In the past year, India’s mobile users have spent more time exploring new apps and digital tools than ever before. Likewise In 2025, India recorded 25.5 billion app downloads. This marked a strong comeback after a small drop in the year 2024. People also spent more time using mobile apps compared to the previous year. Let’s dive deeper into this to get more insights.
Growth In AI Assistant And Microdrama Apps
A major reason for the rebound was the surge in generative AI assistant downloads. Users in India downloaded AI-based tools much more often in 2025 than in 2024. The total number jumped from 198 million to 602 million. AI Apps like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity and Grok were among the most downloaded.
Alongside AI, short drama or “microdrama” apps also grew quickly. These platforms deliver brief scripted episodes that people can watch on the go. Downloads of these apps increased by more than 350 million.
Moreover, some microdrama platforms ranked high on video app charts in India. For example, Kuku TV ranked in the top five worldwide.
User Engagement And App Usage Patterns
Not all app types grew equally. Traditional social media, messaging and security apps saw a slight drop in downloads. In contrast, tools like video editing, social discovery and food delivery apps saw higher interest. This was partly due to the rapid rise of quick commerce and grocery delivery services.
Moreover, India still leads the world in the number of mobile app downloads. But it ranks outside the top 20 markets when it comes to money spent by users inside apps.
What This Means For The Market
Experts say the 2025 rebound shows how fast mobile habits are changing in India. Artificial intelligence tools and highly shareable short video content have attracted a large volume of new users.
As app usage grows, the challenge remains to turn downloads into revenue. India’s app market may soon see more monetisation strategies as companies work to convert high engagement into earnings.
