Leading Software Brands in the US: Q1 2024 Analysis

Introduction

In the dynamic landscape of software services, certain brands continue to stand out with substantial audience reach across both web and app platforms. This article explores the performance of leading software brands in the US during Q1 2024, focusing on Microsoft 365, Google Search, and Gmail. Using Sensor Tower's comprehensive data, we will analyze trends and insights from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024.

Microsoft 365 (Office 365)

Microsoft 365, with its diverse suite of applications and websites, remains a dominant force in the software category.

• Audience Trends: Microsoft 365’s websites, including forms.office.com, microsoft365.com, and office.com, recorded stable monthly deduplicated audiences, often exceeding 27M. Notably, office.com consistently attracted high unique visits, peaking in January 2024.

• App Engagement: Key applications like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office maintained monthly active user bases above 2M, with Microsoft Outlook leading with over 35M active users.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Microsoft 365’s monthly advertising expenditure showed fluctuations, with a notable peak in March 2024, reaching over $2.7M. Channels such as LinkedIn and Facebook were primary contributors to impressions.

Google Search

Google Search’s dominance in the digital realm is reflected in its massive audience reach.

• Audience Trends: Google.com maintained a robust presence with unique visits consistently above 290M monthly. The true audience remained stable, hovering around 300M.

• App Engagement: The Google app showed a slight decline in monthly active users, stabilizing around 88M by March 2024.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Google Search’s advertising saw a dramatic spike in December 2023, with monthly spending reaching over $2.5M. Instagram and TikTok were significant platforms for their ad impressions.

Gmail

Gmail continues to be a staple in digital communication, with substantial audience engagement.

• Audience Trends: Mail.google.com consistently attracted over 100M unique visits each month, with a true audience exceeding 260M.

• App Engagement: The Gmail app maintained a strong monthly active user base, with active users consistently above 130M.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Gmail’s monthly advertising spend was modest, with Facebook being the primary channel, contributing to impressions over 3M in October 2023.

Conclusion

The analysis of Q1 2024 reveals that Microsoft 365, Google Search, and Gmail continue to lead the US software market with significant cross-platform reach and engagement. Sensor Tower’s unparalleled data insights provide a comprehensive view of these trends, emphasizing the importance of cross-referencing web, app, and advertising data for informed decision-making. For more detailed insights, explore Sensor Tower's Web Insights, App Performance Insights, and Pathmatics offerings.