2018’s best shopping apps

Over half a million new users turned to mobile shopping apps on Black Friday (which took place last Friday, 23 November) according to new data. The top 10 shopping apps on the US App Store shared the new user haul – which was 16.3% more this year than 2017. These figures suggest that shopping apps are becoming much more relied upon by users – great news if you’re a retailer or price comparison site and are thinking of building an app for your business.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are the best and most popular shopping apps this year…

Amazon

There should be very little surprise in the fact that Amazon is one of the most popular shopping apps of the year. The online marketplace has racked up over a hundred thousand new app users this year, as its shoppers increasingly become more comfortable with browsing and buying from a mobile device. The Amazon app gives shoppers lots of reasons to download – from push notifications for deals on the shopper’s watch list as well as notifications to track orders.

Walmart

The Walmart app is one of the biggest retail apps in the US and is picking up users at a faster than ever rate according to analysts. The app enhances the instore experience, with features such as enabling shoppers to select store pick up for their online orders, payment in-store using the app, easy reordering, a price comparison service to make savings and an easier in-store experience.

You don’t need t be a huge retailer like Walmart to incorporate some of these features into your own app design for your business either with options such as order from app and collect in store easy to replicate.

Amazon

The online auction site’s app is a great match for its online experience with much of the functionality of the main website – you can browse for products, buy, use vouchers, make offers, load items for sale and keep an eye on your messages. Unsurprisingly given the popularity of eBay, it’s one of the most popular shopping apps on the App Store.

Nike

The Nike app is one of the most popular apps by a retailer – and you can see why when you take a look at its value proposition. This is a great example of how to make shoppers really desire your app and then keep them engaged. The app invites users to unlock exclusive access to Nike and rather than being a simple shop interface – although there is in-app shopping – those downloading the app are also promised exclusive behind the scenes content from famous athletes plus products and events reserved for them.