eCommerce and delivery apps continue to grow

Top eCommerce apps continue to see a spike in usage compared to Q1 2020 while many other app categories have noticed a decline in user numbers following the end of lockdowns. 

An analysis of the top 10 US apps for tracking, grocery, delivery and online shopping by Sensor Tower found that monthly active users among the top package tracking apps climbed 152% in 2022 while grocery delivery apps saw a 50% spike. 

Online shopping apps grew 9% during the first quarter compared to the same period in 2020 which marks a slight decline over previous levels. That’s likely due to consumer shopping returning to pre-pandemic habits with more in-store purchases being made. 

Overall, usage increased more modestly throughout 2021 with package tracking apps growing 20% and grocery apps rising 9%.

Amazon was a top online shopping app with 59% of monthly active users, down 16 points from 2021. 

Shop was the top tracking app, growing its usage 232% compared to 2020 but just 5% year-on-year.

Collectively, the top 10 grocery delivery apps grew their monthly active users 194% compared to 2020 and 87% compared to 2021. 

The data shows that although some users are returning to pre-pandemic modes of shopping, online delivery and app-based shopping behaviours may be here to stay.