The 50 Most Downloaded Apps by Gen Z in 2024: Key Trends and Insights
Introduction
With Gen Z making up nearly 40% of mobile users globally, their preferences are shaping today’s mobile app landscape. Data from app intelligence firm Appfigures sheds light on the top 50 apps downloaded by U.S. Gen Z users aged 18-24 in 2024, revealing trends across e-commerce, social media, video streaming, and education.
Top E-commerce Apps: Temu and Shein
- Temu stands out as the most downloaded app of the year, with 41.98 million downloads among Gen Z users. Known for affordable items across various categories, Temu’s gamification strategies, such as coupons and rewards, are popular with budget-conscious young adults.
- Shein, another e-commerce giant, saw 14.68 million installs, signaling that many in this demographic already have it on their devices. Though Shein’s numbers were lower, it remains a staple for Gen Z fashion enthusiasts.
Social Media: TikTok, Threads, and Meta’s Influence
- TikTok, a favorite for its quick, digestible content, garnered 33.23 million installs, reinforcing its role as Gen Z’s go-to platform for social engagement and even search functions.
- Threads, Meta’s latest platform, achieved an impressive 32.32 million downloads, making it the top Meta app, while Instagram (26.29 million), Facebook (20.58 million), and Messenger (17.63 million) also attracted significant interest. Facebook’s recent redesign may have helped reignite interest among younger users.
- YouTube and Snapchat remain widely used, with 14.03 million and 19.16 million downloads, respectively, highlighting their ongoing appeal for entertainment and communication.
Horizontal bar chart showing the top downloaded apps by Gen Z in 2024. This chart illustrates the number of downloads in millions for each app, with Temu, TikTok, and Threads leading the way. The layout helps visualize how preferences differ across e-commerce, social media, streaming, and productivity categories.
AI and Productivity Apps: ChatGPT and Gauth
- ChatGPT by OpenAI gained 24.63 million installs, driven by its use in education and career planning. A survey by Best Colleges indicated that 43% of college students now use AI tools, underscoring ChatGPT’s popularity.
- Gauth, an AI-powered study app by ByteDance, saw 8.37 million downloads, making it a top choice for digital study support.
Video Editing and Sharing Apps: CapCut and Lemon8
- ByteDance’s CapCut continues to thrive, amassing 21.72 million downloads due to its intuitive editing features, which are ideal for TikTok content creators.
- Lemon8, another ByteDance creation, is growing slowly in the U.S. but has seen traction with Gen Z, achieving 7.7 million downloads.
Streaming Platforms: Netflix, Prime Video, and Spotify
- Netflix leads streaming services with 15.67 million installs, followed by Prime Video (12.86 million) and Disney+ (11.68 million). These platforms continue to attract Gen Z users looking for diverse content.
- Spotify remains the preferred music app, with 10.45 million downloads, reflecting its dominance among music-streaming options.
Financial and Payment Apps: PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App
- PayPal topped the payment category with 13.92 million downloads, followed by Venmo (7.8 million) and Cash App (6.9 million), highlighting Gen Z’s strong interest in digital transactions for shopping, bill-splitting, and transfers.
New and Emerging Trends: Short Drama and Micro-Content Platforms
- Gen Z has embraced ShortMax, a drama-centric platform with around 1,000 short films, leading to over 10 million installs. This indicates a rising interest in micro-content tailored for short attention spans.
Chart/Table Representation of 50 Most downloaded apps in 2024
| Category | App Name | Number of Downloads (in millions) |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce | Temu | 41.98 |
| Shein | 14.68 | |
| Social Media | TikTok | 33.23 |
| Threads | 32.32 | |
| 26.29 | ||
| 20.58 | ||
| Messenger | 17.63 | |
| YouTube | 14.03 | |
| Snapchat | 19.16 | |
| AI/Productivity | ChatGPT | 24.63 |
| Gauth | 8.37 | |
| Video Editing/Sharing | CapCut | 21.72 |
| Lemon8 | 7.70 | |
| Streaming | Netflix | 15.67 |
| Prime Video | 12.86 | |
| Disney+ | 11.68 | |
| Spotify | 10.45 | |
| Financial/Payment | PayPal | 13.92 |
| Venmo | 7.80 | |
| Cash App | 6.90 | |
| Emerging Trend | ShortMax | 10.00 |
Conclusion
In 2024, Gen Z’s app preferences reflect a blend of convenience, creativity, and community. From budgeting on Temu to engaging with friends on Threads and editing videos on CapCut, Gen Z’s influence on app trends is clear and continues to shape the digital landscape across e-commerce, social media, entertainment, and education. With AI and short-form video content on the rise, the next few years promise to see even more targeted and innovative app experiences designed for this mobile-first generation.
