Most of Us Don't Download Any Smartphone Apps at All

Jonathan Nackstrand—AFP/Getty Images

By Denver Nicks

August 22, 2014

More and more of us might be using smartphones to meet our digital needs but, according to the latest data from analytics firm Comscore, we aren’t downloading more apps on top of what comes with our phones.

Only about 35% of smartphone users download any apps at all in an average month, says Comscore’s Mobile App Report—put another way, 65% of smartphone users don’t download a single app in any given month.

That’s not to say that people aren’t using apps, or even that app downloads are down overall. Smartphone sales have been soaring worldwide, broadening the pool of potential app downloaders even as people individually tend not to be downloading very many apps. Indeed, July was Apple’s best month ever for app store revenue.

It seems to be that people just don’t need that many apps. According to Comscore, “a staggering 42% of all app time spent on smartphones occurs on the individual’s single most used app.” It may also be the case, as Quartz notes, that Apple’s app store—the elephant in the app retail room—relies too heavily on Top 25 lists and makes it difficult for users to find new apps they might want.

PHOTOS: The Rise of Mobile Phones from 1916 to Today

<strong>1916</strong> A German field telephone station in the Aisne department of northern France during World War I.

1916 A German field telephone station in the Aisne department of northern France during World War I.

Paul Thompson—FPG/Getty Images

<strong>1970</strong>
French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday in a scene from the film 'Point de Chute' (aka 'Falling Point').

1970 French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday in a scene from the film 'Point de Chute' (aka 'Falling Point').

Keystone/Holton/Getty Images

<strong>1980</strong>
An early mobile phone during the Iranian Embassy siege at Princes Gate in South Kensington, London.

1980 An early mobile phone during the Iranian Embassy siege at Princes Gate in South Kensington, London.

Kypros/Getty Images

<strong>1983</strong>
Bob Maxwell, general manager of Englewood-based Mobile Telephone of Colorado, places a call on an FCC-approved radio frequency while driving to work.

1983 Bob Maxwell, general manager of Englewood-based Mobile Telephone of Colorado, places a call on an FCC-approved radio frequency while driving to work.

Lyn Alweis—Denver Post/Getty Images

<strong>1986</strong>
THE A-TEAM "The Say U.N.C.L.E. Affair" Episode 5. (l-r) Eddie Velez as Frankie Santana, Robert Vaughn as General Hunt Stockwell, George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith.

1986 THE A-TEAM "The Say U.N.C.L.E. Affair" Episode 5. (l-r) Eddie Velez as Frankie Santana, Robert Vaughn as General Hunt Stockwell, George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith.

Bill Dow—NBC/Getty Images

<strong>1992</strong>
Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton talks on a cell phone while meeting with Boston Mayor Ray Flynn in a New York hotel on Sept. 25.

1992 Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton talks on a cell phone while meeting with Boston Mayor Ray Flynn in a New York hotel on Sept. 25.

Mark Lennihan—AP

<strong>1993</strong>
Whoopi Goldberg during ShoWest in Las Vegas.

1993 Whoopi Goldberg during ShoWest in Las Vegas.

Jeff Kravitz—FilmMagic/Getty Images

<strong>1997</strong>

A farmer with his family sitting on a Bullock Cart and talking on a mobile Phone, in Delhi.

1997 A farmer with his family sitting on a Bullock Cart and talking on a mobile Phone, in Delhi.

India Today Group/Getty Images

<strong>2001</strong>
A woman watches smoke pour out of the World Trade Center Towers in New York on September 11.

2001 A woman watches smoke pour out of the World Trade Center Towers in New York on September 11.

Nicholas Goldberg—Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

<strong>2011</strong>
A rebel militiaman speaks on his mobile phone after capturing territory from government troops on March 25 in Ben Jawat, Libya.

2011 A rebel militiaman speaks on his mobile phone after capturing territory from government troops on March 25 in Ben Jawat, Libya.

John Moore—Getty Images

<strong>2011</strong>
A youth films the aftermath of tear gas police fired at protestors in Muhammed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square on November 23 in Cairo.

2011 A youth films the aftermath of tear gas police fired at protestors in Muhammed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square on November 23 in Cairo.

Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images

<strong>2012</strong>

Audience members take pictures of President Barack Obama at Florida Atlantic University on April 10 in Boca Raton, Florida.

2012 Audience members take pictures of President Barack Obama at Florida Atlantic University on April 10 in Boca Raton, Florida.

Marc Serota—Getty Images

<strong>2014</strong>
A teenager takes a selfie in front of Queen Elizabeth II during a walk around St. Georges Market in Belfast. The Queen has apparently voiced her dismay that when she carries out engagements she is greeted by a sea of mobile phones.

2014 A teenager takes a selfie in front of Queen Elizabeth II during a walk around St. Georges Market in Belfast. The Queen has apparently voiced her dismay that when she carries out engagements she is greeted by a sea of mobile phones.

Peter Macdiarmid—PA Wire/Press Association Images/AP

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