Top 5 Social Networking Apps on iOS in South Africa Q3 2023

Throughout the third quarter of 2023, the top five social networking applications on iOS in South Africa showcased noteworthy trends in downloads, revenue, and active users. Here's a closer look at their performance, based on data from Sensor Tower.

WhatsApp Messenger maintained its dominance with weekly downloads peaking at around 28.3K in mid-September. The app saw fluctuations, with a notable dip to approximately 12.7K in mid-July before recovering. Weekly active users remained robust, hovering around 1.66M to 1.68M throughout the quarter. Revenue, however, saw a decline, starting at $58 in late June and dropping to zero from early August onwards.

Threads, launched by Instagram, Inc., had an impressive debut with initial weekly downloads of about 48.7K in early July. This number saw a sharp decline to around 4.2K by late July but stabilized between 5K and 26K for the rest of the quarter. Active users grew from 42.3K in early July to a peak of 92.5K in mid-September, showcasing a steady increase in engagement.

Facebook experienced steady weekly downloads, starting at 13.5K in late June and peaking at around 17.4K in mid-September. Active users also showed a gradual increase, from 1.58M in early July to 1.64M by the end of September. Revenue varied, peaking at approximately $2.8K in late July.

Messenger saw more modest weekly downloads, ranging from 5.5K to 8.3K. Active users fluctuated, starting at 1.49M in late June and ending at around 1.47M by the end of September. Despite no reported revenue, the app maintained a stable user base throughout the quarter.

Telegram Messenger had consistent weekly downloads, peaking at around 6.4K in mid-September. Active users increased from approximately 194.6K in late June to 220.6K by late August before stabilizing. Revenue saw significant variation, peaking at about $1.8K in early September.

For more detailed insights and trends, visit Sensor Tower.