Many of the Android apps we recommend aren't popular in the wider community. Of course, they're all excellent—we wouldn't suggest lousy apps—but often you can file them into the "niche" category.

For something different, let's take a step back and look at some of the all-time most popular Android apps in the Google Play Store. These are the ones that Android's 2.8 billion active users have downloaded most frequently.

A Note on Stock Android Apps

We're not going to include apps that come preloaded on stock Android devices. This means we're excluding Google Play Services (more than 10 billion downloads), Gmail (13 billion), Google Maps (12.7 billion), YouTube (13.7 billion), and a few others. We also aren't including apps pre-installed on Samsung phones.

We've used AndroidRank's data to determine the estimated downloads of these popular apps listed below. The numbers in parentheses denote the placement change from July 2022, when we last updated this list.

1. WhatsApp (=)

9.66 billion downloads

Back in July 2018, WhatsApp had 2.9 billion downloads on Android devices, placing it third on the list of the most installed apps. In 2023, it reached a new milestone of 9.6 billion downloads, showing a remarkable growth of more than 300% in five years.

WhatsApp—which is the world's most popular instant messaging tool—has been under Meta's ownership since a $19 billion buyout in early 2014. If you don't fancy using a Meta-owned app messaging app, try out one of the many WhatsApp alternatives.

Download: WhatsApp (Free)

2. Facebook (=)

facebook community feed channels
Image Credit: Meta

7.57 billion downloads

It's not surprising to see Facebook as the world's second-highest downloaded app. Despite seemingly endless scandals, questionable privacy practices, and the #DeleteFacebook movement, it still reigns supreme and is one of the most popular Google Play Store apps.

Not everyone is happy though, as this app has 52 million one-star ratings. Perhaps it's justified; the app is bloated with pointless features that few people bother to use.

Download: Facebook (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. Messenger (=)

5.61 billion downloads

The presence of Messenger in this list reinforces the control that Meta's empire has over the smartphone app marketplace. Messenger has grown in popularity over the last few years, with the increased availability of bots making the service more useful than ever. There are also ways to use Messenger without Facebook.

This app is now also safe for kids, as you can easily change your child's information and use the Messenger Sleep Mode to avoid any distractions when they are studying or napping.

Download: Messenger (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. TikTok (+2)

4.51 billion downloads

TikTok's ongoing growth shows no signs of abating. The app, which lets users create and share short video clips, broke one billion downloads in July 2019 and has exploded in popularity over the last four years. If you are a creator on the platform, there are several methods you can try to get more fans and followers on TikTok.

Download: TikTok (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Instagram (-1)

4.14 billion downloads

Instagram is yet another Meta-owned app, which the company acquired in 2012. It is one of the most downloaded apps on the Play Store, and has significantly fewer negative reviews than its big brother, with just 30 million giving the app a single star. With features like Instagram Reels, the app has become much more enjoyable!

Download: Instagram (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. Facebook Lite (+6)

2.92 billion downloads

And we're back to Facebook. The Lite version of the app is aimed at users with low-end devices (packing 1GB or 2GB of RAM) and those who only have access to slower data networks. There are a few subtle usability changes, but all the main features are present and work as expected.

Download: Facebook Lite (Free)

7. SHAREit (+8)

2.21 billion downloads

It's not all about social networks and games with popular Android apps. SHAREit is the first non-Google productivity app to make the list. The app offers a way to transfer large files between devices in seconds. According to the developer, it's over 200 times faster than Bluetooth.

Download: SHAREit (Free, in-app purchases available)

8. Netflix (+9)

1.88 billion downloads

Netflix now has almost 238 million subscribers. The service's blend of original content and old favorites has proved to be a winning formula, and while the growth slowed as streaming competition heated up, the signs are that Netflix's introduction of an ad-supported has worked well. It is the only video-on-demand streaming app to make the top 20.

Download: Netflix (Free, subscription required)

9. Snapchat (=)

1.71 billion downloads

Instagram might be stealing all of Snapchat's best features, but the latter still manages to rack up more than 330 million daily users. However, as a percentage of the total downloads on Android and iOS combined, that figure remains low. Is it time to start worrying about the app's future?

Download: Snapchat (Free, in-app purchases available)

10. Telegram (+10)

1.63 billion downloads

Telegram was originally launched in 2013, but rose to fame after people became concerned about their online privacy on one of its competitor apps. You can create multiple accounts on the app and can access these accounts on different devices.

While it works like its competitors, its most noteworthy feature is end-to-end encryption. However, this feature is available in the "Secret chats" section only, where the users are not allowed to take any screenshots or forward the texts. With the introduction of the latest features, you can even post stories on Telegram.

Download: Telegram (Free, in-app purchases available)

11. Subway Surfers (-4)

1.57 billion downloads

This is the first game on our list—and it's not even Candy Crush Saga! Subway Surfers is an endless runner game that sees you flee down a railroad in order to escape from a police officer and his dog. This game also made it into our list of the most downloaded Android games of all time.

Download: Subway Surfers (Free, in-app purchases available)

12. Spotify (-2)

1.41 billion downloads

It was perhaps surprising that it took until 2021 for Spotify to make the top 20, and is now just outside the top 10. The number of paid users continues to grow, and it is well established as Android's most popular music streaming app—ignoring the pre-installed YouTube Music, of course, which has more users but fewer subscribers.

Download: Spotify (Free, subscription available)

13. Free Fire: Rampage (-8)

Garena Free Fire Rampage

1.39 billion downloads

Launched in 2017, Free Fire is a mobile battle royal game in which players fight to survive on a shrinking land. The game begins with 50 players flying over an island in an airplane. From the plane, the players can jump wherever they want and find a safe space as well as gather equipment to fight the other players. The last person to survive on the island wins.

Additionally, the game offers certain social functions, such as adding new friends and chatting with them.

Download: Free Fire (Free, in-app purchases available)

14. X (-1)

1.38 billion downloads

It shouldn't be a surprise to see social media apps have several entries in the list of the most popular Play Store downloads.

X—formerly known as Twitter—was just behind Facebook and Instagram in 2018, but Snapchat and TikTok have also leapfrogged it. A large number of users think rebranding Twitter to X is a bad idea, but let's see what the future holds for this application.

Download: X (Free- in-app purchases available)

15. Candy Crush Saga (-7)

1.32 billion downloads

You probably thought Candy Crush Saga would be the most popular game in raw downloads, but that is not the case. Regardless, 1.3 billion Android users love trying to line up different-colored candies. Maybe it's time to find a new hobby?

Download: Candy Crush Saga (Free, in-app purchases available)

16. Skype (+3)

1.17 billion downloads

Skype is a fallen giant. With the release of Windows 11, Skype is no longer pre-installed on the operating system for the first time in more than a decade. The business branch is shuttered from August 2021, and it appears that Microsoft Teams is now the company's focus. Expect it to drop out of the top 20 in 2024.

Download: Skype (Free, in-app purchases available)

17. MX Player (+1)

1.16 billion downloads

MX Player is the most downloaded Android media player with a bunch of useful features. It has a clean interface and supports almost all codecs and formats available. The app offers a free and paid version. While the free version offers almost all the features, you will have to bear with the ads. The paid version costs approximately $6.

Download: MX Player (Free, in-app purchases available)

18. Viber (-2)

1.10 billion downloads

Viber offers instant messaging, video calls, 250-person group chats, and encrypted communications. The app is one of the most popular WhatsApp alternatives in Europe and North America, although Asian users still prefer LINE.

Download: Viber (Free, in-app purchases available)

19. My Talking Tom (-5)

1.03 billion downloads

A few years ago, My Talking Tom became a viral hit, making "Tom" one of the most successful animated characters in the app market. The cat repeats after you, and there are a number of things you can do with him, such as feeding, bathing, and putting him to sleep.

Performing these steps regularly also allows you to earn coins within the app, which you can use to purchase food, clothing, and other items for the cat.

Download: My Talking Tom (Free, in-app purchases available)

20. UC Browser (-9)

1.00 billion downloads

This free browser has been around for a long time and can be an excellent alternative to Chrome due to its fast speed and ease of use. It supports extensions and offers a download manager that can assist you in saving multiple files. It has a high average rating on the Play Store of around 4.5.

Download UC Browser (Free, in-app purchases available)

So what have we learned from this tour through the 20 most popular Android apps as of 2023? Our conclusions are thus:

  • Claims of Facebook's demise are always premature.
  • Entertainment subscription services were the big winners; expect the trend to continue.
  • The online discussions about WhatsApp not being secure for personal data do not seem to affect its ranking in the list.

So now you know what the most popular Android apps are. Do you have them all installed on your smartphone?