App trends are fluctuating. What may ‘break the internet’ today might not hold relevance tomorrow. Remember when Candy Crush became a global phenomenon? A new trend is coming every season, and it is hard to keep up. Still, many app categories continue to dominate the global market.
Gaming is one such category that has always been popular. Entertainment apps, especially streaming services, are ruling the charts now. Case in point, Netflix and Disney Plus.
What are Subscription Apps?
Apps that provide users access to its services, premium features, or content for a recurring monthly payment are known as subscription apps. A content-based or service-based app is more likely to work in this revenue model. But why would someone pay to use apps? The answer is simple- Quality.
There are millions of apps on the Play Store and Apple Store (3.55 and 1.6 million, respectively, to be exact). With such stiff competition, only quality can make you stand out.
People pay for what they genuinely want. If a company recognizes and fulfills that need, they become an instant hit. Many service providers tap into new genres or niches per the market trends. Some are successful ventures, and others fail gloriously. It all comes down to content, timing, and strategy. The companies that get this balance right earn billions of dollars with loyal customers.
Popular Subscription App Categories in 2022
There are six popular mobile app categories in Apple Store and Play Store in 2022
- Entertainment Apps- Youtube, Netflix, Spotify
- Gaming Apps- Candy Crush, PUBG, Among Us
- Educational Apps- Google Classroom, Kahoot!, Duolingo
- Lifestyle Apps- Pinterest, Google Home, Alexa
- Social Media Apps- Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat
- Productivity Apps- Slack, Dropbox, Microsoft Office
Check out top grossing apps in App Store 2022 and top grossing apps in Google Play Store 2022.
Most Popular Subscription Apps in 2022
The popularity of an app depends on a combination of several factors- downloads, revenue, in-app purchases, etc. Here are the most popular subscription Apps and Categories in 2022:
- Netflix
People have switched to online streaming services for entertainment due to their original content and easy accessibility. Streaming subscription apps are a huge market now. But even before OTT platforms became a ‘thing,’ Netflix ruled our laptop and phone screens.
Netflix was the first to realize the potential of paid streaming services and became a household name owing to its original content and SVOD (subscription video on demand) services. With over 221 million paid subscribers, Netflix is the most significant player in OTT platforms. Netflix produces almost nine out of the ten most popular series. Even with stiff competition from contemporaries, it is the largest streaming service. It is also the only TV company to own the highest shares (approx 80%).
- Disney Plus
Covid-19 brought many changes, among them the rise of OTT apps. While movie cinemas and theatres were not accessible, TV became the only source of entertainment. Companies were quick to monetize this situation. But only a few were successful. Disney Plus took the streaming industry by storm and became one of the most popular apps. In 2022, only two years of its launch, Disney plus earned a revenue of 7.4 billion with over 137 million subscribers. - Tinder
Let’s face it- Dating in the twenty-first century is complicated. With its launch in 2012, Tinder changed the dating scene forever. People are now more interested in getting to know a partner over the phone than meeting for coffee. Tinder is a great way to find potential love interests. It broadens the prospects of meeting someone new. It is available in 190 countries with over 75 million users. It has 32% of the overall shares in the US market.
Tinder is a great way to explore possibilities with new people outside your routine pool. With its new passport feature, you can connect with people in another country. - Spotify
Spotify is a popular app for streaming music. It gives users access to millions of songs and podcasts through an easy-to-use app. People prefer to stream music rather than buy a song they will hear for a few months.
Spotify has a better user experience than its competitors and a vast library. It has a free version that runs with advertisements, although nothing compares to the joy of hearing add-free music. Listeners can take a free one-month trial before committing to a full subscription. Spotify has 456 million active users with over $3 billion in revenue in the third 2022 quarter alone. - MyFitnessPal
It is 2022, and people are more health-conscious than ever. While it is difficult to maintain a proper fitness regime with a busy schedule, MyFitnessPal makes it easy for you. You can track calories, monitor weight loss/gain, and get management tools for better progress. The online community of fellow fitness enthusiasts keeps you motivated.
MyFitnessPal operates in over 100+ countries with thousands of unique dishes and places in the catalog. Last year, it generated 171 million in revenue with two hundred million registered users. - Twitch
Twitch is a live-streaming app with 15 million users using the platform daily. It is popular among gamers, but other lifestyle and entertainment content creators like DJs use it too. The gamer community is strong on this platform. Professional gamers Livestream their quests and engage with their audience in real time.
Viewers can watch the game and the player simultaneously through a split-screen mode. They can comment and purchase games through links too. Twitch generated 2.6 million dollars in revenue last year and aimed to pass that figure in 2022 with over 788 million hours of streaming.
Subscription Apps Developing Trends 2022
Social media apps are the top apps to dominate the Apple Store and Playstore trends. Entertainment and gaming are the most popular paid app categories that generate the highest revenues. Gaming subscription apps held the top positions for subscription apps in 2022. Streaming apps (music and tv) also rake in increased profits and come in a close second. Popular apps include Netflix, Disney Plus, Spotify, Pandora, and Twitch. Lifestyle and educational apps will also grow enormously in the coming years.
Most Popular Subscription Apps and Categories in 2022
