Leading Android apps in Belgium 2019, by downloads
Which apps are downloaded the most via the Google Play Store in Belgium? In October 2019, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger ranked among the most popular apps. One year before this, YouTube Music topped a download ranking that largely contained mobile games. Google’s music service was downloaded roughly 346,000 times to Belgian mobile devices. This was considerably higher than the downloads via Apple’s App Store.
YouTube was already popular for music, before YouTube Music
YouTube Music arrived in Belgium in August 2018. This could be a reason why the app topped this specific ranking, as the app was still quite new at this time. YouTube’s regular platform, however, was already a popular source for listening to music online. 40 percent of respondents from Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) said in 2018 they used the video platform at least once a month for this purpose. Spotify was mentioned by 30 percent of the respondents.
Messenger, not WhatsApp, the preferred IM app
Noticeable in this ranking is the entry of WhatsApp in fifth place (with roughly 196,000 downloads), ahead of Facebook Messenger (173,000 downloads). In Belgium, the penetration rate of WhatsApp was lower than the daily usage of Facebook Messenger. For example, roughly 73 percent of Belgians aged 18 to 24 years old used Messenger every day in 2017. This was 42 percent for WhatsApp.
YouTube was already popular for music, before YouTube Music
YouTube Music arrived in Belgium in August 2018. This could be a reason why the app topped this specific ranking, as the app was still quite new at this time. YouTube’s regular platform, however, was already a popular source for listening to music online. 40 percent of respondents from Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) said in 2018 they used the video platform at least once a month for this purpose. Spotify was mentioned by 30 percent of the respondents.
Messenger, not WhatsApp, the preferred IM app
Noticeable in this ranking is the entry of WhatsApp in fifth place (with roughly 196,000 downloads), ahead of Facebook Messenger (173,000 downloads). In Belgium, the penetration rate of WhatsApp was lower than the daily usage of Facebook Messenger. For example, roughly 73 percent of Belgians aged 18 to 24 years old used Messenger every day in 2017. This was 42 percent for WhatsApp.
