Report: Why community wins on mobile — with Reddit and Adjust

Reddit was the 6th most Googled word in the world in 2024. That’s a whole lot of people turning to the platform for answers to their most pressing questions, and a huge opportunity for advertisers looking to broaden their reach.

Sensor Tower partnered with Reddit and Adjust for Why Community Wins on Mobile, a joint report on community engagement that explores how brands can use Reddit as a key part of their user acquisition strategy. Click here to go straight to the report, or read on for a preview of the key takeaways.

The Mobile Market Is Evolving; Communities Are Leading

Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile report shows that the mobile space is entering a new phase. After years of explosive growth, app downloads are starting to stabilize. It makes intuitive sense, too—most people already have smartphones, and many of those users have already downloaded their favorite apps.

As a result, advertisers are shifting focus. It’s no longer just about driving downloads at scale, but reaching the right users — the ones who are most likely to engage and stick around.

Sensor Tower’s data points to rising engagement in categories like AI, entertainment, and crypto. But Reddit and Adjust provide the next layer: insight into who those high-value users actually are. As it turns out, many of them enter through community-powered platforms like Reddit. These users are more curious, more committed, and more likely to convert.

Reddit Users Stick, Spend, and Stay

Compared to users acquired from other platforms, Reddit users show stronger engagement across the board. Even from Day 1, Reddit users

• Spend 55% more time in-app

• Have retention rates 12% higher than the market average

• Exhibit spend rates 159% higher than users acquired from other digital channels

These aren’t casual scrollers. Redditors tend to invest in the apps they download, both in time and money, from the very beginning.

Trust Fuels Action

What makes Reddit such a powerful acquisition channel? Trust. The platform’s community-driven design gives users a space to ask questions, share advice, and get unfiltered recommendations from real people.

According to Reddit’s own data:

• 82% of users say they trust the platform to inform their app download decisions

• 75% say it helps them make faster decisions about what to download or buy

Reddit isn’t just where people stumble across new apps—it’s where they go intentionally to figure out what’s worth their time and money. 

Brands hoping to capitalize on the loyal user base of the popular platform will find a helpful roadmap in this new report, including but not limited to the creative best practices that are key to establishing trust and building popularity. Whether you’re a Reddit user yourself or completely new to the site, it’s time to unlock the power of community — one upvote at a time. 

Click here to download your copy today.