Mobile App Development Trends (2024)
Mobile app development is the process of creating software applications specifically designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Mobile app development can be done using various programming languages and frameworks, such as Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android, and cross-platform tools like Flutter or React Native.
1. “Key Trends in UX Design to Watch”
2. “Hot Mobile App Startups Making Waves”
3. “Essential SaaS Trends Shaping the Industry”
“Global mobile app revenue is projected to reach approximately $437.8 billion.”
“It is expected to grow to $781.7 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.84%.”
“With this potential revenue comes significant opportunity, as well as increased competition.”
“That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the top mobile app trends for the year.”
“Whether you’re a developer, entrepreneur, investor, or journalist, keep an eye on these trends to stay ahead of the curve.”
1. Privacy Is Getting More Focus
“Data privacy is increasingly becoming a top priority for app users.”
“Additionally, advanced solutions like Pi-hole, which function at the network level, are gaining popularity.”
“Privacy concerns are also driving people to move away from certain Google apps. We’ll discuss this in more detail shortly.”
“Web and mobile apps that are part of this trend include:”
“Privacy-centric browsers such as Firefox and Brave.”
“The cookie-free search engine DuckDuckGo, which also provides a tracker-blocking Chrome extension and a standalone mobile browser.”
“Additionally, more sophisticated solutions like Pi-hole, which function at the network level, are available.”
“Overall, privacy is a key trend that everyone in the app industry should monitor closely this year.”
“2. The Rise of Low-Code and No-Code Development”
“The low-code/no-code movement is one of the most significant trends in software development today.”
“Today, virtually anyone can create a powerful app without needing coding skills.”
“(And for developers, low-code tools offer numerous shortcuts and efficiencies.)”
“For instance, Zapier provides seamless plug-and-play integrations with various services and applications.”
interest for “Zapier” took a big dip recently, but is still up 764% over a decade.
“Meanwhile, Bubble enables non-technical designers and entrepreneurs to create complete web applications.”
“In January 2021, Google acquired the no-code mobile app platform App Sheet.”
“The rise of low-code platforms isn’t likely to make manual coding obsolete.”
At least, not in the near future.
“However, its impact is substantial, as it creates new opportunities for applications and businesses that might not have been possible otherwise.”
3. More Camera-Focused Apps
“As part of the widespread work-from-home trend, people are now participating in video calls much more frequently than before.”
“During one week in March 2020, videoconferencing apps saw a record-breaking 62 million downloads.”
Google Meet, Zoom, and even traditional platforms like Skype have experienced a dramatic surge in usage. Video-centric social networks such as YouTube and Facebook Watch have also seen significant growth. Additionally, new entrants like TikTok are challenging these established players, making a strong impact in the video space
“People are increasingly drawn to apps that enable them to broadcast videos, connect with friends, and build their personal followings.”
“Niche challengers are also making their mark in the streaming entertainment sector. It will be fascinating to observe how this area evolves in 2023 and beyond.”
4. Premium Apps Challenge Google
It used to be a given that Google’s free apps were the default. Everyone used Gmail.
And if they didn’t use Excel, they used Google Sheets.
“However, people are increasingly moving away from some of the most popular apps globally.”
“Instead of depending on Google’s free solutions, they’re opting for paid apps that offer similar functionalities…”
- Only better.
- Faster.
- more easily.
“This trend began years ago but has recently gained momentum. For instance, Gmail users are increasingly migrating to Superhuman, which costs $30 per month.
Why? The appeal lies in the promise of reducing time spent managing their inboxes.”
“Many users of Google Hangouts (now Google Meet) have transitioned to Zoom. Indeed, Zoom has become the go-to video conferencing tool for business professionals.”
“Zoom saw a dramatic increase in daily meeting participants, growing from 10 million in December 2019 to 300 million by April 2020.
Similarly, Google Sheets is facing competition, with more users turning to Airtable for data management and productivity.
If you’ve recently completed a survey, it’s likely you used Type form rather than Google Forms.”
5. New Audio-Focused Social Media Platforms Emerge
The audio-based social network Clubhouse was valued at $4 billion in 2021.
Clubhouse functions similarly to traditional AOL chat rooms but uses voice instead of text.
It’s a more spontaneous experience—just enter a voice chat room and join the conversation.”
But this audio trend has one main problem:
“While major social networks support video, they typically don’t accommodate straight audio clips.
Wavve addresses this gap by converting users’ audio clips into short, shareable waveform videos.
This allows people to share their thoughts, music, or podcast excerpts on popular social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.”
Of course, audio is also a meta-trend that goes FAR beyond social media.
“Audio is a broader trend that extends well beyond social media.
Podcasting is booming, with approximately 356 million people tuning in at least once a month.
Apps like Anchor are making it easier for people to start their own podcasts.
Additionally, interest in audiobooks continues to grow annually, as evidenced by increasing search volumes for ‘Audible,’ Amazon’s audiobook service.”
6. Banking Is Going Mobile-First
“What was once considered niche has now become mainstream, with 86% of US banks now offering mobile bill-pay services.”
“Fintech startups like Chime Bank are vying for mobile-first banking customers by providing essential financial services with lower fees.
Mobile-first banking is a major trend in mobile apps, and it’s gaining traction worldwide.
For example, Indonesia’s Payfazz, supported by Y Combinator, is making waves in the global market.”
In Germany, they have N26.
In the UK: Starling Bank
“One of the most popular payment methods in China for years has been WeChat Pay.”
According to the latest known figures, 1 billion commercial transactions are made through the WeChat app every day.
And those are just a few examples.
There are also peer-to-peer payment networks like Venmo
“Additionally, Apple Pay and Google Pay each have tens of millions of users in the US.
Even Facebook has ventured into the mobile payments space with its own offerings.”
7. Apps Are Getting Smarte
AI has been included in many technology trend lists in the past years
But because of this the situation is getting worse
But do you know how?
“One clear indicator is the number of acquisitions involving AI startups.”
Here are some quotes about the past year
“Apple acquired Xnor.ai for $200 million and also Inductive, adding to their portfolio of over a dozen recent AI acquisitions.
Meanwhile, Snap purchased AI Factory for $166 million, which serves as the foundation for Snapchat’s ‘Cameos’ feature.”
“Fresh works acquired Answer to enhance its ‘Freddy AI,’ a machine-learning-powered predictive intelligence bot.
Additionally, Ikea recently bought the AI startup Geomatical Labs to boost its AR imaging capabilities.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly driving innovations in areas such as smart assistants, journalism, Netflix recommendations, and beyond. This trend is showing no signs of slowing down.”
8. Augmented Reality Is Getting Real
“Ask anyone about augmented reality, and if they know the term, they’ll likely mention one concern: fake videos.
‘Deep fakes’ have recently gained attention for their role in spreading disinformation, adding celebrities’ faces to explicit content, and other controversial uses.”
“Before it faced scrutiny as a potential counterintelligence threat, people uploaded tens of millions of photos to explore how they might look in the future.
Despite the controversies, augmented reality has many legitimate applications in mobile apps.
For instance, Snapchat and Ikea are enhancing their AR features with ‘Cameos’ and ‘Place,’ respectively.
Additionally, SketchAR allows iOS and Android users to ‘lift’ drawings from paper and project them onto other surfaces using augmented reality.”
“Zoom’s virtual backgrounds allow users to join videoconferences from iconic locations like the Starship Enterprise or the Simpsons’ couch.
Similarly, if you search for ‘tiger’ on an AR-enabled phone, you can view a 3D model of the tiger. This feature also works with other animals, such as wolves, pandas, and ducks.”
“Google Maps has also embraced the trend with Google Maps AR, which overlays augmented reality directions on your screen as you navigate on foot.
It will be intriguing to see what new AR features and applications emerge between now and 2025.”
9. Medical app development focuses on patients
“While many businesses are leveraging app development to enhance their brand and better serve customers, few industries have experienced as significant a surge in app development as the healthcare sector in recent years.”
“In 2016, the healthcare app market was valued at $2.17 billion. By 2019, it had surged to nearly $18 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45% through 2027.”
The healthcare app market has exploded in the past few years, and experts say accelerated growth is coming.
There are more than 350,000 healthcare apps available for download. This includes apps with general appeal, like those that track calorie intake or offer workout suggestions, and apps for a more specific medical population, like providers offering telemedicine or remote patient monitoring.
10. Mobile apps take advantage of cloud computing solutions
“Cloud computing is now a dominant force in the business world, with over 94% of companies utilizing cloud services. Furthermore, most businesses plan to increase their investment in cloud-based solutions in the years ahead.”
“Emerging from this trend, we anticipate a growing emphasis on cloud-based mobile apps in the near future.
Indeed, the mobile cloud market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.28% through 2029.
“Cloud-based mobile apps operate on the same principle as cloud computing in an office environment. The app resides on virtual servers, and data is stored in the cloud. Users can access the app through a browser with an internet connection.
Currently, most apps are downloaded and installed directly on a user’s smartphone, which requires developers to create separate versions for iOS and Android devices to ensure compatibility.”