Dear Yclas followers,
In this weeks’ blog post, I am listing the most popular mobile shopping apps in the United States, based on the latest research.
Are you a hobbyist looking to buy vintage jewelry or in search for a new kitchen appliance? Maybe you’re just trying to sell off that old coin collection you have? Regardless of your objective, whether you’re selling or buying, there are shopping apps that will serve you in this endeavor.
In 2018, there were 1.8 Billion Global Digital Buyers, according to Statista, and in 2021, the number is supposed to rise and become 2.14 billion. That means that today, 21.55 percent of the world’s population buys online. Moreover, as of September 2019, 80.64 percent of mobile users accessed the Amazon app, making it the most popular mobile lifestyle and shopping apps in the United States. Walmart had a mobile audience reach of 46.1 percent among mobile U.S. audiences (Statista)
The U.S. Shopping App Landscape in 2026: What Changed
The reach figures above date from 2019, and the market has changed a lot since then. Here is what the latest data shows.
Temu and Shein arrived, then tariffs slowed them
Temu was the most downloaded e-commerce app in the United States on both iOS and Android in 2025 (Statista, citing AppMagic data, March 2026). Worldwide, Sensor Tower's State of Mobile 2026 ranks Temu, Shein and Amazon Shopping as the top three retail apps by downloads, as summarised by EcomCrew (February 2026). The same report shows Temu's US ad impressions falling 97% in Q2 2025 after the tariff changes, with its US install base back at 91 million by October 2025.
The main reason was trade policy. Cheap parcels shipped directly from overseas used to enter the US duty-free under the $800 "de minimis" exemption, and that was the model behind Temu and Shein. The exemption ended for goods from China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025. On August 29, 2025, Executive Order 14324 suspended it for imports from all countries. These parcels now pay duties, so when an ultra-low price looks too good, check the final price at checkout.
Amazon still leads on engagement
Downloads don't measure loyalty. Amazon had 685 million monthly active users worldwide in Q4 2025, against 530 million for Temu (Sensor Tower via EcomCrew). By year-on-year downloads, the fastest-growing US shopping app in 2025 was the live-auction app Whatnot. Its users spend about four hours a month in it, 2.6 times the 93 minutes they spend on Amazon, and open it 47 times a month.
AI assistants are now part of shopping
Sensor Tower's 2026 research, reported by The Neuron (June 2026), found that shoppers using Amazon's Rufus assistant convert at nearly twice the rate of other shoppers. Average daily users of Walmart's Sparky assistant rose almost 50% between December 2025 and April 2026.
Updated facts for the apps below
| App | Then (this article) | Now |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | 183 million active buyers (2019) | 135 million active buyers and 2.5 billion live listings at the end of 2025; nearly $80 billion GMV in 2025 (eBay 10-K) |
| Ibotta | $600 million paid to 35 million users | $2.7 billion in cash back credited to date and about 18.2 million redeemers in 2025. Its offers now also run inside Walmart, Instacart and DoorDash (Ibotta 10-K) |
| Target | Cartwheel deals app | Cartwheel became "Target Circle offers" in October 2019 (Coupons in the News). Target added the paid Target Circle 360 membership on April 7, 2024, at a launch price of $99/year or $10.99/month (TODAY) |
Choosing apps in 2026: use Amazon or Walmart for speed and easy returns, eBay or Whatnot for collectibles and second-hand items, and a cash-back app such as Ibotta on top of either. Compare the final landed price, not the listed price.
Check out the list of the most popular mobile shopping apps in the United States ranked by audience reach.
Amazon app
The Amazon Shopping app lets you shop millions of products and manage your Amazon orders from anywhere. Browse, shop by department, compare prices, read reviews, share products with friends, and check the status of your orders. It allows you to compare prices and availability. You can also sign-up for shipment notifications to know when your order ships and arrives. Similar to the website, you have full access to your shopping cart, wish lists, payment and Prime shipping options, and 1-click settings.
Walmart App
The second most popular shopping app had a mobile audience reach of 46.1 percent among mobile U.S. audiences in 2019. The Walmart app helps you to shop smart, and assists when you're in Walmart stores. Both Android and iPhone versions include features like browse, search and purchasing Walmart products. You can view rollbacks, create shopping lists, check price and product availability. When you are in a Walmart store you can view aisle locations for items on your shopping list and locate the nearest Walmart store. Moreover, you can find $4 prescriptions and order frills through the apps, track your orders with enabling push notifications and add products to a favorite list using input, text, or by scanning barcodes.
eBay app
With around 183 million active buyers as of 2019, https://www.statista.com/topics/2181/ebay/ eBay is one of the largest providers for consumer-to-consumer and business-to-business sale services over the internet. With the eBay app, you can buy, sell, and save money. It takes just a few seconds to list items you want to sell and covers a huge variety of categories. Users can save money and do their shopping online by using this app. The eBay app offers top brands in electronics, tech, and cellphones.
Ibotta
The Ibotta app is a free cashback rewards and payments app that gives you real cash for everyday purchases when you shop and pay through the app. Ibotta provides thousands of ways for consumers to earn cash on their purchases by partnering with more than 1,500 brands and retailers. Whether you’re buying groceries, clothing, electronics, or wine and beer, Ibotta will pay you cash for your purchases. Ibotta has paid out over $600 million in cash rewards to more than 35 million users since its founding in 2012.
Target ( Main )
The fourth most popular shopping app is the Target app. Target recreated its suite of mobile apps into one, combining mobile shopping, the loyalty program, and payments in a single place after experimenting with a litany of separate apps. (Digiday) If you haven’t used the Target app, then you can check this article that explains how to use it with ease.
