When it comes to our daily routines, many of us check social media and email apps without thinking twice, yet these platforms can evoke mixed emotions. A recent study by Mailsuite, which analysed Google Play Store ratings worldwide, reveals some fascinating insights about the apps we use regularly. While certain platforms are indispensable, they aren’t always our favourites.
Facebook: Widely Used, Widely Disliked
Facebook, one of the most widely used social media platforms globally, doesn’t always satisfy users. According to Mailsuite’s analysis, Facebook rose to the top as the most disliked social media app in 39 countries, including major regions like the UK, Australia, Canada, France, and India. Despite its daily use for staying updated on announcements, birthdays, or social gatherings, many users seem to find the platform frustrating, ranking it lower in terms of overall experience.
This finding highlights a key difference between app popularity and user satisfaction. Many users turn to Facebook out of habit or necessity, but the platform’s user experience, filled with ads and sometimes overwhelming amounts of content, could be the reason for these lower ratings.
Email Apps: Outlook vs. Gmail
Interestingly, the study didn’t just focus on social media but also ranked email apps across different countries. Microsoft Outlook stands out as the highest-rated email app in 46 countries, including Mexico, Italy, Denmark, South Africa, and the Philippines. Despite being a relatively late entry in the mobile email app game, Microsoft seems to have perfected the user experience, building upon previous attempts and combining them with innovative features. A review on Slate even praised Outlook for focusing on refinement rather than reinvention, making it more intuitive for users.
On the other hand, Gmail, one of the most widely used email platforms globally, has the lowest user ratings in 36 countries, including the U.S., the Netherlands, Brazil, and Spain. This stark contrast between usage and user sentiment mirrors the divide seen in social media apps like Facebook, where popularity doesn’t always equate to a better user experience.
U.S. Takes a Different Path with Yahoo Mail
In the U.S., Yahoo Mail takes the lead as the most loved email app, a surprising result considering its competitors like Gmail and Outlook. While Yahoo Mail has lost much of its market share in recent years, it seems to have found a loyal base of users in America. Perhaps its simplicity, spam-filtering abilities, or familiar layout appeals more to U.S. users than Gmail’s feature-rich yet sometimes complex interface.
Messaging Apps: Google Messages on Top
For messaging apps, Google Messages claims the title as the most-loved app in 22 countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK. Google Messages offers a streamlined, no-frills experience for texting and messaging, and its integration with other Google services might explain its high ratings. For users who value simplicity and functionality in communication, this app appears to have struck the right balance.
A Global View of Social Media and Communication Trends
These insights from Mailsuite reveal some fascinating global trends when it comes to social media and communication tools. Apps like Facebook may have vast reach, but they are not universally loved. Similarly, Gmail’s global dominance doesn’t guarantee top ratings in terms of user experience. Instead, platforms like Microsoft Outlook and Google Messages are quietly rising to the top, appreciated for their ease of use and functional designs.
For users and marketers alike, understanding these nuances can be crucial. While user engagement on platforms like Facebook remains high, sentiment analysis like this offers an important reminder that users aren’t always happy with the time they spend on these platforms. In the same vein, it’s worth recognising that email services and messaging apps, often seen as utilitarian, can evoke strong opinions based on their design and functionality.
As social media continues to evolve, keeping an eye on user satisfaction will be just as important as tracking usage statistics. After all, the app that people use the most isn’t always the one they enjoy the most.
 Social Media and Email Apps by Country){kind=link}