Google Maps leads the way in 2021 as the most downloaded travel app

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No big surprises on Google Maps, but Booking.com has surpassed its rival Airbnb in downloads in the category of online travel agencies globally by nearly 20 million in 2021. It’s not a game changer, but it’s important if Booking keeps direct. off-putting of Airbnb -booking advantage.

Dennis Schaal

Google Maps was the world’s most downloaded travel app in 2021 with 106 million downloads, surpassing Uber, which maintained that distinction in 2020.

In fact, transportation apps, including Google Maps, Uber, Didi, Bolt, Lyft, Where Is My Train, and Grab, captured seven of the top 10 spots in 2021, according to Apptopia.com.

Sure, you can argue that navigation and ridesharing apps aren’t “travel”, but they definitely fall into the category. All these apps are used by locals and travelers.

(See the travel apps and online travel agencies with the most downloads globally in the two tables below.)

Download statistics are not purely a function of popularity; they also reflect the amount of marketing resources that companies devote to attract these installations.

In October, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, said that Google Maps has added a climate-friendly route in the United States, allowing drivers to find routes that produce fewer emissions, and has also launched a feature that warns fire drivers.

Google Maps is much more than a navigation app and last year introduced “easier ways for businesses to showcase the local services they offer, from hair extensions to car repairs,” said Philipp Schindler, Chief Google Business Officer.

Europe-based online travel agency Booking.com (3) and US-based short-term rental giant Airbnb (5) were the only two pure-play travel apps to enter on the list of 10 best travel apps by downloads globally in 2021.

As for the 10 most downloaded online travel agency apps globally in 2021, the top three were Booking.com, Airbnb and Hopper, with the latter having become much more mainstream over the past year.

Of the top 10 most downloaded online travel agency apps worldwide, Expedia Group had four, namely Expedia (4), Vrbo (6), Trivago (7) and Hotels.com (tied with 8).

Expedia Group claims to reorient the company towards mobile.

“Plus, from a traveler perspective, we’ve never been a true app company,” Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern said at an investor conference in early December. “We will now be an app-first company, including all the goodness that comes from a tool that is with you throughout your journey, keeps you informed, keeps you informed on the purchase journey.”

Booking Holdings has secured two of the top 10 most downloaded online travel agency apps, namely Booking.com (1) and Agoda (5). Booking’s Kayak brand didn’t make the top 10 as Expedia Group’s Trivago was the only metasearch, or comparison shopping brand, in the mix.

Booking sees mobile as a top priority because it wants more direct bookings.

“The app is very strategic because not only is it a great booking experience because it’s clean and it’s on a phone, but it’s a very important piece of ownership,” Booking Holdings Chief Financial Officer David Goulden told last month. investors and analysts. “Basically, you think mobile app users mean that some people have hundreds of apps on their phone, but most people only use a couple of handfuls, maybe 20. And being one that gets used a lot is very powerful. location to be in and that real estate app is very important.

Oyo, the India-based hotel booking site and operator, broke into the most downloaded online travel agency apps worldwide in 2021, tying Hotels.com to eighth place with 12 million downloads.

Oyo CEO Ritesh Agarwal tweeted Saturday that the company recorded 503,000 overnight bookings on December 30 and 31, and 58% of those New Year bookings were made on the same day as the stay, according to Zee News.

Top 10 Most Downloaded Travel Apps Globally App Downloads for 20211. Google Maps106M2. Uber94M3. Booking.com63M4. Google Earth 57M5. Airbnb44M6. Didi27M7. Bolt 25M8. Lyft23.3M9. Where is my train23.1M10. Grab23M

Source: Apptopia.com

Note: These stats don’t adequately measure Chinese apps because Apptopia only collects iOS data from that country.

The 10 most downloaded online travel agency apps globally App downloads 20211. Booking.com63M2. Airbnb44M3. Hopper19M4. Expedia15M5. Agoda14M6. Vrbo13.4M7. Trivago13M8. Hotels.com12M8. Oyo12M9. Tripadvisor9.7M

Source: Apptopia.com

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