The statistic shows the most popular app categories in the Google Play store ranked by number of downloads. In the second quarter of 2020, entertainment apps were the third-most popular category with 1.21 billion downloads during the measured period. Gaming apps were ranked first with 10.35 billion app downloads.
Most popular Google Play app store categories from 1st quarter 2016 to 1st quarter 2020, by number of downloads
(in millions)
Characteristic
Game
Tools
Entertainment
Social
Communication
Photography
Video players
Q1 '16
5,530
1,110
621
-
741
729
-
Q2 '16
5,280
1,160
613
-
786
731
-
Q3 '16
6,060
1,210
684
-
831
788
-
Q4 '16
6,250
1,300
874
-
931
830
-
Q1 '17
6,910
1,250
974
-
1,040
888
-
Q2 '17
6,760
1,300
967
-
958
849
-
Q3 '17
7,040
1,220
1,010
-
1,010
892
-
Q4 '17
7,030
1,290
1,010
698
1,020
883
-
Q1 '18
7,150
1,240
1,080
686
910
-
-
Q2 '18
7,840
1,300
1,150
749
936
858
-
Q3 '18
7,180
1,450
1,370
939
1,100
951
-
Q4 '18
7,230
1,470
1,410
1,060
1,120
-
-
Q1 '19
7,460
1,470
1,470
1,050
1,060
-
-
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Sensor Tower. (April 15, 2020). Most popular Google Play app store categories from 1st quarter 2016 to 1st quarter 2020, by number of downloads (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 14, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/256772/most-popular-app-categories-in-the-google-play-store/
Sensor Tower. "Most popular Google Play app store categories from 1st quarter 2016 to 1st quarter 2020, by number of downloads (in millions)." Chart. April 15, 2020. Statista. Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/256772/most-popular-app-categories-in-the-google-play-store/
Sensor Tower. (2020). Most popular Google Play app store categories from 1st quarter 2016 to 1st quarter 2020, by number of downloads (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 14, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/256772/most-popular-app-categories-in-the-google-play-store/
Sensor Tower. "Most Popular Google Play App Store Categories from 1st Quarter 2016 to 1st Quarter 2020, by Number of Downloads (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Apr 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/256772/most-popular-app-categories-in-the-google-play-store/
Sensor Tower, Most popular Google Play app store categories from 1st quarter 2016 to 1st quarter 2020, by number of downloads (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/256772/most-popular-app-categories-in-the-google-play-store/ (last visited May 14, 2025)
Most popular Google Play app store categories from 1st quarter 2016 to 1st quarter 2020, by number of downloads (in millions) [Graph], Sensor Tower, April 15, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/256772/most-popular-app-categories-in-the-google-play-store/
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