Most Downloaded Travel Apps

Travel apps have a firm place in the tourism market. Which apps are the most popular among globetrotters today?

A travel world without travel apps? Hardly imaginable. They always go with you – just like your suitcase, toiletry bag, and credit card. Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, these electronic helpers have become part of our life and travel. The boom then began with the first app store in 2008.

Which travel apps are currently the most popular and the most downloaded? That depends strongly on the respective region. Remember: different countries, different app preferences.

Most Popular Travel Apps Worldwide

Data.ai, the US mobile market research company, released a ranking with the most downloaded apps in 2022, both for Apple’s IOS App Store and Android apps from Google Play.

In the global view, there is no fudging: The cab app Uber sits at the top when it comes to travel. It is emblazoned on more smartphones than other mini-programs. But a travel app that is very popular in India also plays a big role. The train search app Where is my Train. There’s also the train booking service from ixigo and the bike cab service from Rapido.

What stands out in the global travel app ranking is that, apart from Booking, no other OTA (online travel agency) makes it into the hit list. But with inDrive and the Estonian micro-mobility provider Bolt, two other ride and ride-sharing services made it onto the list. One reason why such ride apps probably rank so high is that in many countries around the world, travel is still mainly done domestically.

Top 10 Travel Apps Worldwide

Uber

Where is my Train

Booking

inDrive

Google Earth

Airbnb

Moovit

ixigoTrain Booking

Bolt

Rapido

Top 10 Apps for Vacation in Europe

Ride-sharing is also a big topic in Europe. Simply using a smartphone to hire a vehicle for a trip or pay for it – this is now very common on the Old Continent. Apps such as those from the Russian-Dutch company Yandex Go, Bolt, Uber and BlaBlaCar occupy four places in the top 10 most downloaded travel apps. But at the top of the list sits another travel app.

Just as Airbnb has become synonymous with short-term apartment stays, Booking is almost emblematic of online hotel booking. The online travel agency for booking hotels and travel accommodations was founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, where its headquarters are still located today.

Booking was acquired by the US-based Priceline Group in 2005. There, the Dutch startup soon grew into the dominant company. Today, the company operates as Bookings Holding; the company has other companies such as Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars, Kayak and OpenTable under its wings. However, none of the group’s sister companies can compete with the travel app Booking.

Top 10 Travel Apps in Europe