Facebook most-downloaded app in India in 2016

However, WhatsApp was the most used app; Netflix topped on revenue on Google Play

India’s app market grew massively, outpacing the US as the No 1 country on Google Play, with over six billion downloads in 2016, a huge jump from 3.5 billion in 2015. 

According to a report by App Annie, Facebook was the most-downloaded app (combining Google Play and iOS platforms) in India in 2016. It was the top-ranked app company in India while Kings’ (acquired by Facebook) Candy Crush Soda was the most dowloaded game. When it came to which app was most used on iPhones in India, it was once again a Facebook company, Whatsapp Messenger. Facebook was in the second spot, while Google Maps came third. Whatsapp and Facebook led the pecking order in case of Android phones, too, while Truecaller took the third spot. Google Maps didn’t figure in the top 10. While top ranks in terms of downloads and usage were dominated by Facebook, video-streamer Netflix topped the revenue chart in India in 2016, according to App Annie. It was followed by dating app Tinder and professional networking platform LinkedIn. Music apps Gaana, Saavn and Sing! Karaoke featured on the top-10 revenue earners’ list from India, along with Magzter, Skype, and Fingerprint Login. Netflix was ranked second in the top companies in India by revenue as well while InterActiveCorp took the top spot.

The report also revealed that globally, publisher revenue grew 40 per cent year-on-year — an acceleration over the growth rate in 2015 — resulting in $35 billion across iOS and Google Play app stores. When including in-app advertising, app store revenue and third-party Android stores in 2016, publishers made over $89 billion in revenue. App downloads grew by 15 percent worldwide across iOS and Google Play, with total time spent in apps increasing by 25 per cent. Further, the report stated that the average consumer uses well over 30 apps per month across various markets.

"As technology and business models continue to evolve, apps are playing an even greater role in transforming, and creating opportunities for, companies and industries both established and new," said Danielle Levitas, Senior Vice President of Research at App Annie. "We're seeing major indications of this shift globally. App adoption is growing rapidly in emerging markets including India and Indonesia- while mature markets are seeing apps challenge and change traditional industries including retail, entertainment and banking."