India is a country of extremes when it comes to app usage. The country continues to top global app downloads, but doesn’t feature in the top 20 markets in terms of consumer spending, according to a new report by market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. India was one of the only markets in the top 10 to see downloads grow year-on-year in 2025, besides Pakistan, the report found.
After downloads declined in 2024 to 24.6 billion from 2023’s 25.9 billion, India bounced back in 2025 with 25.5 billion app downloads.
Number of App Downloads Image Credit: Sensor Tower
People were also more engaged, thanks to AI and microdrama apps, as time spent in apps rose from 1.13 trillion hours in 2024 to 1.23 trillion last year, according to the report.
Number of hours spent by users Image Credits: Sensor Tower
When it comes to category growth, social media, social messenger, and security apps dipped. Meanwhile, AI assistants, microdrama apps, video editing apps, social discovery, and food and delivery apps rose (largely because of the rise of ultra-fast grocery delivery services).
Short drama app downloads grew by over 350 million in the country, and AI assistants grew by 346 million downloads, which is also reflective of the global trend.
Users in India downloaded generative AI apps 198 million times in 2024. Unsurprisingly, that figure jumped to 602 million in 2025. First, companies like OpenAI and Google launched new image models that saw the demand for AI assistants grow exponentially in India.
Image Credits: Sensor Tower
Second, multiple AI companies started offering their premium plans for free to Indian users to gain market share.
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