- Tinder was one of the top money-making apps in June 2020 even with people stuck at home.
- TikTok made the most money overall, but mostly in China.
- Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus were still popular draws.
You’d think dating apps wouldn’t get much business when you’re supposed to avoid any close personal encounters during a pandemic, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Sensor Tower has estimated that Tinder was the third highest-grossing mobile app on official stores in June 2020, outpacing even heavyweights like Netflix (sixth place) and Disney Plus (seventh).
The researchers didn’t offer an explanation for Tinder’s success, although the service’s subscriptions are still helpful for finding matches even if you’ll be resigned to a long-distance relationship for the foreseeable future.
It wasn’t the only popular app, either. TikTok pulled in the most overall revenue at $90.7 million, according to the estimates, although most of that (89%) was from Douyin, the China-specific version of the social video app. YouTube was also popular with nearly $73 million (56 percent of it in the US) from its various subscriptions. Chinese video services like Tencent Video and iQiyi were popular, too.
These figures don’t include downloads from third-party Android app stores that are popular in countries like China, so they’re not wholly representative of app demand. Still, this suggests many mobile users were determined to stay connected and entertained — whether it’s for a virtual hookup or something more substantial.