Mobile Browser Usage Statistics 2025: Rising Mobile Traffic & Trends

Mobile browsers account for over 62% of global internet traffic, and mobile-first habits now shape how consumers engage with web content. In industries like e-commerce and digital publishing, this shift is transforming how brands optimize UX and prioritize performance. Automotive brands, for instance, build mobile‑friendly configurators, while media outlets tailor articles to load quickly on smartphones. Explore the full article to see how these trends are redefining the digital landscape.

Editor’s Choice

• Chrome holds over 65% of the mobile browser market share globally as of mid‑2025.
• Safari follows with roughly 22–24% on mobile, driven mainly by iOS users.
• Samsung Internet captures around 3–3.5% of mobile browser use.
• As of mid‑2025, global internet traffic via mobile devices reached 64%, up from about 62% earlier this year.
• Mobile vs. desktop usage shows mobile commanding between 58–60%, while desktop hovers around 38–40%.
• United States web traffic is close to evenly split: mobile at 47%, desktop at 50%, tablet at 3%.
• Global browser rankings across all platforms put Chrome at 66–68%, Safari at around 16–19%, and Edge near 5–6%.

Recent Developments

• Chrome’s market share on mobile dipped slightly to 67% in July 2025 from 70% in June.
• Safari gained traction, rising from 20.9% in June to 22.4% in July.
• Samsung Internet edged up to 3.5% in July 2025.
• Opera and UC Browser also saw minor increases: Opera to 1.68%, UC Browser to 1.36%.
• Firefox held steady around 0.55%, with Edge holding at 0.53% in mobile rankings.
• Developers are exploring AI‑integrated browsers, like Chrome with Gemini and Edge with Copilot, signaling a shift in browsing experiences.
• The global browsers market size stood at USD 236.6 billion in 2024, projected to hit USD 994.8 billion by 2033 at an annual growth rate of 17.3%.

Global Mobile Browser Market Share

• Chrome dominates with 67.6%–68% of global mobile browser share in 2025.
• Safari maintains a steady 22%–24% share on mobile devices.
• Samsung Internet contributes around 3%-6% globally.
• Opera holds roughly 1.6%–1.7% of mobile users.
• UC Browser accounts for about 1.3%–1.4% on mobile globally.
• Firefox mobile sits at roughly 0.5%–0.55%.
• Edge on mobile remains minimal, around 0.5%.

Regional Mobile Browser Market Share

• In North America, Chrome leads with around 56–57%, while Safari captures 30%.
• In Asia, Chrome dominates with 74%, Safari only 12%.
• In Africa, Chrome holds 76%, and Safari around 10%.
• South America shows Chrome at 79%, Safari at 9%.
• In Europe, Chrome controls 60%, Safari 21%.
• In Oceania, Chrome has 56%, and Safari has 29%.
• The Middle East sees Chrome at 64% and Samsung Internet growing to 9.8%.

Market Share by Country

• In the United States, Chrome leads with 57.45%, followed by Safari at 29.27%, Edge at 6.65%.
• In the United Kingdom, Chrome holds 48.87%, Safari at 32.93%, and Edge at 9.3%.
• In China, Chrome dominates with 46.9%, Safari at 14.9%, and Edge at 12.9%.
• In India, Chrome usage is exceptionally high at 74.6%.
• Japan sees mobile Safari at 35.1%.
• In Australia, Safari claims 27.4%.
• In Russia and Eastern Europe, the Yandex browser holds 6.5% locally.

Mobile Data Usage by Activity

• Video applications dominate mobile data usage, accounting for 75.9% of total consumption.
• Other apps make up 10.5% of mobile data traffic, reflecting diverse usage beyond entertainment and communication.
• Social networking platforms represent 7.8% of mobile data use, driven by rich media and real-time interaction.
• Web browsing contributes just 1.4%, showing a continued decline in traditional mobile web use compared to apps.

Mobile Browser Market Share by Platform (Android vs. iOS)

• As of February 2025, mobile devices account for 62% of internet traffic, desktops at 36%, and tablets at 2%.
• In the U.S., mobile web traffic 62.45% still lags slightly behind desktop 50.2%, with tablets at 2.5%.
• Android users predominantly rely on Chrome, with an estimated mobile share of 70% versus iOS users favoring Safari at 22–24%.
• Android’s broader global reach skews Chrome dominance higher on that platform, while Safari remains strong within iOS ecosystems.
• Platforms with significant Android penetration, many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, see higher Chrome usage, often above 70%.
• In contrast, markets with substantial iOS use, like North America and parts of Europe, show Safari nearing 30% share.
• Emerging AI-powered browsers, such as Comet, are exploring OEM partnerships to expand their presence across platforms, which may influence future browser market dynamics, though widespread impact remains to be seen.

Comparison: Mobile vs Desktop Usage

• Global internet traffic from mobile stands at 64.35% as of mid‑2025, with desktop at about 35.65%.
• Statcounter reports for August 2025, mobile 59.1%, desktop 39.36%, tablet 1.55%.
• Early‑2025 data shows mobile commanding 59.6% of web usage, desktop at 38.1%.
• Mobile traffic crossed the 50% threshold in Q4 2016, continuing upward since.
• The rise from 6% mobile share in 2011 to 64% now marks a dramatic shift in user behavior.
• Mobile’s edge is strongest in developing markets, e.g., India sees 80% mobile vs 20% desktop, while the U.S. is closer to a 57/43 split.
• Mobile browsing dominates platforms like YouTube (87% mobile visits) and Reddit (vast majority from mobile).

Top Reasons Why US Adults Use Mobile Banking Apps

• 90% of users open mobile banking apps primarily to view their account balance.
• 79% use the apps to check recent transactions, indicating strong demand for real-time financial visibility.
• 59% rely on mobile banking to make bill payments, showcasing growing reliance on digital financial management.
• 57% use these apps to transfer funds, whether between their own accounts or to others.
• Only 20% access the app to contact customer service, suggesting users prefer self-service over human interaction.
• 19% open mobile banking apps to create a new account, highlighting a shift toward mobile-first onboarding.
• Just 17% of users use the app to reorder checks, reflecting the declining need for paper-based banking.

Mobile Browser Usage Trends Over Time

• Mobile’s share of web traffic soared from 0.7% in Q1 2009 to 64.35% by Q3 2025, an 8,800% increase.
• Crossing 50% happened in Q4 2016, and mobile usage rose steadily each year.
• In 2011, mobile accounted for only 6.1%, but in 2015, that jumped to 38.6%, reaching 64.35% by 2025.
• Statcounter data mirrors this upward path; mobile went from under 60% in early 2024 to nearly 60% in mid‑2025.
• The U.S. trend mirrors global growth; mobile share rose steadily, with only slight desktop resilience.
• Mobile traffic’s rise parallels smartphone penetration, which now exceeds 50% of the global population.

App Browsing vs Mobile Web Browsing

• In‑app browsers handle about 31% of mobile web sessions in 2025.
• Users click links within apps like Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, then browse via lightweight embedded views.
• In-app browsing reduces friction and keeps users within proprietary app environments.
• Standard browser use still dominates, but in-app browsing is a meaningful channel for content and commerce.
• In-app views often lack privacy features or ad-blocking capabilities compared to full browsers.
• Brands need to optimize for both contexts, mobile‑web and in‑app experiences, to ensure fast loading.
• Tracking and analytics differ between in‑app and web browsers, impacting marketing decisions.

Most Used App Categories by Weekly Time Spent (in Minutes)

• Social apps lead the chart with an average of 131 minutes of weekly usage.
• Gaming apps follow closely, taking up 116 minutes of users’ time each week.
• Communication tools like messaging and calling apps see about 102 minutes of weekly use.
• Music streaming apps are used for 80 minutes per week on average.
• Entertainment apps (e.g., video platforms) account for 67 minutes weekly.
• Retail and e-commerce apps see 65 minutes of user engagement per week.
• Finance apps are used for around 57 minutes weekly, highlighting mobile banking trends.
• Mobile browsers capture 46 minutes of weekly activity.
• Productivity apps such as calendars and note-taking tools average 35 minutes per week.
• Health & wellness apps are used for 27 minutes weekly.
• Map/navigation apps account for 25 minutes of usage per week.
• Travel apps are among the least used, with only 19 minutes weekly.
• Other app categories combine for about 42 minutes of weekly time.

Mobile Content Consumption Trends

• Streaming video, 69% of consumers stream on smartphones, 25% on desktops.
• Younger users (18–34) show 79% weekly mobile video viewing versus 37% on desktop.
• Podcast listening, 78% via mobile in the U.K., only 11% via laptops.
• Gaming, 70% of users worldwide game on smartphones, compared to 35.8% on desktops.
• Shopping via mobile, 76% of adults in the U.S. make purchases using smartphones.
• Mobile commerce is set to generate $4.01 trillion, or 59% of retail e‑commerce, in 2025.
• Mobile search inputs tend to be longer. Food & Beverage queries average 15.5 characters vs 13.8 on desktop.

Mobile Browser Usage by Demographics

• Smartphone ownership in the U.S. remains high; 97% of adults aged 18–49 own one, while 76% of those 65+ do.
• Younger users tend to adopt advanced browsers and features more quickly; over 98% use Chrome across ages 35–44.
• Among users 55–64, 46% still rely on Chrome, which drops to just 5% in users aged 65+.
• Global internet penetration stood at 67.9% at the beginning of 2025.
• There’s a digital divide in connectivity; 15–24-year-olds reached around 75% internet use in 2022 versus 65% for older groups.
• Lower-income groups and older age brackets face higher risks from browser fingerprinting.
• Gender also plays a role; female participants were less likely to share browser data.

Conversion Rates: Mobile vs. Desktop Browsers

• The average global desktop conversion rate in 2025 is about 4.3%, compared to 2.2% on mobile.
• In high-value e-commerce segments, desktop easily outperforms mobile by 2.5× or more.
• Food delivery sites show mobile conversion peaks of 6.1%.
• Travel bookings lag on mobile (1.4%) versus desktop (3.9%).
• WordStream reports desktop conversion at 5.06%, while mobile is at 2.49%.
• SpeedCommerce found desktop conversion 4.8%, mobile 2.9%.
• Mobile apps outperform mobile web with conversions 157% higher.

Mobile Browser Usage by Age Group

• Among Chrome users, 29% are aged 25–34, and another 27% are 18–25.
• Nearly all users between 35–44 rely on Chrome.
• Adoption falls steeply after 55+, with just 46% Chrome use (55–64) and 5% among 65+.
• Older demographics show lower smartphone adoption at 76%, versus 97% in younger age brackets.
• Digital inequality persists; younger people showed 75% internet use versus 65% for older groups.
• Privacy concerns and fingerprinting risk rise with age; older users are more vulnerable.
• Younger users tend to favor mobile browsing via apps and modern browsers.

Mobile Browser Adoption by Device Type

• As of May 2025, Android holds 72.7% of the mobile OS market, and iOS covers 26.9%.
• Android users overwhelmingly use Chrome.
• iOS users favor Safari.
• Comet, an AI browser, is in talks to be pre-installed on mobile devices.
• Tablet-based browsing accounts for 5.1% of web traffic in 2025.
• Device preference still skews by age.
• Apps dominate mobile screen time, browser use accounts for under 6%, and web browsing consumes just 300 MB/month of mobile data.

Factors Driving Mobile Browser Growth

• Mobile traffic surged from 6.1% in 2011 to 64.35% by May 2025.
• Affordability and widespread smartphone adoption, 4.88 billion users now, projected to reach 5.83 billion by 2028.
• Average daily smartphone use is nearly 4 hours in the U.S.
• Dominance of social and utility apps means browsers often play second fiddle.
• AI browser initiatives may drive growth via pre-install and assistant integration.
• Regulatory scrutiny in the UK is probing whether Safari and Chrome’s dominance stifles competition.
• Increased privacy awareness fuels interest in browsers like Brave and DuckDuckGo.

Projected Growth in Mobile Browser Usage

• Mobile web traffic is already over 63% of global web requests by late 2024.
• Mobile browsing will likely surpass 65% within months.
• m-Commerce is expected to double by 2025, reaching $710 billion.
• App-first UX and AI-powered tools will shift more browsing toward native environments.
• Regulatory changes or pre-install deals may allow challengers like Comet to capture share.
• Improved browser efficiency may increase retention.
• Emerging markets where smartphones are the primary internet device may push usage upward.

Security and Privacy Trends in Mobile Browsing

• Regulatory bodies are examining whether Safari and Chrome dominance limit choice.
• AI browsers like Comet raise new privacy and security questions.
• Studies show privacy risks from fingerprinting increase with age and income disparities.
• Battery-saving features like ad blockers or dark mode can help reduce energy consumption during browsing sessions, with studies showing up to 39% savings in specific OLED device scenarios, although actual savings vary by screen type and usage.
• Browsers like DuckDuckGo and Brave are gaining traction.
• Default browser settings matter.
• Users are increasingly aware of browser permissions and data tracking.

Conclusion

Mobile browsers now carry the majority of global web traffic, a trend that continues to accelerate as smartphone ownership expands, apps dominate user time, and technologies like AI enter the mix. Still, desktop conversions remain higher, and privacy, demographic divides, and platform control are pressing concerns. As new players like Comet emerge, along with regulatory scrutiny, the mobile browsing landscape stands poised for change.