Global Apps in September: September 2023 Market Analysis

The September 2023 analysis of non‑game mobile apps highlights a surge in AI‑driven offerings and sustained growth across health, navigation, education, and entertainment categories. A new AI dating app, Talkie, achieved a staggering 1 000 % increase in Android advertising spend, while the AI photo editor Photo Lab Picture Editor & Art recorded a 481 % jump in downloads, underscoring the market’s appetite for AI‑enhanced experiences. Traditional news and event coverage also expanded, with CGTN amplifying its advertising during the Hangzhou Asian Games, driving a 246 % rise in iOS ad volume and targeting key English‑speaking markets.

Revenue trends show notable month‑over‑month gains: ClassDojo’s education platform surged 82 % in earnings, largely from the U.S. and U.K.; onX Hunt’s navigation app grew 25 % in revenue, entirely from U.S. users; and Vudu’s movie‑rental service increased earnings by 9 % in the U.S. market. Download activity mirrored these patterns, with Top Widgets+ and Google Classroom experiencing 36 % and 47 % growth respectively, dominated by China, the U.S., India, and Spain.

The data were sourced from SocialPeta’s advertising analytics and app store performance metrics across the App Store and Google Play. The report covers global markets, focusing on September 2023, and provides granular insights into ad spend distribution by region, channel, and creative format. These findings illustrate the continued momentum of AI applications while reaffirming steady growth in established app categories.