DEV Community

Cover image for June 2025 Mobile App Download Trends: What’s Hot and What’s Next?
Mia Mello
Mia Mello

Posted on

June 2025 Mobile App Download Trends: What’s Hot and What’s Next?

Just finished going through the latest FoxData report on the most downloaded apps around the world in June 2025, and wow—some clear patterns are shaping up.

Whether you build apps, market them, or just like keeping up with what’s popular, here’s a quick breakdown;

Read the full report here: FoxData | Top Mobile App by Worldwide Downloads for June 2025

...

🚀 Big Takeaways

1. AI is taking over everyone’s phones.

ChatGPT is still crushing it, where it became #1 on iOS with about 24 million downloads and #2 on Android with over 38 million in June 2025.

People are using it for way more than just asking questions. ChatGPT or AI has become an everyday helper for writing, organizing, and brainstorming.

2. Social + video apps are still the kings.

Instagram is the most downloaded app on Android, thanks to Reels blowing up in places like India and Brazil. While Threads (Meta’s other social app) is in second place on iOS.

TikTok and Snapchat are keeping their spots too, especially with lighter versions like TikTok Lite doing well in areas with slower internet.

3. Cheap shopping apps are here to stay.

Temu holds a strong top 3 position. Their trick? Lots of discounts and games to hook you in. Not to mention that emerging markets like Latin America and Southeast Asia are going nuts for it.

Meanwhile, on Android, PhonePe, a big Indian payment app, jumped into the top ten. This shows how fintech is turning into a “super app” category, basically a one-stop shop for paying bills, transferring money, and shopping.

4. Simple games are having a comeback.

A casual shooter called KingShot jumped 15 spots into the iOS top 5.

Meanwhile, Snake.io and PUBG Mobile have their own showdown where they show how the gaming world is splitting into two, which are quick, casual games for killing time and hardcore battle games that keep people playing for months.

Keep in mind, whether you want something lightweight or a full-on battleground, there’s an audience for that.

5. Short videos and local stories are the next frontier.

Believe it or not, Hongguo Short Dramas is still in the top 10, proving people love bite-sized shows, especially when they feel local. (Well, actually, I also enjoy this kind of short dramas, so I don't think it's a surprise that these apps are doing well in the market)

...

🔮 What’s Coming Next?

✅ AI will become more action-focused. Instead of just chatting, apps like ChatGPT will start helping you actually do things, like booking reservations, managing your calendar, and summarizing long documents.

✅ Content will get shorter and more personal. Quick videos, multi-camera editing, and AI-generated scripts will keep growing. People don’t want to watch 30-minute videos when a 90-second clip will do.

✅ E-commerce will need to evolve. Discounts are working now, but pretty soon, apps will have to rely on smart recommendations and personalized service to stand out.

...

💡 If You Work in Apps...

  • Check download rankings often. They can tell you which apps are taking off (or losing steam) so you can adjust your marketing. I recommend that you use FoxData.
  • Do keyword research and figure out what people in each country are searching for, and tailor your app store listings to match.
  • Spy on competitors’ ads and see what kind of videos, banners, or taglines they’re using, and borrow what’s working.
  • Follow the full user journey. You should analyze what keeps people coming back, so follow them from install to daily use. This will help you improve retention instead of always chasing new users.

That’s it!

I hope this gives you a clear picture of what’s happening in the app world right now (as of June 2025). If you’re working on an app or planning to launch one, this is the time to think about AI integration, video content, and localized experiences.

Feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions! 🚀📲

Top comments (0)