The internet has proved to be one of the most significant inventions in human history. It has completely changed the way we live our lives, interact with one another, and access information.
In days gone by, the internet was accessed via desktop computers, with websites serving as the platform on which information and media were displayed. Today, we have seen a shift away from computers and towards mobile devices. Now, most websites have their own dedicated apps that can be used to deliver products and services. Do today’s users prefer apps over websites? Let’s find out.
The App Industry Today
Apps have existed in some form for longer than you might think. Nokia’s famous mobile game Snake, which launched in 1997, could be considered one of the earliest mobile apps. However, it was the release of the first iPhone in 2008 that introduced the world to apps as we know them today.
From these humble beginnings, the mobile app industry has grown into a behemoth. Developers compete to make the next hit, buying app installs and implementing innovative advertising strategies to get ahead of their rivals.
The App Store, which had just 500 apps when it first launched, is now home to a collection of over 1.6 million, while the Google Play Store has more than 3.5 million.
So, apps are a big deal. Have they taken over websites? Find out below.
The Shift Towards Apps
Social media accelerated the mainstream integration of the internet and turned it from a handy tool that made our lives more convenient to something we essentially live our lives through.
Originally purely desktop-based, social media brands were among the first to begin the shift towards apps. Now, apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are among the most popular apps in the world, generating hundreds of millions of downloads every year.
It wasn’t just social media either. Almost all major online brands released their own dedicated apps, from newspapers and magazines to ecommerce platforms.
Are Apps More Popular?
How significant has this shift towards apps been? When analysing the data, the answer is clear. Research indicates that the average US adult spends around 4 hours of the day connected to the internet through their mobile device. A staggering 88% of that time is spent using apps, a percentage that has continued to rise year after year.
Why Do People Prefer Apps?
As a business, knowing that apps are now more popular than websites is one thing. However, it’s vital you understand why exactly people prefer apps to websites.
There are a number of reasons for this, one of the main ones being performance, accessibility, and functionality. Despite how advanced and sophisticated the technology is, modern mobile browsers can still feel a bit clunky. What’s more, the small screen size doesn’t work particularly well with internet browsing, which requires lots of typing and clicking very small buttons.
In addition, apps can offer greater security and privacy capabilities than websites. Given how many people use apps for banking and financial purposes these days, this is incredibly important and may see apps become even more popular in the future.