10+ Innovative Mobile Apps That Conquered the Market [2024]

Introduction

Innovative mobile apps are transforming the way we live, work, and play, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our everyday lives.

In this post, we’ll explore some of the most groundbreaking mobile applications and apps that are not only capturing attention but also setting new trends in the tech world. This article presents the prevailing trends on the mobile application market in last years. You will learn what smartphone users were looking for and what unique features were appreciated over those months.

Ready to dive into the world of innovation & best mobile app ideas, and discover the next big thing in mobile apps? Let’s get started.

Mobile apps in 2024

World stats

According to a juicy “App Data Report 2024” presented by Business of Apps, in 2023, Google Play had a total of 113.2 billion downloads, significantly outpacing the Apple App Store, which had 34.9 billion downloads. However, ​the Apple App Store generated $89.6 billion in revenue in 2023, accounting for 67% of all app store revenue globally, despite having fewer downloads than Google Play, which made $47 billion.

Instagram was the most downloaded app of 2023, surpassing TikTok by 42 million downloads. Subway Surfers was the most downloaded mobile game, with 218 million downloads.

Mobile ad spend across both app stores reached $362 billion in 2023, showing a 7.7% increase from the previous year.

DACH region stats

The mobile app market in the DACH region is projected to generate over $20.6 billion in revenue by 2027, with Germany contributing the largest share at $15.5 billion, followed by Switzerland at $3.5 billion and Austria at $1.6 billion.

UK stats

The UK app market generated approximately $4.4 billion in revenue in 2023, making it one of the significant markets globally despite its smaller population compared to countries like the US and China. The UK saw 2.3 billion app downloads in 2023, positioning it as a crucial market in terms of both consumer spend and app engagement​.

EU stats

In 2023, the European mobile app market saw significant growth, with consumer spending reaching $171 billion across app stores. This represented a 3% year-over-year increase despite previous declines in 2022. The market is expected to continue growing in 2024, driven by the recovery of consumer spending on apps​.

The total number of app downloads across the EU in 2023 was 257 billion, marking a 1% increase compared to the previous year. The time spent in apps also grew, with users collectively spending 5.1 trillion hours in apps, reflecting a 6% year-over-year increase.

Innovative apps - 2024

1. Headspace

Type: meditation

Android downloads: 10M+

iOS reviews: 1.1M+

Founded: 2010

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Main purpose: Headspace offers guided meditation sessions and mindfulness techniques to help users reduce stress, sleep better, and improve their overall well-being.

Awards:

• Google Play Award for Best App (2017)
• Webby Award for Best Health App (2020)

Used technologies: AI-driven personalization, in-app voice integration, machine learning for user behavior analysis.

2. Photomath

Type: education

Android downloads: 100M+

iOS reviews: 800K+

Founded: 2014

Country of origin: Croatia

Main purpose: Photomath helps users solve math problems by simply taking a picture of the problem. It provides step-by-step solutions and explanations for learning.

Unique features:

• Real-time problem recognition via the camera.
• Detailed step-by-step explanations.
• Supports a wide range of mathematical problems.

Awards:

• Google Play's Best of 2015 Award
• Apple Editors' Choice Award (2016)

Used technologies: Optical character recognition (OCR), machine learning for problem-solving, AI for step-by-step solution generation.

<span class="colorbox1" fs-test-element="box1"><p>Read also: Top 6 Current & Future Generative AI Trends and Predictions</p></span>

3. Calm

Type: meditation
Android downloads: 10,000,000+
iOS reviews: 611.5K
Founded: 2012
Country of origin: USA

Main purpose: This app helps users to be more mindful – breathe better and meditate. Thanks to relaxing music, lessons on stretching and gentle movements, user may feel less anxious. Also, it supports restful sleep and lowers stress.

Unique features: guided meditations, Sleep Stories, breathing programs, masterclasses, and relaxing music.

Awards:

• Apple’s “BEST OF 2018” winner
• Apple’s “App of the Year 2017” title
• Google Play Editor’s Choice 2018

What users say:

<blockquote><p>I absolutely love the Calm app! It’s a must have for everyone. Perfect for when I have too much going on inside my head and I lie awake for hours, which usually keeps me from getting a good night’s sleep. It’s like a timeout to center yourself and a soothing, comforting way for you to drift off to sweet sleep in Dreamland. I recommend it to everyone! Thank you Calm App, I’m so happy that I have you. </p><p>— Sharon Lowry, Calm user.</p></blockquote>

4. Blinkist

Type: Book summary service

Android downloads: 5M+

iOS reviews: 240K+

Founded: 2012

Country of origin: Germany

Main purpose: Blinkist offers concise summaries of non-fiction books, enabling users to gain key insights and knowledge from thousands of titles in just 15 minutes. The app is designed for busy individuals who want to stay informed and learn efficiently.

Unique features:

• Audio and text summaries of over 5,000 non-fiction books.
• Personalized reading recommendations based on user interests.
• Offline mode for reading and listening without an internet connection.

Awards:

• Apple’s Best Apps of 2017
• Google Play Award for Best of 2017 in Self-Improvement
• World Summit Award in the Learning and Education category (2018)

Used technologies: AI-driven personalization algorithms, text-to-speech technology for audio summaries, cloud computing-based content delivery for quick access.

5. Plantix

Type: Agricultural assistant

Android downloads: 10M+

iOS reviews: 10K+

Founded: 2015

Country of origin: Germany

Main purpose: Plantix is an agricultural app that helps farmers diagnose plant diseases, pests, and nutrient deficiencies using AI-driven image recognition. It provides tailored treatment suggestions and farming advice, aiming to improve crop yields and reduce losses.

Unique features:

• AI-powered plant disease and pest identification through photo uploads.
• Localized weather data and forecasts for farmers.
• Community forum for farmers to share tips and advice.

Awards:

• Google Impact Challenge Germany Winner (2018)
• Winner of the European Data Incubator (2020)

Used technologies: AI-based image recognition, machine learning for treatment suggestions, big data for localized weather and farming advice.

6. Ada Health

Type: Symptom checker and health assistant

Android downloads: 10M+

iOS reviews: 80K+

Founded: 2016

Country of origin: Germany

Main purpose: Ada Health provides a digital health assistant that helps users understand their symptoms and provides potential causes and next steps. The app uses AI to analyze symptoms and generate a personalized health assessment.

Unique features:

• AI-driven symptom checker with a broad database of medical knowledge.
• Personalized health reports and suggestions.
• Integration with telemedicine services for professional medical advice.

Awards:

• CogX Best AI Product in Health (2019)
• Lovie Awards for Best Health App (2020)

Used technologies: AI for symptom analysis, natural language processing (NLP) for user interaction, machine learning for personalized health assessments.

<span class="colorbox1" fs-test-element="box1"><p>Read also: Generative AI in Healthcare: 9 Use Cases & Upcoming Solutions</p></span>

7. Lernsieg

Type: Teacher and school rating app

Android downloads: 500K+

iOS reviews: 40K+

Founded: 2019

Country of origin: Austria

Main purpose: Lernsieg allows students to rate their teachers and schools, providing feedback on various aspects of their educational experience. The app aims to improve education quality through transparency and student engagement.

Unique features:

• Anonymous teacher and school rating system.
• Categories for different aspects of teaching, such as pedagogy, fairness, and communication.
• Community-driven feedback with a focus on constructive criticism.

Awards:

• Austrian App Award for Best Social App (2020)
• Featured in Die Presse’s Innovator of the Year (2021)

Used technologies: Secure and anonymous rating system, data analytics for feedback trends, user authentication for student verification.

8. KineMaster

Type: video editing
Android downloads: 100,000,000+
iOS reviews: 74K
Founded: 2002
Country of origin: South Korea

Main purpose: This one of innovative mobile apps is used for professional video editing. Despite being full-featured, it is user-friendly and has tools such as: multiple layers, blending modes, voiceovers, speed control, adding subtitles, transitions, or special-effects.

Unique features: professional rich video editor

Awards: The Best Editor’s Choice Video Editing App of the year, Google Play Store

What users say:

<blockquote><p>Supreme video editing does not have to be limited to desktop and laptop computers. With KineMaster, professionals and amateurs alike have access to tools that allow them to create magnificent videos with multiple effects on their mobile devices. This allows them to be productive and lets them work on their ideas even while they are on-the-go.</p><p>– Oliver Bright, KineMaster user.</p></blockquote>

9. Relive: Run, Ride, Hike & more

Type: fitness, Outdoor tracker
Android downloads: 1,000,000+
iOS reviews: 15.7K
Founded: 2016
Country of origin: Denmark

Main purpose: This certainly is one of the most innovative mobile apps. Relieve is used for tracking and sharing any outside adventure. Also, it connects to many monitoring applications and lets users create stories and free 3D movies of their various activities.

Unique features: 3D videos of outdoor activities, tracking many activity factors

What users say:

<blockquote><p>Awesome activity tracker. Tracks so much more than just miles. Tracks elevation, speed, can track when you take photos and make a video. So much more than I was looking for in an app. </p><p>– Tera Jones, Relive user.</p></blockquote>

10. WEBTOON

Type: reading, entertainment
Android downloads: 50,000,000+
iOS reviews: 28.4K
Founded: 2017
Country of origin: South Korea

Main purpose: Webtoon successfully transfers regular comics into mobile – episodes are shown on long vertical strips (not on multiple pages) which makes it clear and pleasant to read on smartphones. The content is published mostly in color, with some featuring music and animations. Generations growing as huge fans of traditional comic books and anime are huge fans of this mobile app.

Unique features: publishing user-created comics and stories

Achievements: This innovative mobile app got a total of 100,000 views in 2018 and became the world’s most popular comic publisher.

What users say:

<blockquote><p>This is honestly the best I’ve been using. Not only because I love comics, but also it is really user friendly. It is easy to download the episodes, nice to read (e.g. in a bus), has a lot to offer. AND COMMUNITY I LOVE YOU. Comments from other webtooners are never judgy and I can feel like with a group of friends 🙂 keep up with a good work – and help more talented comic artists to grow:) </p><p>– Ewa FK, WEBTOON user</p></blockquote>

11. Too good too go

Description: Food waste reduction

Type: Food waste reduction

Android downloads: 10M+

iOS reviews: 230K+

Founded: 2015

Country of origin: Denmark

Main purpose: Too Good To Go connects users with restaurants and grocery stores to buy unsold food at a discounted price, reducing food waste and saving money.

Unique features:

• "Magic Bags" containing unsold food at a discounted price.
• Geolocation-based restaurant and store discovery.
• Real-time inventory updates.

Awards:

• UN Champions of the Earth Award (2020)
• TechCrunch Europas Awards for Best Tech for Good (2021)

Used technologies: Geolocation services, real-time inventory management, secure payment gateways, mobile payments.

12. Taxfix

Type: Tax filling assistant

Android downloads: 1M+

iOS reviews: 70K+

Founded: 2016

Country of origin: Germany

Main purpose: Taxfix simplifies tax filing by guiding users through a series of questions and automatically filling out tax forms based on their responses. The app is designed to make tax filing accessible to everyone, without needing prior tax knowledge.

Unique features:

• User-friendly, guided questionnaire to simplify tax filing.
• Automatic calculation of potential tax refunds.
• Integration with government tax portals for direct submission.

Awards:

• German Innovation Award (2019)
• FinTech Germany Award (2020)

Used technologies: AI for tax form automation, secure data encryption, integration with national tax systems.

13. Weverse

Type: social media
Android downloads: 1,000,000+
iOS reviews: 103
Founded: 2005
Country of origin: South Korea

Main purpose: The next one on the innovative mobile apps list is Weverse, which connects fans from around the world, serving as a “fancafe”. Users can get access to exclusive content and artists’ official releases that are not published anywhere else. This app also has a special feature, similar to Instagram’s Stories. It is called “Artists’ Moments” – fans can see artists’ “inspirational” posts that expire after 24h.

Unique features: connecting fans of the same creator, mobile “fancafe”

Achievements: Over 500,000 users have already registered for this mobile app.

What users say:

<blockquote><p>AWESOME! I love posting about Gfriend! But I wish [there] was a way that we could communicate with other fans better in comment sections. </p><p>– Weverse user.</p></blockquote>

14. Youper – Emotional Health

Type: emotional health app
Android downloads: 1,000,000+
iOS reviews: 8.4K
Founded: 2016
Country of origin: San Francisco

Main purpose: Youper was created to be the “first responder to emotional stress”, and it is spreading like wildfire around the globe. This is one of those innovative mobile apps that reads users’ moods and emotional condition to give feedback on their current state of mind. It offers mental support by showing how to meditate and achieve mindfulness.

Unique features: improving emotional health through quick conversations based on therapy techniques and mindfulness

Awards: “Best of 2018” in 2018 TOP APPS by Apple ‍

‍What users say:

<blockquote><p>I’ve been using Youper for little therapy chats throughout the day. It’s been a quick and efficient little helper. The chats are natural and encouraging, and great design and performance make it easier for me to keep coming back. Great work. Keep it up.</p><p>Pros: Conversations really feel like a therapeutic chat with a friend. I feel better after using it.</p><p>Cons: Could be easier to review past conversations.</p><p>– Jairet Crum, Youper user.</p></blockquote>

15. Webnovel

Type: literature online
Android downloads: 1,000,000+ Installs 5,000,000+ on android, 7.2K Ratings on ios
iOS reviews: 8.4K
Country of origin: Hong Kong

Main purpose: Webnovel is another product on our innovative mobile apps list that offers daily updates of both new and classic stories and novels. It has an interesting element of gamification that allows user to continue reading next chapters: some books have special icons in upper corners called “Spirit Stones” – official digital currency. The Spirit Stones can be collected by various missions in the app and they can be used to read more novels, skip ads, and support book translators.

Unique features: fantasy and romance novels mostly

Awards: “Best of 2018 TOP APPS” by Apple

What users say:

<blockquote><p>There is really a big amount of books to read. You just need to find the ones you like. I know that everyone wants to earn money so most of the books are premium after reading it some time but you giving us a way to still read them is good. And this new interface is great. </p><p>– Webnovel user.</p></blockquote>

16. MyFitnessPal

Type: Fitness and nutrition tracking

Android downloads: 100M+

iOS reviews: 1.5M+

Founded: 2005

Country of origin: United States

Main purpose: MyFitnessPal allows users to track their diet and exercise, helping them achieve their fitness goals by monitoring calorie intake, macros, and physical activity.

Unique features:

• Extensive food database with over 11 million items.
• Barcode scanner for easy food logging.
• Integration with various fitness trackers and devices.

Awards:

• PCMag Editors' Choice Award (2013)
• Webby Award for Best Mobile App (2014)

Used technologies: Cloud-based data storage, API integrations with fitness trackers, AI for personalized recommendations.

17. Duolingo

Type: Education (language learning)

Android downloads: 500M+

iOS reviews: 1.8M+

Founded: 2011

Country of origin: United States

Main purpose: Duolingo provides language learning courses in a gamified format, making it fun and easy for users to learn new languages or improve their existing skills.

Unique features:

• Gamified learning with levels, streaks, and rewards.
• Adaptive learning system that adjusts difficulty based on user performance.
• Wide range of languages, including lesser-known ones like Hawaiian and Navajo.

Awards:

• Apple’s iPhone App of the Year (2013)
• Google Play's Best of the Best (2013)

Used technologies: Gamification algorithms, AI for personalized learning paths, speech recognition for pronunciation practice.

How are apps innovative?

Apps become innovative mostly thanks to leveraging new technologies and trends, as well as disrupting traditional industries like finance.

Leveraging new technologies

• AI and Machine Learning: Many apps incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance functionality, such as voice recognition, predictive text, and personalized content.
• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): Apps are utilizing AR and VR to create immersive experiences in gaming, education, shopping, and more.
• Blockchain technology: Some apps integrate blockchain for secure transactions, decentralized data storage, and transparency in various processes.

Disruption of traditional industries

• On-demand economy: Apps like Uber, Airbnb, and DoorDash have disrupted traditional industries by providing on-demand services, creating new business models, and redefining consumer expectations.
• Financial services: Apps have revolutionized the financial sector with innovations like mobile banking, peer-to-peer payments, and cryptocurrency trading.

Social impact and accessibility

• Global reach: Apps can reach a global audience instantly, enabling businesses to scale quickly and connect with diverse user bases.
• Accessibility: Apps have innovated in making services more accessible to people with disabilities through features like voice control, screen readers, and customizable interfaces.
• Education and health: Educational apps and health apps have democratized access to information and services, providing users with tools for learning and managing their well-being.

Innovative mobile app ideas

Idea 1: Sustainable lifecycle marketplace

A peer-to-peer marketplace that facilitates the exchange, sale, or donation of eco-friendly and upcycled items, encouraging sustainable living and reducing waste.

• Unique features:
  • Carbon footprint tracker: Users can see the environmental impact saved by swapping or buying second-hand instead of new items.
  • Sustainability score: Items and users are rated based on their eco-friendliness, promoting greener choices.
  • Community challenges: Monthly challenges to encourage sustainability practices with rewards.
• Innovative solutions and technologies used:
  • AI-powered recommendations: Suggests items based on user preferences and past behaviors.
  • Blockchain for transparency: Tracks the lifecycle of items exchanged to ensure sustainability claims.
  • Augmented Reality (AR): Allows users to visualize how items will look in their space before purchasing.

Idea 2: Personalized financial coaching

A personal financial coaching app that provides users with tailored financial advice, budgeting tools, and investment strategies based on their unique financial goals and habits.

• Unique features:
  • AI-powered financial planning: Personalized plans based on income, expenses, and financial goals.
  • Real-time spending insights: Alerts and advice based on real-time spending and account balances.
  • Goal-oriented savings: Automated savings towards specific goals with progress tracking.
• Innovative solutions and technologies used:
  • Machine learning algorithms: Analyze user behavior to provide tailored financial advice.
  • Blockchain for secure transactions: Ensures secure and transparent management of financial data.
  • Gamification: Incentivizes good financial habits with rewards and challenges.

Idea 3: Personalized learning hub

An all-in-one learning platform that adapts to each user’s learning style and pace, offering courses, interactive lessons, and skill development tools.

• Unique features:
  • Adaptive learning paths: Customizes the curriculum based on user performance and preferences.
  • Interactive quizzes and assessments: Real-time feedback and performance tracking.
  • Peer learning community: Connect with other learners to share knowledge and collaborate on projects.
• Innovative solutions and technologies used:
  • AI-driven personalization: Uses machine learning to adapt content to individual learning needs.
  • Gamification: Badges, levels, and leaderboards to motivate continuous learning.
  • Augmented Reality (AR): For immersive, interactive lessons in subjects like science and history.

Idea 4: Mental wellness social platform

A platform connecting users for shared mental wellness activities, offering support, mindfulness sessions, and mental health resources.

• Unique features:
  • Mood matching: Connects users with similar mental wellness goals and current moods.
  • Guided mental health exercises: Daily prompts and exercises tailored to individual needs.
  • Anonymous support groups: Safe, anonymous spaces for users to discuss their mental health concerns.
• Innovative solutions and technologies used:
  • AI-driven mood analysis: Uses natural language processing to analyze user input and suggest appropriate connections and content.
  • Virtual Reality (VR) for meditation: Immersive VR environments for guided meditation sessions.
  • Wearable integration: Syncs with health trackers to monitor and adjust mental wellness activities based on real-time data.

Innovative mobile apps run the market

Innovation fuels competitive ideas and helps creative people thrive. Innovative mobile apps provide users with solutions that answer their problems or needs, such as meditating, instant design, film editing tools or controlling stress.

Would you personally use any of these apps? Do some of these apps seem inspirational? Do you already have an idea and want to talk about it?

Next steps: How to choose mobile app development company for an innocative project?

Choosing the right mobile app development company for creating an innovative app is crucial for the success of your project. Here are the key factors you should consider:

1. Technologies and expertise

• Ensure the company has a strong command over the latest technologies relevant to your app. This includes proficiency in programming languages like Swift, Kotlin, and Java for native development, or frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin for cross-platform development.
• If your app requires AI, machine learning, or data analytics, look for companies with a proven track record in these areas, including experience with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar.
• Consider whether the company can effectively implement cloud services (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) for app hosting, data storage, and scalability.
• Ensure the company has experience with API development and integration, which is critical for connecting your app with other services or platforms.

2. Software delivery excellence

• Look for companies that implement strong DevOps practices, ensuring continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD). This guarantees that new features and updates can be rolled out quickly and reliably.
• The company should design the app with scalability in mind, ensuring that it can grow with your user base. They should also offer ongoing maintenance and support for post-launch updates and bug fixes.

3. Quality Assurance best practices

• The company should have robust QA practices, including automated testing for functionality, performance, and security. This includes unit tests, integration tests, and UI testing using tools like Selenium, Appium, or JUnit.
• Given the importance of data protection, they should conduct thorough security testing to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
• Your potential development partner should also prioritize usability testing to ensure that the app delivers a seamless and intuitive user experience.

4. Agile methodology with scope and budget in mind

• Your future outsourcing partner should use Agile methodology to manage the project, but with a clear focus on scope and budget control. Agile should be used to enhance flexibility and adaptability, not to create scope creep.
• Ensure the company follows disciplined sprint planning, with clear goals and deliverables for each sprint. This keeps the project on track and allows for iterative improvements.
• Agile thrives on regular communication. Make sure they provide frequent updates, progress reports, and be open to feedback, ensuring that you’re involved at every stage.
• The company should also provide detailed cost estimates and stick to them, with contingency plans in place for unexpected changes in scope or requirements.

5. Experience and portfolio

• Look for the mobile app development companies that have experience developing apps similar to yours, especially in terms of complexity and industry.
• Review their portfolio to assess the quality of their previous work. Pay attention to user interface design, performance, and how well the apps have been maintained post-launch.

6. Client reviews and references

• Check for client reviews and testimonials to gauge satisfaction levels. Look for feedback on the vendor's ability to deliver on time, stay within budget, and handle challenges effectively.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for references. Speaking directly with past clients can provide valuable insights into the software development company’s reliability and professionalism.

7. Cultural fit and collaboration

• Consider how well your team will collaborate with the chosen vendor. A good cultural fit can make a big difference in communication, problem-solving, and overall project success.
• The vendor should demonstrate flexibility in its approach and a willingness to innovate, offering creative solutions to complex problems.

8. Post-launch support and maintenance

• A good mobile app development company should offer post-launch support, including monitoring, bug fixes, updates, and feature enhancements.
• Choose a mobile app company that is interested in building a long-term partnership, as ongoing collaboration will be crucial for the continued success and evolution of your app.

We are here – ready to transform your ideas into innovative mobile apps. Brainhub team offers support, expert knowledge and the best brainiacs in the world, no matter where you live – we'd be happy to help!