WhatsApp Most Downloaded App Globally, TikTok Leads App Store Downloads in Q1 2019: Sensor Tower

TikTok manages to get 33 million installs on iPhone and iPad units in the first quarter.

Advertisement
By Tasneem Akolawala | Updated: 17 May 2019 14:38 IST
Highlights
  • In overall downloads list, TikTok comes in third, after Messenger
  • PicsArt and Biuigo make it to overall downloads list for first time
  • Facebook owns 4 out of 5 apps in top downloads list of Q1 2019

TikTok came in third in Google Play downloads list

Sensor Tower has released app-related data from its Q1 2019 Data Digest Report, and the most downloaded app worldwide in the first quarter was WhatsApp with more than 223 million new installs. On iOS, TikTok was the most downloaded app on the App Store with more than 33 million installs in Q1 2019, and it retained the top spot for the fifth quarter in a row. On Android, WhatsApp reigned with close to 199 million downloads from Google Play. TIkTok came in third on the Google Play list. Interestingly, four out of five apps in the overall most downloaded list are owned by Facebook.

Starting with the overall download numbers for Q1 2019 that includes all platforms, the report says that the top five apps manage to retain their rankings from Q4 2018. WhatsApp came in first with more than 223 million installs, and Facebook Messenger came in second with close to 209 million installs. TikTok comes in third, followed by Facebook and Instagram. This means four out five world's most downloaded apps in Q1 2019 are owned by Facebook.

Advertisement

Video editing app Biugo and photo editing app PicsArt entered the top 20 apps worldwide for the first time in Q1. Sensor Tower notes that this is because first-time users in India helped both apps achieve new install highs in the quarter. The top 20 list also includes apps like ShareIt, YouTube, Like Video, Netflix, Snapchat, Spotify, Hotstar, Uber, Twitter, and Amazon.

Coming to App Store, iPhone and iPad users installed TikTok the most with 33 million installs in the first quarter. TikTok was the most downloaded app on the App Store for its fifth consecutive quarter. However, its next quarter numbers may see a decline given that the app was banned in India temporarily last month, over pornographic and illegal content. The ban has been lifted, but it could have costed the company millions of downloads in the interim.

Advertisement

YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger take the consecutive top four positions on the most downloaded by iPhone and iPad users. Sensor Tower notes that Twitter took the 16th spot with 11.7 million App Store downloads in Q1 2019, making this Twitter's highest total since Q1 2015.

Most of WhatsApp's downloads were clocked in on Android, with Google Play downloads at nearly 199 million in the first quarter. Facebook Messenger was the second most downloaded app from Google Play in Q1 2019, followed by TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. YouTube Kids had 29 million downloads in the quarter from Google Play, an increase of 291 percent quarter-over-quarter.


We discussed what WhatsApp absolutely needs to do in 2019, on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. These OnePlus Smartphones Could Receive the ColorOS 17 Update in India
  2. iOS 27 Beta Code Reportedly Reveals a Key Detail About the Foldable iPhone
  1. Offline UPI Payments With NFC Support Could Launch in India Soon
  2. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display Feature Gets a Major Upgrade in One UI 9 Beta
  3. OnePlus N6x Design, Colour Options Teased in New Marketing Material Ahead of Imminent Launch in India
  4. OnePlus 11, Nord 4, and Newer Models Tipped to Receive the Android 17-Based ColorOS 17 Update in India
  5. Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Appears on Thailand's NBTC Certification Database, Might Launch Soon
  6. Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Reportedly Appears in iOS 27 Beta Code With a Multi-Battery Setup
  7. X for Android App Undergoes Major Design Overhaul, Enhanced Performance and Reliability
  8. Samsung Galaxy Buds Able to Reportedly Skip Galaxy Unpacked Launch; Could Debut in October
  9. Dell Alienware 16X Aurora, Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 18 Area-51 Launched in India: Price, Specifications
  10. Samsung Galaxy A55, Galaxy A35 One UI 9 Test Builds Reportedly Spotted Ahead of Android 17 Rollout
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.