Survey Reveals 2023’s Most Popular Mobile Apps in Australia
Where would we be without our apps? With smartphone penetration now in the 80th percentile across the Western world, most of us rely on them at home and work for everything from communication to shopping to leisure. Australians adopted smartphones even faster than the rest of the world. Market penetration hit 80 percent back in 2017 and now stands at about 87 percent – or about 98 percent of teenagers and adults.
Australian tech habits and trends tend to act as an indicator of what is to come in the rest of the Western world, so a recent survey into the mobile apps most commonly used by Australians is of global interest.
Official Government Apps Are Universally Used
Like the general populace, the Australian government, both federal and state/territory has been quick to go digital. Apps like myGovID, Service Victoria, Service NSW and so on seem to be on practically everyone’s phone. Other governments around the world are talking about it, but they need to look at Australia which has done it.
Whether they want to check their tax status or report a missed garbage collection, Australians simply open the appropriate mobile government app and get it all done online. Now that has to be better than hours spent listening to music on the phone!
Social Media Gets Bigger and Bigger
Facebook, X, and LinkedIn are as popular in Australia as they are in the rest of the world. They help maintain millions of personal and business connections both within Australia and internationally.
But the biggest jolt to the social media scene in Australia over the past year has been TikTok. 8.5 million users represent 35 percent of the population watching and posting short video content. That’s huge compared to the 13 percent global uptake, and 24 percent in the USA.
Gambling and Gaming Are as Big as Ever
By volume, gaming apps outnumber the rest by some margin. That in itself doesn’t say much, as you might have 100 different games on your phone but are unlikely to need more than one or two banking apps.
However, it is an indicator that smartphones are used as much for leisure as they are for work and household tasks. The types of gaming apps that are popular also tell a story. The online gambling sector in Australia has surged, especially since the events of 2020 and 21. However, its growth has continued even after the world returned to normal, with everything from online “pokies” for casual gamblers to the best sites for poker online in Australia. The sector is expected to continue growing in proportion to the 5G rollout.
Shopping Apps on the Up and Up
This is another app category that skyrocketed in popularity back around 2020 and 2021 for obvious reasons. But that was merely an acceleration in a growth process that was already well underway. Likewise, growth has continued throughout 2022 and 2023, with Temu and Shein leading the way and getting a lot of love from Australian shoppers.
The former has captured attention by offering a varied product range at prices that won’t break the bank – particularly important in these challenging economic times. Shein, meanwhile, has become the brand most synonymous with fast fashion, offering bleeding edge style, but again, at sensible prices.
Paid Apps that Bring Out Australian Creativity
Paid apps are usually a category of their own and a small one at that. It’s not unreasonable, with so many free apps, you can achieve most things you need to without having to part with a cent.
Having said that, Australians are investing in apps that help them bring out their creative side like never before. Stylebook is a virtual app that helps you put your real-life wardrobe in order and has become a must-have for fashionistas. Procreate Pocket, meanwhile, is a complete art studio right there on your smartphone and has proved a massive hit with digital artists. Incredibox is also worth a mention. It has revolutionized music-making, transforming processes that used to take weeks and cost thousands in recording studios. It’s jam-packed with useful features such as assorted beatbox effects.
Integrating Smartphone Apps into Our Lives
Creative apps in particular show just how important smartphone apps have become to our lives. More than just providing tools for completing tasks or entertainment to keep us amused, they are becoming key to how we express ourselves creatively and define who we are.
This article has been published in accordance with Socialnomics’ disclosure policy.
