Google Maps Is the Most Downloaded Travel App of 2021

It may come as a surprise for those locked in their homes by COVID-19, but tourism is recovering, so prepare to join in. And when it comes to apps people download for traveling, it may come as an even bigger surprise that the most downloaded app in 2021 is the most basic one, namely Google Maps.

In retrospect, it’s logical when you look at the previous year’s record app which is Uber. More people felt the need to get where they head on taxi, because of public transport lockdowns. With Uber, most of the responsibility is on the driver. Google Maps, though, is the app for those moving in cities and across countries on their own. Its features like Street View and Direction let users get where they need with as little trouble as possible. Probably this means that tourism as an industry is slowly recovering: no one needs a map to follow their daily routes.

The success of Google Maps is even more incredible when we remember that the app comes preinstalled on many Android devices. Nevertheless, in November 2021 it hit the incredible mark of 10 billion installs. Only two other apps have ever got this high, and they are also by Google: one of them is Google Play Services (necessary for Android to function properly), and the other is YouTube.
Taxi services keep ruling, nevertheless. Uber is still among the leaders, along with Bolt, Lyft, Grab, and DiDi, making at least half of the Top 10. When it comes to other apps, the most prominent of them is Booking.com. This service has seriously pushed Airbnb back, eating part of its market share. Their upstart rival Hopper, though, is also hopping its way to the top, increasing its popularity this year.
Which apps do you consider the most useful as you travel? Are these transportation apps, hotel and flight booking ones, or Trip Advisor and Foursquare analogs? It will be priceless if you share your experience in the comments!