The Most Common Types of Mobile Apps

If you’re thinking about building an app it can be helpful to understand the current app ecosystem and the most common types of mobile apps available. Looking over this list might help you understand where your app idea fits in.

The following is a compilation of the most common types of mobile apps. As you read this list, think about which category your business or idea fits into, as well as how your app could cross-over and implement aspects of one or more categories.

Art & Design

Apps that allow you to paint, draw, sketch, create cartoons, design floor plans, design with CAD, do calligraphy, etc.

Auto & Vehicles

Apps for auto buying, selling, price comparison, reviews, insurance, news, repair and accident history, safety, etc.

Beauty

Makeup, makeovers, beauty supply shopping, hairstyles, beauty simulators, etc.

Books & Reference

Dictionaries, thesaurus, reference books, text books, guides, e-books, book readers, wikis, etc.

Business

Internal business apps, job search tools, business management, business mapping and reviews, sales tools, remote employee access apps, business planning, document editors, business news and development information, etc.,

Communications

Chat/IM, messaging, video chat, address books, web browsers, managing calls, etc.

Dating / Connections

Flirting, dating, meetups, relationship building, couple connection, finding new friends, etc.

Education

Online learning, online college courses, exam prep, answering questions, study help, educational games, language learning, etc.

Entertainment

Movies, TV, streaming video, theater apps, time wasters, coloring books,

Events

Local and global event finders, ticket purchases for concerts,sporting  events, movies,etc.

Finance

Money management, stock portfolio/trading, investments, calculators, finance news, ATM finders, banking, payment, insurance, taxes

Food & Drink

Restaurant finders, restaurant reviews, menu planning, recipes, food guides, mobile ordering and food delivery, nutrition information, cooking classes

Games

Puzzles, action, adventure, fighter, sci-fi, arcade, board, card, casino, dice, racing, role playing, simulation, sports, strategy, trivia, word

Health & Fitness

Workout trackers, nutrition trackers, diet tips, nutrition tips, pedometers, weight loss coaches, fitness challenges, health trackers, medical and safety information

House & Home

Home improvement, interior decorating, home design, mortgage calculators, real estate searches, apartment finders, organization

Lifestyle

Party planning, wedding planning, style guides, how-to-guides, self-improvement, religious lifestyles, DIY guides, wellness and mood trackers, etc.

Maps & Navigation

Online maps,offline maps, navigation tools, GPS, public transportation apps, ridesharing and taxi apps, etc.

Medical

Human anatomy, health-care handbooks, medical references, health trackers, medical journals, medical news

Music & Audio

Music players, radios, music makers, tuners, sound maker apps, etc.

News & Magazines

Podcasts, blogs, news, newspapers, news aggregators, magazines, etc.

Parenting

Baby monitors, baby sleep sounds, baby managers, baby trackers, regnancy trackers, infant care, childcare, family activity apps, parent education, phone activity trackers, etc.

Personalization

App launchers, keyboards, ringtones, notifications, widgets, backgrounds and wallpapers, home screen settings, lock screen settings, etc.

Photography

Photo printing, cameras, photo editing, photo management,photo sharing, photo art, collage makers, selfie editors, photo captions, etc.

Productivity

Personal planners, calendars, notepads, to do lists, keyboards,calculators, document editors, audio/video meetings, file managers, etc.

Shopping

Rewards, coupons and savings, price comparison, online shopping, auctions, grocery lists, menu planning, scanners, mobile giftcards, product reviews

Social

Social networking, dating, idea sharing, meetups, text and calling, professional networking,

Sports

Game coverage, live streaming sports, sports news, team tracking, score tracking, fantasy team management, sports how-to apps

Tools

Virus cleaners, mobile security, privacy, flashlights, calculators, screen lock and app locks, parental control apps, etc.

Travel & Local

Trip management, local guides, taxis, ride sharing services, travel reviews, business information and reviews, tours, etc.

Video Players & Editors

Video players, video editors, recorders, screen recorders, video animation, media storage, media transfer, etc.

Weather

Weather reports, forecasts, ski reports, sailing reports, etc.

How To Increase Your App’s Success Rate

Apps that are developed in a haphazard manner are not likely to succeed. When developing an app you should focus on the following:

  • Analyzing your target market to determine if a need exists.
  • Getting feedback on your idea from potential users through surveys and interviews.
  • Determining what the must-have functions of your app are, that make it unique & desirable.
  • Determining which functions are important but secondary and could be delayed a bit
  • Determining which functions are not super important but only nice to have or “cool”
  • Determining the goal for your app and business
  • Figuring out how to promote or market your app
  • Figuring out how to monetize your app, idea or business
  • Figuring out how you can organize the development project to ensure success
  • Figuring out how how you can avoid costly development mistakes
  • Defining what the minimum viable product (MVP) is for your app, before going full bore.
  • Making sure your app is useful and user-friendly.
  • Making your app easy to install.
  • Providing excellent post launch support to customers.
  • Improving your app by creating updates and fixes from user feedback.

A final strategy to consider is that most successful apps have a crossover effect where they implement aspects from one or more of the above categories. For example, an app might have a social media aspect, a utility function (for example, using GPS) and a strong real-time messaging function.

Would You Like Help Building Your App?

Do you have a great idea for an app? Since 2003 Cleartech Interactive has helped customers all over the US develop solutions to their digital needs. We can discuss your app idea and give you expert insights into how to build an app for your business.

Are you interested in a free 30 minute consultation to discuss your idea? Request a Call or contact us at 727-562-5161 to find out what we can do for you.

For more information check out our article titled Why You Should Build a Mobile App.