India’s mobile market saw 26.7 billion app downloads in 2021, a 41% year-over-year increase, with Android users spending an average of 4.7 hours per day on apps.
See it on page 2Gaming revenue is driven by two distinct models: hyper-casual action and puzzle games generated over $5 billion globally, while strategy-based '4× March-battle' games captured nearly $10 billion.
See it on page 17Food and drink app engagement in India surged 33% year-over-year to 12.1 billion sessions in Q4 2021, fueled by the rapid adoption of hyper-fast grocery delivery models.
See it on page 31Travel and rideshare sectors are recovering toward pre-pandemic levels, with India recording 259.5 million travel app downloads in H2 2021 and a 3:1 ratio of rider-to-driver sessions in key markets.
See it on page 45India’s consumer spending hit $417 million in 2021, with significant growth in finance (+27%) and medical (+38%) categories.
See it on page 49Top-performing apps in India include Google Pay, Instagram, Flipkart, Jio, and Hotstar, while Free Fire and Call of Duty: Mobile lead both download and spend charts in the gaming sector.
See it on page 56India’s mobile ecosystem in 2021 experienced a surge of activity, with total app downloads reaching 26.7 billion—a 41 % increase from the previous year—and Android users spending an average of 4.7 hours per day on apps, up 27 % from 2019. Consumer spend hit $417 million, positioning India as a dominant force in global downloads (10 % of worldwide figures) and driving significant growth in finance (+27 %) and medical (+38 %) categories. The country’s high usage time and spend levels make it a key growth engine for advertisers and developers.
Gaming shifted sharply toward hyper‑casual titles, which now dominate worldwide downloads. In 2021, hyper‑casual action and puzzle games generated over $5 billion in consumer spend, while strategy‑based “4× March‑battle” games captured nearly $10 billion in revenue. These trends highlight a pivot toward low‑friction, highly engaging experiences that accelerate user acquisition and monetization.
Food & drink apps saw explosive growth, with user sessions rising 33 % YoY to 12.1 billion in Q4 2021 after a pandemic dip. Rapid‑delivery services such as Zepto, Getir, Gorillas and Flink experienced double‑digit download surges, driven by international expansion and hyper‑fast grocery models. Brand‑centric searches dominate India’s market, while generic terms (“food”, “delivery”, “coffee”) rise in emerging regions, indicating a blend of branded and discovery‑driven usage.
Travel and rideshare apps rebounded strongly in H2 2021. India alone accounted for 259.5 million travel‑app downloads, up 15 million from H2 2020, while global downloads approached pre‑pandemic levels at 1.95 billion versus 2.08 billion in H2 2019. Rideshare demand recovered sharply, with rider sessions outnumbering driver sessions by roughly 3:1 in key markets such as the US, UK, and India. Travel apps and on‑demand transport services are regaining traction, with India playing a pivotal role in the global rebound.
In 2021, the most downloaded and highest‑spending apps in India included Google Pay, Instagram, Flipkart, Jio MyJio and Hotstar. In gaming, Free Fire (Tencent), Call of Duty: Mobile (Activision Blizzard) and Gardenscapes – New Acres (Playrix) led downloads, with Free Fire and Call of Duty: Mobile also topping spend charts. These figures underscore India’s status as a leading mobile market across diverse verticals and user segments.
