Mobile growth rerouted: Why Reddit communities drive better app performance

As the mobile ecosystem matures, app marketers are shifting strategies. With global downloads plateauing at around 135-140 billion annually since 2020, volume alone is no longer the defining metric of success. Instead, brands are prioritizing user retention, engagement, and revenue generation. A recent joint study from Reddit, Adjust, and Sensor Tower reveals a powerful asset often underleveraged in this pursuit: community.

The report, Why Community Wins on Mobile, underscores a critical insight: community-driven platforms—especially Reddit—offer brands a higher-yield path to sustainable app growth. While traditional advertising methods and algorithm-driven targeting still dominate many campaigns, Reddit’s influence stems from something more enduring: user trust and intentional engagement.

Sensor Tower’s data shows that users now spend over 4.2 trillion hours on mobile apps annually, with consumer spend hitting $150 billion in 2024 alone—a 13% increase year-over-year. Yet, it’s not just about screen time. The report points to Reddit users as consistently outperforming users acquired through other digital and social platforms in key metrics that matter to advertisers.

Data from Adjust reveals that Reddit-acquired users are significantly more valuable across every engagement metric:

• Time Spent: Redditors spend 55% more time in-app on Day 1 than users from other social platforms, growing to 103% by Day 30.
• Retention: These users exhibit retention rates 12% higher than the market average on Day 1, rising to 15% by Day 30.
• Monetization: Reddit users generate 159% higher in-app spend on Day 1 compared to users from non-social digital channels.

The data supports a notable shift: these users are not just downloading apps—they’re actively using and investing in them from the outset.

While the mobile landscape is seeing explosive growth in sectors like AI, crypto, and gaming, Reddit offers a contextual advantage that traditional targeting can’t replicate. According to the report, 82% of Reddit users trust the platform to inform their app download decisions, and 75% say it helps them make those decisions faster.

Reddit’s community-driven discussions act as a form of social proof, shaping purchasing behavior in a way standard ad creatives struggle to match. With over 150 million user and revenue events analyzed by Adjust in 2024 alone, the findings aren’t anecdotal—they’re structural.

Sensor Tower’s broader 2025 mobile outlook confirms a growing user appetite for AI-powered apps (17 billion downloads in 2024), and rising consumer spend in non-gaming categories. In parallel, crypto apps also rebounded, with a 37% increase in global sessions, as users re-entered the space following a volatile 2022.

In each of these verticals, Reddit communities have emerged as key influencers, driving informed discovery and deeper app exploration.

The report offers actionable steps for brands looking to integrate Reddit into their mobile growth strategy:

1. Observe First: Use tools like Reddit Pro Trends to identify where your brand fits within Reddit’s ecosystem.
2. Engage Authentically: Participate in discussions, answer questions, and offer value—don’t just promote.
3. Leverage Reddit Answers: Use this tool to gather community sentiment and feedback around your app.
4. Iterate With Insight: Analyze user conversations to refine onboarding, UX design, and monetization strategies.

Community isn’t a new concept in marketing, but on mobile, it has become newly measurable—and clearly impactful. Reddit’s performance as an app acquisition and retention channel now has the data to match its cultural relevance. For marketers seeking long-term growth, the evidence is compelling: it’s time to listen, engage, and build with the community.