Snap Inc. has reaped the benefits of creating a fully functional Snapchat app for Android, as the company announced in its earnings report that its user base predominantly uses Android over iOS. The report highlighted the popularity of the app among Android users, with the total Android user base continuing to grow. In the first quarter of 2021, the number of daily active Snapchat users reached 280 million, representing a 22% year-over-year increase. CEO Evan Spiegel described the moment when Android users surpassed iOS users as a milestone reflecting the long-term value of the company's investment in rebuilding the Android app. Spiegel stated, "The vast majority of smartphones in the world run on Android, and our Android user base is now larger than our iOS user base."
The company originally launched Snapchat on iOS only and released the Android app for the first time in 2012. With a lackluster Android app, Snapchat lost Android users, who criticized the company for the app's poor performance. The experience did not match the quality of the iOS app, leading many Android phone owners to abandon the platform. The team subsequently spent over a year rebuilding the app to align it with its iOS counterpart.
Things changed when the company released the revamped app in 2019, making it more efficient and accessible to global users. The company stated that its growth also prompted it to invest in content abroad, with Spiegel highlighting the Snap Original program launched in India in March, as well as efforts to enhance language support and localize features. Interestingly, new social apps, such as Clubhouse in particular, continue to launch on iOS first, sacrificing potential Android market opportunities both locally and internationally. Companies like Samsung and Qualcomm have heavily invested in providing affordable 5G smartphones, with more budget Android phones being launched with 5G connectivity, making social media apps like Snapchat more accessible.
