When it comes to the most downloaded Google Play apps of all time, Facebook owns the top four – its core app, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger – while LINE Corp owns the three top-grossing apps of all time (LINE, LINE Play and LINE Manga), “fuelled primarily by revenue in Japan”, an App Annie report said.

While Facebook also owned four of the top ten apps on App Annie’s iOS rankings, it did not occupy the top four spots as it did in Google Play.

The US was the leader of downloads for only six of the top ten apps on Google Play, in contrast to iOS where the US led downloads for all of the top ten apps.

Six of the top apps on Google Play were also the top apps on iOS. The four apps unique to Google Play are Clean Master, LINE, Viber and Flashlight by Surpax.

According to the report, this was driven “by the proclivity for customisation and optimisation of Android devices and the large representation of Asian countries, emerging markets and Russia in Android device ownership.”

All of the most downloaded apps were launched in late 2011 or in 2012 and many belong to either the “communication” or “social” categories.

They have amassed a large global user base, demonstrating the “stickiness” of communication and social apps early to arrive in the market and their ability to localise well across many diverse regions, the report observed.

Top apps by revenue
Prominent countries driving the majority share of revenue among each app were Japan, the US, South Korea and Germany.

The top-grossing apps showed more diversity than the top downloaded apps, including three gaming-related apps: GREE, Pokemini and Dragon Quest X Adventure’s Convenient Outing Tool.

What’s more, two dating apps made it into the top ten, Tinder and Lovoo. Tinder broke into the top ten for all-time revenue despite only having in-app purchases available since Q1 2015.

The report predicts Tinder will continue to climb this list given how high it has risen in just over a year of generating app store revenue.

As for games, “casual-style games” Subway Surfers and Candy Crush Saga were the top two in most downloaded games while Puzzles & Dragons and Clash of Clans topped the revenue chart.

The report said these causal games are popular with users who do not necessarily classify themselves as gamers.

The study said understanding the top performing games gives publishers a clear picture of what types of gameplay, categories of games, storyline themes and monetisation methods have been most successful, and will help them identify the markets where they have had the most impact.

The report also noted that from Q1 2015 to Q1 2016, India, Vietnam and Pakistan had the largest growth in market share for Google Play downloads.

It said emerging markets have experienced strong download growth as a result of increased Android smartphone penetration and telecommunications infrastructure improvements. However, publishers are still trying to develop new business models to effectively monetise in these regions.

App Annie also warned that downloads and revenue don’t give developers a full picture — how an app ranks among recent monthly active users “is a key indication of its current health and its future prospects.”

App and game user retention underlies the long-term success of your app. Understanding how your app’s day first week and first month “retention rates stack up among the top ranking apps in certain markets is key for determining longevity and planning user acquisition strategies,” it said.