Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users as of 2023. On Facebook, users can connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, join interest-based groups, and use a variety of apps. With so many apps available on the platform, which ones rise to the top as the most popular Facebook apps?
Most Popular Facebook Apps by Monthly Active Users
One way to determine an app’s popularity is to look at how many monthly active users it has. Here are some of the top Facebook apps by this metric:
- Facebook Messenger – Over 1 billion monthly active users
- Facebook – The core Facebook app itself has over 2 billion monthly active users
- Facebook Pages Manager – Over 60 million monthly active users
- Instagram – Over 1 billion monthly active users
- WhatsApp – Over 2 billion monthly active users
As you can see, Facebook Messenger and the core Facebook app top the list with over 1 billion monthly active users each. WhatsApp and Instagram also have incredibly high numbers, over 1 billion each. All of these apps are owned by Facebook, Inc. and integrate tightly with the Facebook platform.
Most Popular Facebook Apps by Downloads
Another metric that can indicate an app’s popularity is how many times it has been downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. The apps with the most downloads:
- Facebook – Over 5 billion downloads
- Facebook Messenger – Over 5 billion downloads
- Instagram – Over 1 billion downloads
- WhatsApp Messenger – Over 5 billion downloads
The Facebook app has been downloaded over 5 billion times, showing its tremendous reach across the globe. Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp also have over 5 billion downloads each, demonstrating their popularity as communication platforms.
Most Popular Facebook Apps by Engagement
Engagement metrics like reactions, comments, and shares can also indicate which apps are most popular and getting the most use on Facebook. Some apps with high engagement numbers include:
- Facebook Live – Over 100 million hours of live video watched daily
- Facebook Stories – Over 300 million daily active users
- Facebook Groups – Over 1.8 billion group memberships
- Facebook Marketplace – Over 1 billion items listed each month
The numbers show that Facebook’s live video, ephemeral stories, groups, and marketplace features are hugely popular with active daily engagement. People turn to these apps for connecting with others through video, sharing quick updates, joining interest groups, and buying and selling items.
Most Popular Gaming Apps on Facebook
In terms of gaming apps, some all-time favorites on Facebook include:
- FarmVille – Peaked at over 80 million monthly active users
- Candy Crush Saga – Over 18 million daily active users
- Slotomania – Over 6 million daily active users
- Texas HoldEm Poker – Peaked at over 50 million monthly active users
These relaxing farming sims, puzzle games, casino games, and poker apps have seen incredibly popularity over the years. They offer casual gameplay that engages Facebook users and keeps them coming back.
The Rise and Fall of Facebook’s Most Popular Apps
While the apps above remain popular today, Facebook usage and app preferences have evolved over time. Here’s a look at how some of Facebook’s apps have risen and fallen in popularity:
FarmVille
This farming simulation game was all the rage on Facebook in 2009-2014. At its peak, it had over 80 million monthly active users. Engagement eventually dropped off, with users moving on to other games. It was finally discontinued at the end of 2020.
Candy Crush Saga
Following FarmVille, from 2012-2014 this match-3 puzzle game absolutely dominated the popularity charts. While still popular today, engagement has tapered off from its peak.
Facebook Live
Live video streaming on Facebook exploded in popularity from 2015-2017. It became ubiquitous for everything from celebrity broadcasts to political events to personal connections. Growth eventually leveled off but it remains a key feature.
Facebook Stories
Capitalizing on the ephemeral story format popularized by Snapchat, Facebook Stories launched in 2017. It quickly became one of the app’s most used features. While still popular today, growth has slowed significantly.
As we can see, new apps and features often see rapid adoption and growth, but can struggle to sustain that popularity long-term. Users’ interests evolve over time.
Most Popular Facebook Apps of 2023
Based on current monthly active users, downloads, and engagement, here are the most popular Facebook apps as of 2023:
- Facebook Messenger
- Facebook Groups
The core Facebook app remains number one, demonstrating the platform’s continued dominance. Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp have also solidified their positions as essential communication and social media apps. And Facebook Groups have risen rapidly to become one of the app’s most used features.
Key Factors Driving App Popularity on Facebook
There are several key factors that determine what apps gain and maintain popularity on Facebook:
- Network effects – Apps that leverage Facebook’s built-in network of family/friends see rapid viral growth.
- Engaging features – Apps with fun, engaging mechanics keep users active and returning.
- Solid user experience – Smooth, intuitive interfaces enable easy onboarding.
- Cross-platform availability – Availability on both mobile and desktop allows seamless access.
- Effective monetization – Revenue models that provide value without being overly aggressive.
Apps that hit these points often see massive adoption and can sustain that popularity over many years. Poorly executed apps fail to grow or lose their audience quickly when users’ needs change.
Conclusion
While many apps have come and gone, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Groups remain the current kings of the platform based on monthly active users, downloads, and engagement. Facebook’s network effects, focus on engagement and user experience, and multi-platform availability drive much of this continued popularity. But user interests evolve, so even the top apps today will need fresh features and approaches to maintain their dominance long-term.