10 Most Popular Entertainment Mobile Apps In 2025

Our relationship with entertainment has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Traditional television is no longer the default – it’s been overtaken by streaming platforms that offer personalized, on-demand access to films, series, and even news, breaking the limitations of scheduled programming. Simultaneously, the once-clear divide between desktop and mobile devices has blurred, especially in how we consume content and stay informed.

Just like social media, entertainment has become an on-the-go experience, increasingly centered on smartphones. As of January 2023, video applications accounted for a staggering 73% of all global mobile data usage, highlighting video’s dominant role in mobile entertainment, whether it’s Instagram Reels, YouTube, or streaming platforms like Netflix or TikTok.

The shift isn’t just about what we watch, but also how we access the internet in general. By Q3 2024, a whopping 98% of global internet users were online via mobile phones, compared to just 58.3% who used laptops or desktops. The numbers speak for themselves: mobile has become the primary gateway to digital life, and the entertainment industry has taken note.

Regional momentum driving the mobile surge in popular entertainment apps

Geographic trends paint an even clearer picture of mobile’s dominance. In India, 81.67% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices, with desktops trailing at just 18.33%. China tells an even more dramatic story: 99.9% of internet users there access the web via smartphones, while only 33.9% use desktops.

Regionally, Africa leads the way in mobile-first internet use, with Asia and South America following closely behind. Even in mature markets like Europe and the United States, mobile usage has surged in recent years, and all indicators suggest this trend will only accelerate.

Why mobile entertainment apps are booming?

The convergence of these trends makes one thing abundantly clear: mobile entertainment apps represent a booming niche with immense growth potential. The ubiquity of smartphones, the explosion in video content consumption, and the global shift toward mobile-first internet access are creating fertile ground for innovation in mobile entertainment.

To thrive in this booming market, learn from the best! We’ve rounded up the most successful mobile entertainment apps of 2025 for Android and iOS – not the obvious market giants, but rising stars that have been steadily gaining traction over the past few years.

These standout popular entertainment apps shine through their unique features, bold concepts, or exceptional design, offering a clear roadmap for anyone looking to break into this competitive space.

Top entertainment apps in 2025

Prime Video

• On the market since: September 2006 (originally launched as Amazon Unbox)
• Biggest strength: A vast library of exclusive originals, seamless integration with Amazon services, and a user-friendly interface that enhances the viewing experience.

When users open a streaming platform, they come with clear expectations about the experience and interface. Content is king – but everything else should make browsing films and series seamless, not get in the way. That means one of the key battlegrounds for platforms – their content libraries – is performance and user experience (UX).

Take a look at the interfaces of Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, or Peacock, and you’ll notice they’re all quite similar at a glance. But dive into user reviews, and it becomes clear how much the small details matter – such as laggy playback, poor search functionality, or confusing navigation.

In this area, Prime Video clearly has an edge, as reflected in its overall ratings. It also draws users with its strong lineup of originals and exclusives. User appreciate that and it reflects in numbers. Although on the global level Netflix has won the streaming battle in 2024, in the US, Amazon Prime has managed to go out of its shadow.

The platform led in new subscriber acquisitions during the second quarter of 2024, capturing 11.9% of new sign-ups among subscription video-on-demand platforms. Despite the main incentive being the exclusive sport content and extensive film offer, the mobile app itself has likely contributed to the platform’s growth, considering its rating.

Empik Go

• On the market since: October 2017
• Biggest strength: Seamless integration with Empik’s ecosystem, offering a vast selection of exclusive audiobooks and ebooks, along with compatibility across various devices.

In the last decade, entertainment media retailers have had to adapt to a completely new playing field. Consumer preferences shifted dramatically, with a strong move toward digital tools. Sales of paper books and physical media declined, while the logic of streaming came to dominate the entertainment industry.

This presented both a major challenge and a unique chance. Empik, a Polish entertainment retailer present on the market since 2017, decided to seize that opportunity by launching the Empik GO app. The platform gives users access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks, audiobooks and podcasts, with the ability to listen and read offline as well.

In a market that initially had limited competition, Empik GO positioned itself alongside platforms like Legimi and the then-emerging Storytel, which began its operations in Poland around the same time. Its main strenghts? User-friendly interface, compatibility with various e-readers like InkBOOK and PocketBook, and its exclusive content offerings.

Despite facing stiff competition, Empik GO has maintained a strong user base, with over 2.3 million users and a consistent rating, accommodating an influx of users after Legimi’s challenges in 2024. With its simple yet complete and intuitive architecture and design that Miquido contributed to, it has estabilished a new benchmark on a Polish mobile entertainment market.

Dolby On

• On the market since: March 2020
• Biggest strength: Empowering creators with professional-grade audio and video recording capabilities through automatic sound enhancement features, all within a user-friendly mobile app.

Content is king… but sacrificing quality for quantity won’t take you far. With Dolby On++, you don’t have to choose between one or the other. This mobile entertainment app, developed by Miquido for Dolby as part of a project takeover, was designed in collaboration with the tech giant known for its decades-long legacy in audio innovation. A pioneer in personalized spatial audio and advanced noise reduction, Dolby set out to create a solution that automates processes traditionally performed with professional software.

Rather than delivering entertainment directly to the audience, Dolby On empowers content creators by helping them refine the media designed to entertain. Let’s put it another way: with Dolby On, users can capture high-quality audio, video, and even livestreams with studio-grade sound. The app immediately analyzes the audio, applying the right mix of EQ, compression, noise reduction, stereo widening, and other enhancements. And the user? All they need to do is tap “record”.

This streamlined process makes high-end production accessible to creators of all levels, whether you’re a podcaster, musician, vlogger, or livestreamer, Dolby On lets you focus on performance, not post-production, ensuring consistent experience on iPhones and Android.

Users of recording and sound-enhancing apps typically have very specific demands regarding features, sound quality, and ease of use. In this highly competitive niche, Dolby On stands out with its exceptionally high ratings and a growing community of users, with the app being downloaded over 5 million times across platforms.

Tencent Video

• On the market since: 2011
• Biggest strength: A strong focus on Asian content combined with cutting-edge interactive features like bullet screens and HDR Vivid, as well as early adoption of VR.

You can probably name the top global streaming services: Netflix, Max, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Peacock… But chances are, Tencent Video might not come to mind when thinking about popular entertainment apps. Yet, in 2022, it was already the fourth-largest streaming service in the world in terms of paid subscribers – and it continues to hold that position.

Tencent is a Chinese mobile entertainment app, but in recent years, it has been heavily investing in international expansion under the name WeTV, riding the wave of global interest in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese entertainment. What sets it apart from other streaming platforms, aside from its focus on Asian content? Most notably, its interactive features, such as the bullet screen, which allows viewers to post real-time comments while watching. When using Tencent, you’ll also notice the exceptionally high content quality – thanks to the use of advanced technologies like HDR Vivid.

Despite some controversies related to its government ties, Tencent has been steadily building a strong position in international entertainment. Its push to integrate VR and interactive elements into streaming is pioneering and charting new paths in the industry, especially considering the enthusiastic response from users. All of this is complemented by a wide selection of original content, which serves as a major draw for viewers.

MUBI

• On the market since: 2007
• Biggest strength: Expertly curated selection of independent, international, and classic films, offering a unique cinematic experience beyond mainstream platform.

MUBI may be a relatively new player in the global streaming race, but it has already won over the hearts of many film lovers – and fast. Why? Because at its core, it’s not driven by an algorithm like most platforms. Instead, it’s powered by people – real curators. And in a world increasingly ruled by machine recommendations, it turns out that’s exactly what audiences are craving.

MUBI stands out thanks to its hand-picked selection of titles you rarely see elsewhere – a carefully curated blend of award-winning gems and fresh voices from emerging directors who often gain visibility thanks to the platform. Looking for something more than the usual Hollywood blockbuster? MUBI is your destination.

And there’s more. While most streaming apps are starting to look and feel the same, MUBI dares to do things differently. Its app architecture supports in-depth community features and discussion threads, creating a space that feels like a hybrid between streaming and social media. It’s not just about watching, but also sharing the experience, engaging with others, and discovering cinema together.

Even the way users explore content sets MUBI apart. Instead of sorting films by genre or mood, it highlights directors, film festivals, and curatorial themes. It’s a journey designed for the curious, the cinephiles, and the demanding viewer who wants more than passive entertainment.

Add to that the brilliant MUBI GO feature, which offers subscribers a free cinema ticket each week to watch a selected film on the big screen, and you’ve got a platform that not only celebrates film, but revives the ritual of going to the movies. One of the best entertainment apps on

ReelShort

• On the market since: August 2022
• Biggest strength: Addictive vertical short-form series with serialized storytelling and a flexible monetization model

Studies leave no room for doubt: our attention span is shrinking at a staggering rate, mostly thanks to social media. You can fight it… or adapt. Many startups have chosen the latter, launching a new wave of mobile entertainment apps designed for the fast pace of today’s world. The recipe? Short, vertical content, optimized for smartphones and often delivered in quick, bingeable bursts.

Judging by the number of downloads and active users, the idea turned out to be brilliantly simple. The shift to short-form, mobile-first entertainment feels like a natural evolution – especially for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

ReelShort rides this trend to the top, emerging as one of the leading names in vertical entertainment. But what sets it apart from platforms like TikTok? For one, it doesn’t chase viral content – it tells stories. Serialized, fast-paced stories that are just as addictive as endless scrolling, packed with rapid plot twists and nail-biting cliffhangers.

ReelShort also stands out with its monetization approach. Instead of locking everything behind a full subscription, it lets users unlock premium episodes using virtual currency. That makes watching feel less like a commitment – and more like a game.

HBO Max

• On the market since: 2020
• Biggest strength: Balancing binge-worthy and award-winning content with consistent quality and a user-friendly experience that appeals to viewers across the globe.

Another streaming giant in our ranking, HBO Max, has a long-standing history in the entertainment market and has undergone a bunch of radical rebrands over the years. As the oldest subscription television service in the United States, it blazed a trail for many companies that are now streaming giants themselves. With roots dating back to the 1970s, HBO has established a strong reputation for high-quality entertainment, consistently curating a premium selection of films and series while producing countless acclaimed original titles.

Despite its long history, HBO entered the competitive streaming space relatively late – in 2020 – when global demand for online entertainment surged during pandemic lockdowns. Since then, the platform has steadily gained users (aside from a minor dip in Q1 2023), and its original productions along with a versatile content library have attracted audiences across the globe.

You could say that the best part of HBO Max is its ability to balance mainstream binge-worthy shows with festival-level productions, positioning itself as a middle ground between platforms like Netflix and MUBI. While its features are similar to other major streaming services, what sets HBO Max apart is the helpful combination of consistently valuable content and an intuitive user interface. This makes it an appealing choice for a wide age range – especially for millennials seeking quality over quantity.

Tubi

• On the market since: April 1, 2014
• Biggest strength: A vast, ad-supported content library offering free access to over 40,000 movies and TV shows, including recent releases and Tubi Originals.

The subscription-based streaming model has become the default, effectively sidelining other forms of online entertainment access. Few question the necessity of paying for streaming services today – these expenses have become an integral part of household budgets, often deducted automatically from bank accounts.

However, Tubi’s user statistics clearly indicate that a significant portion of viewers still seek free entertainment within the familiar streaming format. Tubi caters to this audience by offering a vast library of movies and TV shows without subscription fees. Instead, the app relies on ads, allowing viewers to “earn” a cost-free viewing experience completely legally.

While not all titles available on major streaming platforms appear on Tubi, the platform surprisingly doesn’t lack cinematic hits, including some of the most recent ones. Its library features content from major studios like Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as Tubi Originals.

Wattpad

• On the market since: 2006
• Biggest strength: Empowering user-generated storytelling and building a global, participatory community of writers and readers outside traditional publishing systems.

When we think of entertainment, video usually comes to mind first. However, thanks to certain apps, more traditional forms of entertainment – like reading – have regained momentum, especially among younger generations. Wattpad is a prime example, connecting a global community of writers and readers. It gives writers direct access to an audience without having to go through traditional publishing houses. Meanwhile, readers gain a sense of agency and influence over the growth of emerging authors. It’s a win-win – and Wattpad’s steady growth is the best evidence.

Wattpad’s success lies in its ability to capture the zeitgeist and tap into users’ desire for more participatory forms of online entertainment. According to its own 2024 research, an overwhelming majority of U.S. readers (92%) believe that humans should remain involved in writing and producing books. In the times of AI, Wattpad is a human-driven refuge – although it does not entirely prohibit AI-generated content, it imposes strong restrictions over its distribution and monetization on the platform.

Interestingly, from the very beginning, a significant portion of Wattpad’s community has come from regions often overlooked by major publishers – especially South Asia and South America. The app has helped expand access to entertainment in users’ native languages and on mobile devices, which dominate usage in these regions.

Beyond democratizing the publishing process, Wattpad offers powerful community-building tools like collaborative storytelling. While it initially rose to prominence through fan fiction, it quickly evolved into a hub for diverse genres to intersect. What began as a platform has now grown into an ecosystem – with Wattpad Books and Wattpad Studios – disrupting the entertainment market by making it more participatory and responsive.

Wattpad is a prime example of an app that not only identified a promising niche, but also continually adapted to insights from its community and market trends, fueling sustained growth.

Topline

• On the market since: 2018
• Biggest strength: Helping musicians instantly capture and organize creative ideas through a simple, high-quality mobile recording experience, bridging the gap between spontaneous inspiration and professional production.

Another app in our ranking that focuses on creators, Topline addresses a real creative challenge: the risk of losing spontaneous song ideas. By enabling instant, high-quality recording, it helps artists capture inspiration the moment it strikes – something many musicians struggle with when relying on fragmented tools like voice memos. Instead of juggling multiple apps and file formats, users can record layered tracks, sing over them, and add lyrics, tags, and images, making the entire process as seamless as possible.

Despite its robust feature set, the app remains easy to navigate, supporting a smooth creative flow and making it accessible to both seasoned and emerging musicians. Backed by the legendary Abbey Road Studios, Topline earned broad industry recognition, receiving the Music App of the Year 2018 award and being featured by Google in Developer Stories and Flutter showcases.

Topline’s success stems from solving a real-world problem for creatives – blending technical innovation with thoughtful design and a deep understanding of the music creation process. As the software development partner for this project, Miquido gained valuable experience in the music and entertainment niche, which later paved the way for multiple collaborations in the industry.

Top entertainment apps set for long-term success

Getting among the top entertainment apps and standing out in Google Play Store or Apple Store is not easy with the industry giants dominating every niche. But with an original idea or an outstanding app performance, you can make waves in the industry. We’ll help you connect the dots – take advantage of our entertainment knowledge and create a solution that stands out in the entertainment sector.

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