Here are the top 10 apps of 2015 (most downloaded, most used)

By Chris Burns/Jan. 20, 2016 1:59 pm EST

For both iOS and Android, combined, the number one ranking app in the world for the year 2015 was WhatsApp Messenger. After that is Facebook Messenger, Facebook (the basic Facebook app), and Instagram. The next couple of apps on this list of most-downloaded apps in the world for the year 2015 are slightly more difficult to believe: Clean Master, 360 Mobile Security, and Skype. After that you've got YouTube, UC Browser, and Snapchat.

Something you should notice about the first four entries on this list is: they're all part of Facebook. Facebook owns Instagram, Facebook owns WhatsApp, and they're currently dominating the world when it comes to app installs on mobile devices.

1. WhatsApp Messenger

2. Facebook Messenger

3. Facebook

4. Instagram

5. Clean Master

6. 360 Mobile Security

7. Skype

8. YouTube

9. UC Browser

10. Snapchat

The top apps of 2015 by revenue are as follows. Remember that this list includes both iOS and Google Play (Android) revenue specifically – that does not include Android stores other than Google's own Google Play.

1. Spotify

2. LINE

3. Pandora Radio

4. HBO Now

5. Tinder

6. LINE Manga

7. LINE PLAY

8. Zoosk

9. Skype

10. PocketColony

Here Facebook doesn't appear once. Facebook doesn't own any of these top 10 apps listed by revenue, while LINE owns three of them. Does Facebook need a better way to make cash via their mobile apps, or is it just that Facebook's strategy relies on cash means not accounted for by this top 10?

The following list shows the top 10 apps worldwide listed by monthly active users. NOTE: This list only includes iOS devices, while the lists above include Android and iOS. Keep that in mind – no Android here, just iOS.

1. Facebook

2. Facebook Messenger

3. YouTube

4. WhatsApp Messenger

5. Instagram

6. Google Maps

7. Twitter

8. Snapchat

9. Google

10. Gmail

This entire list is owned by four companies: Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Snapchat. Apple does not have have an app in the top 10 apps list for monthly users on iOS devices. How about that?

The information above comes from the App Annie 2015 Retrospective, straight from App Annie. Their information centers on apps and app markets for mobile devices around the world. This is their giant retrospective which gets released yearly.