The Top Most Downloaded Mobile Apps of 2019

This month, Apple released its most downloaded apps of 2017. While many of them graced the countdown in 2016, a few surprise mentions topped the charts and spoke to what consumers desire these days. 

Apple's Most Downloaded Apps 

1. Bitmoji
2. Snapchat
3. YouTube
4. Messenger
5. Instagram
6. Facebook
7. Google Maps
8. Netflix
9. Spotify
10. Uber 

Social media apps such as Snapchat, Facebook (and its partner, Messenger) and Instagram remained on Apple's shortlist, signaling that consumers still crave quick connection through the palms of their hands. In fact, 75 percent of male internet users and a whopping 83 percent of female internet users are active Facebook users, according to Wordstream. However, each social media app dropped a few spots, compared with 2016.

However, it's the rising popularity of YouTube, Netflix, Spotify and one unexpected Bitmoji -- which snagged the top spot -- that demonstrate a movement towards entertainment instead of news. Although YouTube technically allows users to access clips of information, we all know it hosts much more than that. Plus, it captures more 18-49-year-olds than any cable network in the United States, according to the video publisher itself. 

Netflix and Spotify let consumers decompress through original programming like Stranger Things and The Crown, or Taylor Swift's recently revived collection, respectively. But Bitmoji adds a touch of whimsy to people's daily lives. The app, which is owned by Snap, Inc., lets users create personalized illustrations of themselves, which can then be added to text messages much like a meme, Snapchat stories and more.

Bitmoji was the fastest-growing app this year and encapsulates growing design trends such as personalization, humanization and illustration. We expect to see even more playfulness in the coming year. 

Check out Google Play's most downloaded apps of 2017.

Want to compare this year's top 10 iOS apps with last year's? We've got the 2016 list here: 

Apple's Most Downloaded Apps of 2016

1. Snapchat
2. Messenger
3. Pokémon GO
4. Instagram
5. Facebook
6. YouTube
7. Google Maps
8. Pandora
9. Netflix
10. Spotify 

Apple's editors also rounded up their favorite apps. Highlights from their 2017 Design Awards include the game Blackbox, relaxation app Calm, and the culinary app Kitchen Stories. 

What was your favorite app of 2017? Tell us in the comments below. 

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