Facebook owns the 4 most downloaded apps of the decade

One company owned the last decade, whether we like it or not.
By Alex Perry  on 
Facebook owns the 4 most downloaded apps of the decade
Facebook owned the decade, for better or worse. Credit: Getty Images

History may not look kindly upon it, but the 2010s really was the decade of Facebook.

A new report from analytics firm App Annie revealed the top 10 most downloaded mobile apps of the decade, and Facebook has an unsurprising grip on the whole operation. Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram were the four most downloaded apps across Android and iOS in the 2010s, and all four come from the same company.

The full list is as follows:

Mashable Light Speed
Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?
Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
  1. Facebook

  2. Facebook Messenger

  3. WhatsApp

  4. Instagram

  5. Snapchat

  6. Skype

  7. TikTok

  8. UC Browser

  9. YouTube

  10. Twitter

It is, if nothing else, a clear view of just how much Facebook dominated our daily lives from 2010 to 2019. Its flagship app and Messenger spin-off both have user counts in the billions, while Instagram and WhatsApp are household names.

Facebook is such a key part of people's routines that users largely haven't abandoned the platform, even after years of high-profile scandals involving user data and fake news. Indeed, the massive size and scope of the company have attracted calls to break it up by presidential candidates such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

As for the rest of the top 10 apps of the decade, very little of it is surprising. Familiar faces like Snapchat and Twitter made the cut, while TikTok managed to sneak in with a surge at the end of the decade. The only name readers in the U.S. might not recognize is UC Browser, an Alibaba-powered web browser that's popular in Asia.


Recommended For You
Substack will allow writers to paywall the chat feature
A graphic of speech bubbles.

The creator of the viral 'Bonk Song' on how a water jug became a symbol for the Palestinian protests
No$hu small talk bonk bonk jug of justice palestine

Is the White House being hypocritical about TikTok?
A picture of Joe Biden against a backdrop of a broken phone screen with the TikTok logo.

The internet can't get enough of 'Challengers' and, honestly, same
Mike Faist as Art, Zendaya as Tashi, and Josh O’Connor as Patrick in "Challengers."

How to close all tabs on iPhone
A person holding an iPhone.

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 1
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 1
a phone displaying Wordle

T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon slapped with $200M fine — here’s what they illegally did with your data
User holding iPhone

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 1
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!