2024 Overview of the Most Downloaded Apps Among Gen Z Young Adults

Gen Z, often described as the “mobile-first generation”, now represents around 40% of global mobile users. Appfigures has shared insights into the 50 most downloaded apps among U.S. Gen Z users aged 18 to 24 for 2024.

Although the available data does not offer a complete overview, it nevertheless provides a valuable look into the digital habits of this influential demographic.

E-commerce and Social Media Lead the Way

Temu: A Standout Online Marketplace

Temu has taken the top spot among Gen Z young adults, achieving 41.98 million downloads. Its wide range of low-cost products and gamified features — including vouchers and reward systems — strongly appeal to this audience.

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Social Media Leaders: TikTok and Meta Platforms

TikTok recorded 33.23 million downloads and remains a top choice thanks to its fast-paced, highly personalised content. Increasingly, Gen Z also prefers TikTok over traditional search engines like Google.

Meta apps also ranked highly, with Threads leading at 32.32 million installs, followed by WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger.

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Video and Streaming Platforms

YouTube and Short-Form Drama Apps

YouTube continues to capture Gen Z engagement with 14.03 million downloads. Meanwhile, ShortMax — a short-drama streaming app — has also risen in popularity, surpassing 10 million installs.

Major Streaming Services

Netflix leads with 15.67 million downloads, closely followed by Prime Video and Disney+. Platforms such as Max, Peacock and Tubi also secure strong positions, each achieving roughly 7 million downloads or more.

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AI and Educational Tools

ChatGPT and Gauth

OpenAI’s ChatGPT — widely used for study support and career planning — achieved 24.63 million downloads. According to Best Colleges, 43% of university students have used ChatGPT or similar AI tools.

ByteDance’s Gauth also rose in prominence with 8.37 million installs, ranking among the most popular education apps.

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Photo and Video Editing Apps

CapCut, ByteDance’s video-editing platform, logged 21.72 million downloads, aligning with Gen Z’s strong focus on social video content. Lemon8 also continued to grow, reaching 7.7 million downloads.

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Financial and Music Apps

Digital Payment Platforms

PayPal leads financial apps with 13.92 million downloads, reflecting its long-standing trust and convenience. Venmo and Cash App follow with 7.8 million and 6.9 million installs respectively, driven by their ease of use for peer-to-peer payments and everyday transactions.

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Music Streaming Platforms

Spotify remains the leading music streaming choice for Gen Z, registering 10.45 million downloads.

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Conclusion

The 2024 app preferences of Gen Z underline their varied digital interests — from e-commerce and social media to education, AI and entertainment. As this generation continues to influence global digital consumption, developers and businesses must stay responsive to their evolving behaviours and expectations.