schools and universities from 2021 to date, as the majority of schools have returned to fully in-person attendance.

A number of subscription-led sectors like fitness, health, meditation, and dating-related apps have all lowered downloads continuously for 2-3 years. Fitness apps gained popularity during the pandemic and afterwards, but now people have resumed their work more seriously than ever, leaving no time for people to waste on unnecessary tasks.

Due to the crash in the value of any alt-coins and inflation across the globe, investors got scared, and this led to the downfall of crypto apps in 2022.

However, the app market doesn’t seem gloomy and dark, as many sectors are observing moderate growth in 2023, like travel, shopping, food and drink, social media, etc. Lensa AI and Chat GPT saw huge attention from users at the end of 2022. In 2023, AI will be a significant trend in app development, followed by Meta, Google, and other participants who also brought their AI-based chatbots and other tools. Just think: if ChatGPT ever becomes available on iOS and Android, it will definitely become one of the most popular apps of the year in 2024.

Have a look at the data we collected about the most popular apps based on different categories. We researched globally, through the UK, USA, Brazil, China, India, and many other nations, where TikTok tops the charts as the most popular app of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, followed by Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp. CapCut secures fifth place in the same year. Gaming apps have been the most chosen category among mobile internet users, followed by lifestyle, social media, utility, entertainment, and news and information-related apps as the priority ones.

Top Trends Shaping the Future of Mobile App Development and App Usage

1. Voice-Enabled Technologies – This technology enables users to communicate with applications without even touching their phones. Voice control helps phone owners utilize their apps for specific functions.
2. 5G Technology – 5G technology reduces latency and increases speeds for data sharing on mobile phones. This encourages the exchange of massive amounts of data between applications and services and makes cloud computing benefits easily accessible to users using all kinds of devices.
3. Internet of Things or IoT – The number of devices with embedded computer hardware are increasing rapidly due to rise in the IoT technology. It is one of the best smart home technologies that can simply work through mobile phones and generate warnings of malfunctions.
4. Mobile Commerce – Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and other e-wallet systems have grown as an option for cardless and cashless payments and are a popular mobile commerce trend these days.
5. Augmented and Virtual Reality – AR and VR technologies have been around for a while. In the fields of games, education, entertainment, engineering, and healthcare, apps built using AR and VR technology are really driving engagement.
6. Instant and Cloud-Based Apps – Instant apps are progressive apps that you don’t need to download to your phone. They can be instantly accessed through your mobile browser. On the other hand, cloud migration allows developers to create a single solution that can work on multiple platforms, whatever operating system they are using.
7. Location and Motion-Sensing Services – Location-based apps create personalized offers and ads, provide tailored user experiences, and offer direction for specific goods and services. Whereas, motion-sensing services enable users to monitor their businesses, operations, and homes remotely.
8. Wearable Devices – The IoT and 5G trends are crazily driving the development and demand for wearable devices. Developers try to integrate wearables into standard apps like watches that remain attached to people.
9. Predictive Analysis – Predictive analysis helps developers and companies predict how an app will be used by users based on the user’s past usage data. Predictive analysis also helps users automatically customize the apps without changing their settings.

Top Mobile App Development Trends for 2024

The latest trends in the mobile app development arena are not a recommendation, but a necessity. Let’s view in detail the top mobile app development trends that will rule in 2024 and soon set the stage for a revolution in the industry.

#1 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – Artificial intelligence and machine learning are taking an inseparable place in today’s app development landscape. Personalized and efficient user experiences are interestingly reshaping the way we interact with our mobile apps today.

1. AI and ML comprehend user behavior and preferences. AI and ML-based applications can dynamically perform in real-time, showcasing unique experiences for each user.
2. The growing usage of AI-powered chatbots in a variety of applications is another fine illustration of AI. These chatbots provide instant support by streamlining user queries, ensuring a seamless user experience. As per a recent report from Business Insider, 80% of businesses are integrating chatbots into their working models, highlighting the growing significance of AI in customer support.
3. Machine learning algorithms also significantly enhance user experiences. For example, ML models integrated into e-commerce applications recommend products based on past purchases and search histories of users, which ultimately leads to higher conversions and user engagement. Another study by McKinsey reveals that 35% of the revenue collected by Amazon is generated due to its recommendation engine.
4. The role of AI and ML is absolutely important to predict user behavior, which enables app developers to anticipate what their needs are and thus support their apps accordingly. The main motive of predictive analysis is to redefine user interactions in mobile applications.

Statista also suggests that the revenue generated from the global AI market will cross $126 billion in 2025, which signifies the growth level of AI in the technological landscape.

2# Cloud Technology – The impact of cloud technology on mobile app development is remarkable, as it offers an efficient, user-centric approach to creating and maintaining apps.

1. Flexibility is one of the key advantages of cloud technology. The cloud technology enables the app developers to scale their resources up or down based on demand, which leads to the most efficient and cost-effective usage of the resources. Apps that experience variable traffic or those in their early stages of launch are mostly benefited by this flexibility.
2. The speed of app deployment is another major advantage of cloud technology. The cloud-based development tools and platforms enable businesses to quickly build and roll out the apps, and the rapid deployment, of course, allows them to stay competitive and meet the demands of their users within a limited amount of time.
3. The biggest advantage for cloud-based apps’ users is the ability to access their data and the functionality of the app from any device, place, and time. This also facilitates real-time data syncing across multiple devices to ensure a consistent user experience.

The combination of cloud environments and mobile development solutions not only accelerates the development process but also enhances the user experience by facilitating seamless access to app functionalities. Businesses, by utilizing the features of this technology, can stay ahead of the competition and adapt to the constantly evolving landscape of mobile development.

#3 Apps Gamification – Gamification of apps is an enduring and evolving trend of the era in mobile app development. The new-age apps are provoking revolutionary engagement and motivation among users by incorporating gaming mechanics into non-gaming fields. Gamification turns all mundane tasks into challenging outcomes, whether they are in the fields of fitness, education, productivity, finance, or any other genre.

1. Gamification provides fun and engagement for users to interact with the mobile apps. In fact, the users are highly motivated to deeply engage with the app by presenting challenging tasks and offering points or rewards upon game completion. This is because most business transformations fail or lose their essence due to a lack of engagement with their apps, and therefore, gamification has emerged as a proven method to combat this.
2. The concept of gamification proved successful in various sectors. Many fitness apps have achieved badges, whereas learning apps get points to encourage users to practice certain skills. In the finance sector as well, gamification enabled users to play games and win real money.
3. AI and machine learning technologies have made the gamification experience for users more immersive and personalized. This technique also holds the potential to be merged with augmented reality and virtual reality to further provide truly engaging app experiences.

Hence, it is quite clear that gamification is facilitating mobile apps to become dynamic, user-friendly, and stimulating. Leveraging this trend enabled brands to keep their users engaged, complete the desired tasks, and gain more success through their app.

4# Experiences Similar to the Metaverse – Metaverse is an interconnected virtual universe that merges physical and digital realities in a seamless manner. This technology is highly trending in the mobile app development industry. The concept is not just getting hype but has definitely proved helpful in shaping the future of how digital environments are treated today.

1. The metaverse, at its core, proposes a very high level of interactivity. This year, we have seen many metaverse-like experiences in mobile applications and gaming where users have been provided with an immersive, three-dimensional virtual space to interact with other players in real time. These interactive experiences are not just limited to gaming but span across a variety of sectors like shopping, education, and so on.
2. Metaverse’s emergence coincides with the emergence of the super-app ecosystem, where many services are provided from a single platform. These super apps behave like gateways to metaverse-like experiences where users can get engaged in a variety of activities in a unified digital space.
3. Major players in the app industry are immensely investing in Metaverse. The movement was pioneered by Meta, which announced its intention to become a metaverse company, whereas Microsoft is already creating enterprise-focused metaverse solutions using its cloud platform, Azure.

#5 Integration with Other Platforms and Devices – Today, when interconnected devices are highly used in our daily lives for a variety of reasons, a number of mobile apps have become easy to use by integrating various devices and platforms together. From wearables to voice assistants and smart home devices, the seamless integration of these platforms and devices leads the path to facilitate user convenience and expand the functionality of the apps.

1. When quality apps are integrated with other devices and platforms, it elevates the user experience by providing comprehensive and seamless access to app functionalities. For example, a user can control the lights, security system, and temperature at his home using a single mobile app.
2. App functionality is not just about user convenience but also about enhancing the utility of the apps. For example, the syncing of health and fitness apps with wearables enables more personalized recommendations related to providing real-time data about the heart rate, sleep patterns, and physical activities of the users.

Conclusion

The landscape of mobile app development in 2024 will be vibrant, flourishing, and full of opportunities and potential for users. All the trending topics discussed above and practiced by the top mobile app development companies, like Manektech South Africa, set the stage for a more immersive and interactive future of mobile apps. For businesses and developers, staying aware of these trends is a key to remaining competitive in today’s dynamic app development industry. Manektech South Africa comes into the picture when we talk about the top company developing quality apps in the relevant market.

We, at Manektech SA, behave like your end-to-end digital transformation service provider and mobile app development partner, and we are dedicatedly working to bring our clients’ visions into reality. Connect to us for a quick consultation booking.