This was first published June 6, in our weekly newsletter Apptopia Insight. To receive insights like this weekly, sign up here.

  • Travel – travel app downloads are up +3% YoY in May – flipping positive for the first time in over 6 months. Airlines (DAL, UAL) and Online Travel Agencies (EXPE, ABNB) both saw strong growth this month.
  • Retail  – retail downloads trending positive – up +2% YoY in May. Outperformers include LULU, WMT and W. Temu (PDD) downloads also picked back up this month (+2% YoY), lifting the ecommerce sector.  
  • QSRs – QSR app downloads are strong, up +8% YoY in May, and accelerating over April. Outperformers this month include SBUX, YUM and CMG.

Mobile macro trends

Travel – travel app downloads are up +3% YoY in May – flipping positive after negative trends in recent months. Trends improved broadly across many travel categories. Airlines increased to +11% YoY  (DAL, UAL outperforming) and Online Travel Agencies to +9% (EXPE, ABNB outperforming) both saw strong growth this month. Hotels also improved from down -19% YoY in April to -3% YoY in May. 

Retail  – retail downloads trending positive – up +2% YoY in May. Outperformers include LULU, WMT and W. Temu/PDD downloads also picked back up this month (+2% YoY), lifting the sector. Walmart downloads drove strength in Big Box Retail – which jumped to +14% YoY in May. Ecommerce downloads flipped positive to +1% YoY (Temu large contributor given its size). Electronics have also been strong in recent months (BBY +42% YoY in May). 

QSRs – QSR app downloads are strong, up +8% YoY in May, accelerating over April. Outperformers in May include SBUX, YUM and CMG. Starbucks downloads were negative in recent months (-30% YoY), but increased to +3% YoY in May. 

Round-up of additional sectors – Social Media sector downloads remain strong, mainly driven by Threads. Gym/Fitness app downloads are negative year-over-year – this is driven by Planet Fitness (app downloads are still up sequentially but down over 2023 because of a big promo last year). Real Estate apps (ZG/RDFN) are negative year-over-year but improved marginally. Streaming is down 11% YoY in May – NFLX downloads look strong while WBD/CMCSA (Peacock)/DIS all decelerated and are negative YoY. 

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