Average Smartphone User Spends 30.25 Hrs Using 26.8 Apps Per Month [Charts]

New data from Nielsen shows that U.S. Android and iPhone users age 18 and over spend 65 percent more time each month using apps than they did just two years ago.

In Q4 2013, they spent 30 hours, 15 minutes using apps, a full half-day more than 18 hours, 18 minutes in Q4 2011. The average number of apps used per month, however, only increased slightly from 23.2 in Q4 2011 to 26.5 during the same period in 2012 and 26.8 apps per month in Q4 2013.


Smartphone owners ages 25-44 use the greatest number of apps per month (29 apps, on average), but 18-24 year-olds spend the most time on them (37 hours, 6 minutes). Social networking and search apps are still the most used. People spent nearly 11 hours per month, on average, accessing these apps. Entertainment viewing, including video, audio, and gaming apps, grew 71 percent among mobile users year over year.

“As mobile consumption habits evolve, it’s imperative that app developers continue to add functionality and robustness to their offerings,” said Monica Bannan, vice president of product leadership at Nielsen. “Although there does appear to be a limit to the number of apps people are willing to access on a monthly basis, they’re spending 31 percent more time than they were last year, proving that it’s the content that counts.”

Take a look at the charts below for more details...