<p dir="ltr">The future of mobile apps is looking bright. The market has steadily grown every year, and 2025 will be no different. Mobile app development has become much more accessible than before — today, it’s possible to build an engaging app using just one front-end framework. But how do you know if your app idea fits into the right niche?</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/1_3315c64c78.jpg" alt="1.jpg"></p> <p dir="ltr">This article will explore the most popular app categories to help you select the niche for your project. We’ll also look at the most essential market data, discuss the benefits of mobile app development, and discuss the most cutting-edge features you can include in your new mobile app. Let’s get started!</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Why develop a mobile app in 2025?</h2> <p dir="ltr">Before we dive deep into the most popular app categories, let’s discuss how your business can benefit from having a dedicated mobile app. We'll start with a brief overview of the mobile app market and share the most relevant insights and statistics. After that, we’ll examine the benefits of mobile apps for every type of business and then move on to our list of the latest mobile app trends.</p> <pre class="language-contactus"><code>{{ "title": "Write ChilliCode", "description": "To help you acknowledge your business needs and decide whether IT services will work for you, I’ve sorted out a list of cases.", "buttonText": "Contact us" }}</code></pre> <h3 dir="ltr">Encouraging mobile app market trends</h3> <p dir="ltr">The current mobile app landscape is massive, with new mobile app categories emerging every year. That’s not surprising since the demand for mobile apps has been steadily increasing: by the end of 2023, global app downloads exceeded 148 billion (source: <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://www.businessofapps.com/data/app-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business of Apps</a>). The mobile app market is very diverse, and some of the most popular app categories in the United States include fintech, gaming, social media, and entertainment. Overall, the mobile app market in the U.S. is one of the largest, producing nearly $45 billion in revenue in 2023 (source: <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://www.businessofapps.com/data/us-app-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business of Apps</a>).</p> <p dir="ltr">Regarding app functionality, the most popular app categories include apps that tap into innovative technologies like AI, IoT, and 5G. These features are immensely popular among consumers, which is reflected by market statistics. Here’s an example: from 2021 to 2022, the annual revenue of the AI app sector grew from $1.2 billion to $2.5 billion — a more than twofold increase.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/2_53ce949304.png" alt="2.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr">A graph showcasing the impressive annual revenue growth of the AI app sector (source: <a href="https://www.businessofapps.com/data/ai-app-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Business of Apps</a>).</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-9ef84778-7fff-7677-c315-ad7d84405c32"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">Today, the mobile app market is so expansive that everyone can find their niche, regardless of business size or budget. Market research should always come first when taking on a mobile app development project. By analyzing your competitors, you can pinpoint flaws in their strategies and develop a more efficient approach to building a mobile app.</p> <p dir="ltr">At CHILLICODE, we have first-hand experience navigating this increasingly competitive market: we’ve successfully completed over 350 app development projects. We include business analysis in our development workflow — an essential step for ensuring success. Our technical expertise and knowledge of the latest mobile app industry trends allow us to build engaging mobile apps of any scale and complexity.</p> <p dir="ltr">With our mobile app market overview completed, let's discuss the main advantages of creating a mobile app for your business.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Why your business will benefit from launching a mobile app</h3> <p dir="ltr">Developing a mobile app can be very rewarding if you take the right approach. Any company can significantly benefit from building a mobile platform, whether an up-and-coming startup or a large corporation. Let's take a look at the benefits of creating a mobile app for different types of businesses:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <div dir="ltr" align="left"> <table><colgroup><col width="179"><col width="188"><col width="197"><col width="195"></colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p dir="ltr">Startups</p> </td> <td> <p dir="ltr">Small businesses</p> </td> <td> <p dir="ltr">Medium-sized businesses</p> </td> <td> <p dir="ltr">Large businesses</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p dir="ltr">Mobile apps help new startups attract clients and build a dedicated audience from scratch. Because mobile apps are typically more engaging and easy to use than most web platforms, they serve as an effective springboard for up-and-coming startups.</p> </td> <td> <p dir="ltr">Mobile apps can help small businesses connect with their existing customer base and explore new approaches to monetization. Mobile apps allow small businesses to increase profits by diversifying revenue and improving customer confidence.</p> </td> <td> <p dir="ltr">By utilizing mobile apps, mid-sized businesses can increase their customer reach and expand their enterprise. Mobile apps will help them handle increased customer traffic, allowing them to efficiently scale the enterprise to accommodate the growing number of customers.</p> </td> <td> <p dir="ltr">Due to their high accessibility and ease of use, large businesses can utilize mobile apps to reach a massive global audience. In addition, mobile apps can help large companies promote their brand and increase revenue through mobile marketing strategies and promotional campaigns.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <p dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">As you can see, developing a mobile app can produce impressive results for any business. Even a simple mobile app will allow your company to connect with new clients and boost your overall reach, leading to increased profits. If you’ll thoroughly research top app categories and pick the proper niche, the said reach will be even more impressive.</p> <p dir="ltr">So, without further ado let’s examine the most popular mobile app categories to help you choose the right segment for your future mobile app.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">TOP-10 App Categories and Types in 2024 and beyond</h2> <p dir="ltr">With so many different segments and app categories, finding the right niche can be difficult. We’ve compiled the most notable app categories in 2024.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">IoT apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">One of the most promising app categories today is IoT apps. They have gained much traction in recent years. The IoT space is experiencing rapid growth due to increasing global internet speeds and advances in cloud computing. Smart devices are becoming increasingly popular and affordable, with companies like <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="http://ring.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ring</a> and <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://www.ecobee.com/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecobee</a> bringing more innovation to the IoT industry. Mobile IoT development has never been as lucrative as today, and this field will only become more profitable.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/3_cd17f872ce.png" alt="3.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr"><a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smartthings/id1222822904" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samsung SmartThings</a>, a platform for managing smart home devices, is one of the best examples of IoT mobile apps. The app has earned thousands of positive reviews.</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-af960294-7fff-4795-8677-e5a53425a421"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">If you want to develop a new IoT mobile app, follow Samsung SmartThings' example regarding the possible feature range. Implementing a similar system for automating smart devices will help your IoT app attract many new users.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Healthcare apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Healthcare is one of the most enduring and lucrative app categories: the annual revenue of health apps has been steadily growing each year, exceeding $3.40 billion by the end of 2023. With the rapid advancement of telemedicine and health-tracking technologies in recent years, health apps are becoming increasingly widespread. Given the favorable market conditions and the increased demand for telehealth services, now is the perfect time to launch a mobile health app.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Travel apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">The travel app segment has almost completely recovered since the end of the pandemic, when everyone was eager to leave their homes and travel the world again. The annual revenue of mobile travel apps has reached $556 billion, almost at the level of the pre-pandemic years (source: <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://www.businessofapps.com/data/travel-app-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business of Apps</a>). The travel industry will likely be even more profitable, so it makes sense to capitalize on its success by creating a mobile travel app.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Investment apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Mobile apps like Robinhood and Stash have popularized the mobile investment market, and nowadays, it’s highly diverse and competitive. Mobile investment apps allow everyone to purchase and sell assets like stocks and currencies, providing universal access to investment. This segment is becoming more lucrative yearly, thanks to technological AI, 5G, and cloud computing breakthroughs.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Fitness apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">The mobile fitness industry experienced a resurgence during the pandemic and continues to grow today. Following the end of the pandemic, people around the world are becoming increasingly health-conscious, which has led to an increased demand for mobile fitness apps that allow you to exercise efficiently at home. Thanks to that, creating a brand new mobile fitness platform with guided tutorials and other useful features can be very profitable today.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Crypto wallet apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">The crypto industry is growing by the minute, and with Bitcoin recently reaching a record value, this app category has become even more popular. The increased popularity of crypto exchanges over the past few years has led to more people discovering cryptocurrencies for the first time, making 2025 the best possible time to get into crypto app development.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/4_50617566b3.png" alt="4.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption><strong id="docs-internal-guid-750c53ac-7fff-8474-c388-1cd019789d59"><a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://apps.apple.com/ae/app/trust-crypto-bitcoin-wallet/id1288339409?platform=iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trust Wallet</a> is an excellent example of a reliable cryptocurrency wallet. It provides a secure platform for storing and purchasing cryptocurrencies.</strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">To build a reliable crypto wallet, you must hire competent back-end developers to make the app as secure as possible. In terms of design, we recommend creating a simple and easy-to-navigate UI to make the app as enjoyable as possible for all users.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Task management apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">With the growing number of remote workers worldwide, task management apps are among the fastest-growing app categories. They allow users to efficiently collaborate with other team members on complex projects and manage personal daily tasks. The task management mobile app market still has much untapped potential, so now is a great time to develop your task management app.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/5_f6208c6dda.png" alt="5.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr"><a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notion-notes-docs-tasks/id1232780281" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Notion</a> is among the best apps for managing personal tasks and collaborative projects. Its minimalistic design and simple color scheme make it easy for users to stay focused on their workflow.</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-30285a65-7fff-2253-20ff-db7e70417973"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">If you’d like to develop a mobile task management app, prioritize the user experience above all else. Today, people appreciate simplicity in app design, so the easier your app is to use, the more customers it will attract. We recommend hiring experienced front-end developers to help you realize your design vision.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Educational apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">In today's world, education is gradually becoming more accessible. It’s no longer tied only to schools and universities; now, people are learning on mobile platforms as well. Remote learning will become more common in the future, so <a href="https://chillicode.dev/blog/educational-app-development-detailed-guide-and-cost-of-creation">creating a new mobile learning app</a> is a smart move.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/6_2ca179cb60.png" alt="6.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr">The <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/duolingo-language-lessons/id570060128?platform=iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Duolingo</a> mobile app has become hugely popular in recent years, and for good reason. It has set the gold standard of user engagement that all other educational mobile apps strive to follow.</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-d5954517-7fff-7429-0d12-44ec33e8ef89"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">Developing a similar app will involve creating a compelling UI design and interactive elements that help foster user engagement. By hiring competent UX experts, you can ensure that your educational mobile app is entertaining and helpful for learning.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">AI translator apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Advances in artificial intelligence have led to an increasing number of mobile apps and services looking to capitalize on this popular trend. Translation apps are among those app categories that have benefited the most from the rise of AI. However, this market is still rich in potential, so developing an AI-assisted translation app today is a lucrative idea.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/7_765eeb3797.png" alt="7.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr"><a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://apps.apple.com/bt/app/deepl-translate/id1552407475?platform=iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DeepL</a> is a relatively new translator app based on artificial intelligence. The app supports detailed contextual translation in 29 languages; even more languages will be added to the service.</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-d7dbc6bc-7fff-f16c-35ca-c5e9b08e10f7"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">If you want to develop an AI-based translator app, focusing your efforts on developing complex AI algorithms makes sense. This will include gathering extensive data for training and refining the AI model.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Mental health apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">One of the most demanded app categories is mental health applications. They provide a much-needed respite from the hectic pace of modern city life, offering features like online counseling and guided meditations. This pace will only get faster as technology advances so mental health apps will become even more essential later. This is why creating a mental health mobile app today can be highly profitable.</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/8_e1f93edb0b.png" alt="8.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr"><a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810?platform=iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calm</a> is one of the most successful apps focused on sleep and meditation. The app has become very popular thanks to its unique features. For example, the platform invites celebrities, including famous actors, who record original audio content for the service. This helps set Calm apart from its competitors and provides additional value to clients.</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-42123a1f-7fff-9c20-0678-69b768a2fcbe"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">Making a similar app will likely involve creating original content like guided meditations and podcasts. We also recommend optimizing the content download speeds — this will allow customers to enjoy your app without interruptions, resulting in a smooth user experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now that we’ve explored the ten most lucrative mobile app market sectors, let’s move on to the most cutting-edge features you can implement in your mobile app.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Innovative features to include in a mobile app</h2> <h3 dir="ltr">AI and machine learning</h3> <p dir="ltr">With the rise of ChatGPT, which has become the fastest-growing software product in history (source: <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://www.businessofapps.com/data/ai-app-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business of Apps</a>), it’s hard not to be impressed with artificial intelligence. Apart from the educational and research value it provides, AI offers many possibilities when it comes to making innovative mobile apps. No wonder many mobile app categories use its potential. Let’s look at an example of how you could implement AI features in your mobile app.</p> <p dir="ltr">Let’s say you want to develop a mobile platform for investors. If you want your app to succeed, you’ll need to offer your customers a range of valuable features. Apps like Stash and Betterment attract clients by providing AI-based features like competent investment advice, which considers the market's current state. To make your app stand out, we recommend experimenting with AI functionality. For example, implement an intelligent market analysis feature to educate your users on potential investment risks. </p> <p dir="ltr">AI is among the most popular B2B mobile app trends, with platforms like <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/ai-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Azure</a> providing a suite of AI-based features to help businesses improve their app development workflows. By coming up with new ways of integrating AI functionality into your app, you’ll be able to provide a unique value proposition and successfully compete with other companies.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">IoT features</h3> <p dir="ltr">Another popular mobile app trend is the integration of IoT functionality. IoT is “the Internet of Things” — an interconnected network of hardware devices. IoT seamlessly combines software and hardware, bringing innovation into our daily lives. IoT functionality is commonly utilized by smart home systems that control lighting and household appliances, but it also has other uses.</p> <p dir="ltr">One of the most groundbreaking uses of IoT concerns health monitoring apps, which make it possible to track vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate quickly. Wearable wrist-mounted devices like smartwatches, thanks to highly accurate sensors, make this feature even more helpful.</p> <p dir="ltr">Without a doubt, IoT will be a significant part of the future of mobile apps. Utilizing this technology in your mobile app ensures that your platform stays ahead of the competition and impresses a broad audience.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">VR & AR</h3> <p dir="ltr">VR and AR technologies, which are some of the most futuristic ideas of the 20th century, became widespread in the 2010s. These technologies have become standard across industries, including gaming, education, and healthcare. Incorporating VR or AR features into your mobile app can help your business achieve higher recognition.<strong><br></strong></p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/9_ee91d5744a.png" alt="9.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption> <p dir="ltr">Apple has seamlessly combined AR and VR functionality in its multi-purpose Vision Pro headset.</p> <strong id="docs-internal-guid-2c280a23-7fff-0ee9-63aa-2d4ccb814dfc"></strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">With the recent introduction of Apple’s own <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AR/VR headset</a>, the VR/AR space is experiencing yet another resurgence. It makes sense to capitalize on the success of these technologies by experimenting with them further. In the case of mobile apps, native hardware functionality such as the camera can be used to implement AR visualization — a mobile shopping app could benefit from such a feature. Another option is to make the mobile app fully compatible with the VR headset to maximize the user's immersion — this can be particularly useful for entertainment and gaming mobile apps.</p> <p dir="ltr">VR and AR are the ideal tools for increasing user engagement in your mobile app. However, implementing this functionality may require additional effort from the developers. If you want to include VR/AR features in your app, hire experts in 3D visualization and conduct extensive QA testing to ensure everything works correctly.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">5G technology</h3> <p dir="ltr">While 5G functionality isn’t globally widespread yet, it’s increasingly used in mobile app development. This technology was introduced seven years ago, and a growing number of countries are adopting it each year.</p> <p dir="ltr">The main advantage of 5G is the increased network connectivity speed, which allows developers to significantly improve mobile app functionality. For example, video and audio streaming apps can use 5G to boost performance by shortening load times and improving streaming quality. Any mobile service that uses real-time functionality, such as navigational apps, will be able to increase the user experience by utilizing 5G. Users can access content much quicker than on 4G networks, enabling developers to implement innovative features without sacrificing app performance.</p> <p dir="ltr">5G still has not reached its peak popularity, so today is the perfect time to take advantage of this emerging technology. By doing that, you’ll be able to stay ahead of your competitors and launch a highly engaging product. It's also worth noting that with 5G, you'll be able to boost your app's VR, AR, AI, and IoT functionality. These technologies deal with large amounts of data, and 5G will make them even more efficient, enabling them to process data at increased speeds.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">An eye-catching design</h3> <p dir="ltr">In today’s competitive market, a compelling visual design can go a long way towards ensuring the success of your mobile app. Right now, minimalistic design is all the rage, and for good reason: it can simplify app navigation and impress a broad audience. This approach can also be combined with intelligent color gradients, resulting in a sleek and modern app design. To craft a memorable app design, it’s essential to hire the right people and come up with a coherent design philosophy, which must align with the overall image of your brand. </p> <p dir="ltr">Understanding your audience is crucial for delivering a high-quality design. That’s why we recommend conducting a thorough audience research at the start of your project. By understanding your users’ preferences and interests, you’ll be able to tailor your app's visual style to their liking. This will lead to improved engagement and increased profits and can even help attract new users to your platform. After all, making an excellent first impression on your clients is essential, and a compelling visual design will help with that.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Required mobile app development tech stack</h2> <figure class="image"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/10_a68775a754.png" alt="10.png"> <figcaption> <figure class="image"> <figcaption><strong id="docs-internal-guid-f9f56afe-7fff-c6d0-83bf-8598b812a85c">Programming languages like <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://kotlinlang.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kotlin</a> provide developers with increased flexibility, allowing them to share large code fragments across different platforms.</strong></figcaption> </figure> </figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr">Another essential aspect of development is the technology stack. Mobile apps can be native (developed for a single platform) or cross-platform (built for multiple platforms simultaneously). Both of these app types have their strengths. Native apps typically leverage the hardware functionality of smartphones, like cameras or gyroscopes, allowing you to implement device-specific features in your app. Cross-platforms are the most flexible in terms of device compatibility and are often easier and quicker to develop than native apps.</p> <p dir="ltr">Deciding on the type of your app early on will help you determine your tech stack, allowing you to hire the right programmers for the task. We recommend opting for a reliable <a class="style_active__3JOFb" href="https://chillicode.dev/#Stack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">native app development tech stack</a> that includes Swift (iOS apps) and Kotlin (Android apps). It allows you to create technically impressive applications that utilize all the latest smartphone features.</p> <pre class="language-subscription"><code>sub</code></pre> <p dir="ltr"><br><br>We would also recommend starting any app development cycle with an MVP and learn <a href="https://chillicode.dev/blog/mvp-development-benefits-and-costs">why it is the optimal path for your project</a>.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">To sum up</h2> <p dir="ltr">We’ve explored top app categories, and the conclusion is obvious: judging by the latest app trends and popular mobile app categories, 2025 is the perfect year to begin your development journey. With the advancement in technology and increasing global internet coverage, the future of mobile apps looks promising. At CHILLICODE, we embrace the latest development trends to create cutting-edge mobile apps for any business. If you want to create your mobile app, contact us, and we will make sure your project succeeds.</p>
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