In December 2024, Tencent’s super app WeChat remained the most popular mobile app in China with around 1.15 billion monthly active users (MAUs). Its older instant messaging sibling QQ climbed to second, with about 840 million MAUs. Messaging, e-commerce, utility, and video streaming apps occupied the most spots in the top 20 list. What makes WeChat so attractive to users? WeChat is a multi-functional app beyond messaging and social networking. From mobile payment and taxi-hailing to making appointments and holiday planning, it provides almost everything to every mobile user in China. WeChat users are from various age groups from teenagers to old adults. In general, most WeChat users spent at least 10 minutes per day on the app. In fact, many companies also use this "super app" to advertise their brands, and its business version Wecom to communicate internally. The promising future of short video apps The rise of short video entertainment is another important trend in the world’s second most populous country, especially in rural regions. ByteDance’s Douyin, which TikTok was cloned from, is one of the key players in the Chinese short video arena. Founded in 2016, Douyin had overtaken its imminent rival Kuaishou (Kwai) as China’s top short video app within four years. As the demand for rural life live streaming has been accelerating, industry experts expected that Chinese short form video market would continue to grow to reach a total revenue of 420 billion yuan by 2024.

The global instant messaging software market is experiencing robust growth, projected to reach $22,550 million in 2025 and maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors. The increasing penetration of smartphones and mobile internet access globally fuels the adoption of instant messaging apps for personal and professional communication. Businesses are increasingly leveraging instant messaging platforms for internal collaboration, customer service, and marketing, contributing significantly to market growth. Furthermore, the continuous innovation in features such as enhanced security, integration with other business tools, and the rise of AI-powered chatbots are further propelling market expansion. The market is segmented by device type (PC and Mobile) and application (Personal, Enterprise, and Other), with mobile applications dominating the market share due to their convenience and accessibility. The competitive landscape is highly fragmented, with established players like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Skype alongside newer entrants constantly vying for market share through feature enhancements and strategic partnerships. Geographical expansion, particularly in emerging markets with rapidly growing internet penetration, presents significant opportunities for market players. However, challenges remain. Data privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny around data handling continue to be significant hurdles. Maintaining user engagement in a highly competitive landscape requires continuous innovation and the ability to adapt to evolving user preferences. Furthermore, ensuring the security and reliability of instant messaging platforms is crucial to maintaining user trust and preventing the misuse of these platforms. The market's future growth trajectory hinges on the ability of companies to address these challenges and effectively leverage technological advancements while prioritizing user privacy and security. The market's sustained growth will depend on continuing innovation, adept adaptation to changing user needs, and consistent focus on data security.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Mobile Messaging Service market size will be USD 102584.2 million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.20% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 41033.68 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 30775.26 million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 23594.37 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 5129.21 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD 2051.68 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.9% from 2024 to 2031.
The software category is the fastest growing segment of the Mobile Messaging Service industry

Market Dynamics of Mobile Messaging Service Market

Key Drivers for Mobile Messaging Service Market

The Global Proliferation of Smartphone Usage to Boost Market Growth

The market for mobile messaging services is expanding due in large part to the increase in smartphone adoption. Mobile messaging services are becoming more widely available to more people as cell phones are cheaper and easier to obtain, especially in developing nations. The increasing number of users on messaging apps like WeChat, Telegram, and WhatsApp is a result of their widespread acceptance, which raises user engagement. Additionally, smartphones have improved features like voice, video, and multimedia messaging, which boost communication in general. Furthermore, messaging apps are made more user-friendly and effective by the advancement of sophisticated smartphone technology like fast internet and potent CPUs. As a result, the market for mobile messaging is growing as a direct result of rising smartphone usage worldwide.

Growing Need for Instant Communication to Drive Market Growth

The mobile messaging service market is growing due in large part to consumer demand for instant communication. A growing number of people and businesses are turning to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram because they need rapid, effective, and real-time communication solutions in today's hectic world. Instantaneous phone or video calls, message exchanges, and material sharing are all made possible by these technologies, which improve communication efficiency and speed. Instant messaging is being used more and more by organizations as a flexible means of communication since it offers an efficient avenue for teamwork, marketing, and customer service. More market expansion for mobile messaging services is being driven by consumers' desire for instant communication and the ease of being able to access them on their phones.

Restraint Factor for the Mobile Messaging Service Market

Data Privacy and Security Concerns Will Limit Market Growth

The market for mobile messaging services is being held back by serious worries about security and privacy. Users are becoming more and more concerned about data breaches, unlawful access, and the exploitation of their data as messaging platforms handle sensitive personal and corporate information. Users are reluctant to completely adopt or interact with some messaging apps as a result of high-profile hacking and privacy violation situations, which have increased consumer distrust and mistrust. Moreover, worries about data tracking and spying by governments and corporations compound worries about the security of private communications. There is a fragmented market where privacy concerns have a considerable impact on user uptake and retention despite the fact that certain platforms offer end-to-end encryption to minimize these challenges.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Mobile Messaging Service Market

The global market for mobile messaging services is booming due to the widespread use of smartphones and the increased demand for instant messaging services. However, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have created difficulties...

Live E-Commerce Market size was valued at USD 1,150.25 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2,918.70 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 12.45% from 2024 to 2031.

The increasing popularity of influencer-driven live shopping events provides a significant opportunity for the growth of the live e-commerce market. Social media sites, including Facebook, YouTube, WeChat, Instagram, and TikTok, are very popular in the Asia Pacific, and influencers have sizable fan bases on these sites. Influencers can interact with viewers personally, fostering a sense of trust that is difficult for traditional advertising to match. These days, many of these sites incorporate live shopping capabilities, enabling influencers to instantly market things to their audience. This dynamic, real-time component creates a sense of urgency and excitement, which raises conversion rates. Social shopping has become embedded in consumer culture in several Asia-Pacific nations, including China, Korea, and Japan.

In China, traditional media have seen a decline as digital platforms rise in popularity. As of the third quarter of 2024, the average daily online time rose to five hours and 35 minutes in the country, two minutes more than the survey result from a year ago. Daily TV and press media usage were down by 15 minutes and 23 minutes respectively. The multi-functions of social media Social media has significantly contributed to this downward trend. The convenience, immediacy, and engagement offered by social media have become preferred sources of information and entertainment, resulting in reduced viewership for television and diminished readership for press media. Audio streaming on the rise On the other hand, music streaming and podcasts have gained traction with services like KuGou Music and Ximalaya catering to the demand for on-the-go, diverse audio content. These shifts are largely due to the rapid adoption of smartphones, improved internet infrastructure, and the increasing desire for immediate, tailored content.

This statistic presents the results of a survey about information sources for fashion trends and style tips among millennials in China as of November 2017. During the survey period, almost 72 percent of Chinese respondents said that they found out about fashion trends and styling on WeChat.