Ever since the pandemic has begun, life has changed massively. And consumer behavior has transformed with it. As millions found themselves restricted to their homes, many turned to digital technology for solace and convenience.
This helps explain why, according to Forbes, internet usage went up by a whopping 70 percent after the onset of COVID-19. Another separate report by App Annie highlighted how app usage surged by 40 percent as well!
If you think about it long enough, you might realize that some of the apps that took over the world during the pandemic were hidden under the mask of obscurity before it. Now, we can’t imagine lives without them.
Here are the top six apps that rose in demand during COVID-19. Check and see if you use or can use any of them!
- Zoom
Let’s be honest – there was a demand and market for video conferencing apps pre-pandemic as well. However, the sheer sudden growth in its usage during lockdown could not have been predicted or expected before.
For example, according to Global Market Insight, the predicted CAGR growth of video conferencing apps between 2020 and 2026 stands at 19 percent, amounting to a projected value of 50 billion USD by 2026!
One video conferencing app that emerged seemingly out of nowhere to rule the world during the pandemic is Zoom. Whether it be online classes or work meetings, Zoom became the go-to video conference for it all.
The app can be used to share documents, take control of a file, conduct meetings with hundreds of participants, and create breakout rooms within a chat for smooth flow for education purposes. So, whether you wish to keep in touch with your quarantined family and friends or keep up with the normal working routine, then chances are you already have Zoom.
- AirG
There were various communication apps that rose in demand. It is quite futile to discuss already popular ones, like WhatsApp. However, one communication app that witnessed an immense surge during the pandemic was the AirG scam-free app.
The good thing about the AirG app is that it offers a plethora of features, all in one. Like other communication apps, you can use it to connect with your friends via messaging or call. But, beyond that, you can use AirG services to find new like-minded people from around the world.
One of the attractive features of the AIrG app is that users can choose to join different forums and communities. This way, they can contribute to a topic they feel strongly about or meet people (romantic or platonic) with similar interests.
- TikTok
Vines were surely ahead of time! While initially, TikTok gained momentum slowly worldwide, the pandemic really helped the app grow its user base. For starters, according to Statista, since the outbreak of COVID-19, the app witnessed an increase of 180 percent among 15-25-year-old users!
For those of you who have been doing a social media detox, Tiktok is an app where users can create videos of less than 60 seconds. Creators from around the world hop onto trends, showcase their comedic timing, and share their DIY skills on the platform.
So, what caused the social app to become such a hit? Well, in a world where people craved human connections and validation, TikTok provided a nice escape as well as a way of connecting with the world. So much so that the app is touted as a pop-culture phenomenon of the current generation.
- MDLive
Since the pandemic began, healthcare apps have been the most critical category of applications. For the first time in centuries, we saw healthcare systems around the world become overburdened. And here, mHealth apps came to the rescue.
As hospitals became a hotspot for the virus, many found themselves confused about how to seek medical help in case of non-emergency and chronic issues.
One app that managed to fill this gap was MDLive. The application help users in connecting with medical practitioners and pediatric doctors to get consultation services, psychiatry evaluation, and behavioral health therapy services.
According to reviews, the average waiting time on the app is mere 15 minutes. The app has various state licensed as well as certified physicians. Apart from MDLive, there are various other mHealth consultation apps that users can use to avoid making unnecessary visits to the doctor.
- HeadSpace
According to research conducted by KFF, every four in ten adults living in the US reported having symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders due to the ongoing pandemic.
Apart from the physical effects on one’s health, people who went through quarantine and self-isolation, away from their loved ones, are also finding themselves engaged in a mental health battle.
At such times, mental health apps like HeadSpace have been of immense help to many, leading to a boom in its usage. The meditation app offers various songs, stories, and tutorials from experts, each of which helps you calm your nerves and go to sleep.
The tutorials are guided and meant for beginners to ensure that users do not feel lost when using the app. To make sure that you follow through with the meditations, the app also features email reminders. The continuous progress tracking further helps in visualizing your efforts.
While a free version of the app is available for users who wish to access richer and more thorough content, a premium version of the app is also there to serve the need. Usually, this version is best suited for corporate needs.
- Slack
Slack has always been the go-to solution for remote workers. And naturally, as the number of remote workers increased (because of the pandemic), so did the demand for this app.
The app offers instant messaging services that can be bifurcated according to projects and teams. What makes this an ideal app for corporations is its feature of enabling video messaging and collaboration across companies. You can say that the solution creates a digital world of its own.
Once COVID-19 began, as per Business of Apps, the revenue of Slack increased by a whopping 43 percent within a year. The app also offers community workspaces for professionals to collaborate across countries. The current user base of this feature mainly includes developers and user-experience designers.
When you add such a communication app with solutions like Asana and Trello, you easily get a well-integrated remote working environment – which many have reported is much more productive than traditional office settings.
Ending Remarks
The world has surely changed ever since the pandemic began. It has been quite challenging for most of us to get used to the ‘new normal.’ But, as the cliché goes, ‘the show must go on!’. As we persevere through the pandemic, the six apps have allowed most of us to adjust to the unprecedented times.
Remember, these six apps are just the tip of the iceberg! Within each category, there are multiple apps that make life easy. Whether you choose to download these ones or do research on your own, make sure to leverage the available technology and solution to make life easy.
The pandemic has made it hard enough already!
