The Google Play Store never sleeps. Every day, millions of downloads decide which apps rise to the top. But only a handful break past the million plus downloads mark in a single day, earning their place on our Top Dogs list.

Between September 16 and 17, 2025, we saw some familiar giants hold their ground - WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok - but also two new challengers entered the ring: Perplexity, the fast-rising AI assistant, and Temu, the shopping app taking the world by storm.


Methodology

  • Data source: Appnalyzer
  • Timeframe: 24 hours (September 15 - September 16, 2025)
  • Exclusions: Pre-installed / system apps


Here’s the full countdown, from #10 to #1.

#10 - Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire

Daily Gains: 1,032,289
New Total Downloads: 857,824,269
Temu, owned by PDD Holdings (formerly Pinduoduo), breaks into the Top 10 with over 1M installs in just 24 hours. Known for its budget-friendly shopping and aggressive marketing, Temu is quickly becoming a household name across global markets.

#9 - Perplexity - Ask Anything

Daily Gains: 1,083,036
New Total Downloads: 44,692,569
A new contender makes its debut: Perplexity AI. Often dubbed the “Google alternative powered by AI,” Perplexity is reshaping how users find answers. This milestone proves growing appetite for AI-powered knowledge tools.

#8 - Telegram

Daily Gains: 1,148,042
New Total Downloads: 2,473,930,796
Founded by Pavel Durov, Telegram continues to be the privacy-first messenger of choice. Channels, groups, and encryption keep its growth steady, adding over a million new users in just one day.

#7 - Spotify: Music and Podcasts

Daily Gains: 1,162,425
New Total Downloads: 2,571,383,681
Spotify remains the leader in music and podcasts. With personalized playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks, Spotify continues to be the go-to for global audio entertainment.

#6 - WhatsApp Business

Daily Gains: 1,164,206
New Total Downloads: 1,801,615,765
WhatsApp Business continues to empower small businesses worldwide. It’s the bridge between commerce and communication, helping millions of shops connect directly with customers.

#5 - Snapchat

Daily Gains: 1,242,385
New Total Downloads: 3,621,078,880
Snap Inc.’s flagship app keeps its youthful charm alive. AR lenses, creative tools, and short-form content ensure Snapchat stays relevant — and it shows with yet another million-plus day.

#4 - Instagram

Daily Gains: 1,422,038
New Total Downloads: 6,612,536,259
Meta’s Instagram continues to be the hub for creators, brands, and users. With Reels driving engagement, Instagram remains one of the most powerful social commerce and discovery platforms worldwide.

#3 - TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE

Daily Gains: 1,942,591
New Total Downloads: 3,893,885,690
ByteDance shows no sign of slowing down. TikTok blends entertainment, shopping, and live events - an ecosystem that keeps billions hooked and millions more downloading every day.

#2 - ChatGPT

Daily Gains: 2,896,694
New Total Downloads: 739,836,109
OpenAI’s ChatGPT continues to surge, proving the massive global appetite for AI productivity, creativity, and assistance. Nearly 3M new installs in a single day marks another historic leap for the AI space.

#1 - WhatsApp Messenger

Daily Gains: 3,535,525
New Total Downloads: 10,760,543,235
The undisputed king of messaging, WhatsApp Messenger, added over 3.5M downloads in just 24 hours, cementing its position as the world’s most widely used communication platform.

Honorable Mention

LinkedIn: Jobs & Business News (Microsoft-owned) secured 1,008,042 downloads, bringing its total to 2,014,405,148. Though it didn’t make today’s Top 10, its steady growth shows how career networking is holding strong in the app economy.


Conclusion

This edition of Top Dogs reminds us that while the usual heavyweights such as WhatsApp, ChatGPT and TikTok dominate, new entrants like Perplexity and Temu can break through in a flash. With AI and e-commerce climbing fast, tomorrow’s leaderboard may look very different.

Stay tuned, because in the world of apps, today’s underdog can be tomorrow’s top dog.