As the world becomes increasingly digital, mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives. In South Africa, the most popular way to access the internet and navigate through cyberspace is through mobile devices. According to SimilarWeb, social media platforms continue to reign supreme, with WhatsApp leading the pack on both Android and iOS app stores.
Interestingly, X has failed to make it onto either top 10 list. It's the 46th most popular free app on the Apple App Store, while it doesn't feature in the top 50 apps on the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, Twitter may not be the most popular app among South Africans, but it's surprising that government institutions use it for official communications when more widely used platforms like TikTok are available.
When it comes to ecommerce, Temu is the clear winner, tracking with its growing popularity in South Africa across both app stores. Shein also makes an appearance further down the list, with both apps being more popular on app stores than Amazon Shopping.
Google Maps has taken the top spot as the most popular navigation app on iOS and the fifth most popular app overall. However, it's worth noting that Google Maps doesn't feature on the Android list since it comes pre-installed on many Android devices. This means iPhone users are still opting for Google Maps over Apple's alternative, likely due to its convenience features.
Spotify reigns supreme as the most popular music streaming platform across both stores. However, since Apple users don't need to download Apple Music, SimilarWeb's list doesn't reflect Spotify's popularity compared to Apple Music.
Ride-hailing apps are more popular on iOS, while "Lite" versions of social media apps dominate the Google Play Store. This may be due to the fact that Android users tend to opt for more affordable handsets, prioritizing mobile data costs over Apple smartphone users.
Two notable apps have caught our attention: Talkie and Ticketmaster.
Talkie is an AI-powered chatting app where users can engage in conversations with generative AI as if they were interacting with other people. This "AI girlfriend" app allows users to create their own characters using prompts or interact with pre-made personalities, complete with AI-generated images. While these types of apps are popular for socializing, studies have shown that they may be used to scrape sensitive information from users.
Ticketmaster is the most used iOS app in South Africa's top 10 list, likely due to its popularity among concert-goers and event enthusiasts. With upcoming events like Chris Brown's concert and Calabash 2026 featuring Green Day and The Offspring, it's no surprise that Ticketmaster has seen a surge in usage.
Top 10 Apps in South Africa (Android):
- Facebook Lite
- TikTok Lite
- Temu
- Talkie: Personalised AI Chats
- Capitec Bank
- TikTok
- Spotify
- WhatsApp Business
- SHAREit: file transfers
Top 10 Apps in South Africa (iOS):
- Ticketmaster
- TikTok
- Bolt
- Google Maps
- Uber
- Spotify
- Cape Cut