Mobile apps in Russia - statistics & facts
Given its large mobile user base, Russia is the sixth-leading market by app downloads. However, the country's app revenue shrank by 27 percent in 2022 after several major Western companies left Russia and removed their apps from the market or suspended in-app purchases. Consequently, the consumer spending on apps decreased, and Russia, which recorded the 11th-highest expenditure in 2021, was not included in the top 20 in 2023.
Despite the high number of downloads, the average number of apps used on a daily basis, excluding pre-installed software, is less than 10. This could be related to the fact that, as the Russian digital economy is largely represented by ecosystems, such as VK, Yandex, Sber, and Tinkoff, super apps offering several services in one product have emerged in the market.
Business, digital services, and e-commerce apps saw an increase in downloads at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, having particularly benefitted the food delivery and e-learning industries. As a result, the number of installs of iOS shopping apps in Russia was the fifth-highest worldwide. Since 2022, users have increasingly downloaded VPN apps in order to access the online sources blocked in the country. Hence, two VPN apps made it to the ranking of the most popular apps, excluding games, in Russia in 2023.
Facilitated by a large number of mobile users, high penetration of smartphones and mobile games, and an increasing reach of e-commerce and digital services, the Russian app market will continue to expand in all categories. Between 2024 and 2027, the country's total mobile app revenue is forecast to grow by 28 percent.
Despite the high number of downloads, the average number of apps used on a daily basis, excluding pre-installed software, is less than 10. This could be related to the fact that, as the Russian digital economy is largely represented by ecosystems, such as VK, Yandex, Sber, and Tinkoff, super apps offering several services in one product have emerged in the market.
Leading mobile app categories
The gaming category dominates the Russian app market in terms of downloads, which were estimated at over 4.3 million in 2024. In fact, smartphones are the most-used devices for playing games in the country, as per over half of respondents. Mobile games have the highest reach among 12-to-24-year-olds. In 2023, eight out of ten mobile users in that age category played games on their devices at least once a month.Business, digital services, and e-commerce apps saw an increase in downloads at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, having particularly benefitted the food delivery and e-learning industries. As a result, the number of installs of iOS shopping apps in Russia was the fifth-highest worldwide. Since 2022, users have increasingly downloaded VPN apps in order to access the online sources blocked in the country. Hence, two VPN apps made it to the ranking of the most popular apps, excluding games, in Russia in 2023.
Mobile publishers in Russia
Several major app publishing companies that were founded in Russia moved their headquarters to other countries. This can be due to more favorable taxation policies, other business regulations, or sanctions on Russian businesses. Examples include KamaGames, the highest-earning publisher among those whose key management is based in Russia, and Playrix, known for Homescapes and Gardenscapes. Both of them are based in Ireland. Among the companies headquartered in Russia, one of the major market players is VK.com with apps such as VK and VK Messenger, the third- and fourth-most downloaded social media apps, Youla, and Mail.ru, among many others.Facilitated by a large number of mobile users, high penetration of smartphones and mobile games, and an increasing reach of e-commerce and digital services, the Russian app market will continue to expand in all categories. Between 2024 and 2027, the country's total mobile app revenue is forecast to grow by 28 percent.
