Trendy Mobile App Features You Should Consider To Implement

• Mobile
• November 11, 2024

by Bhumi Goklani

With over 8.93 million apps available across app stores, how do you make your mobile app stand out? Application features play a key role over aesthetics. Whether you’re building an app for the first time or refining an existing one, this blog will guide you in selecting the right mobile app features for your project.

In today’s hyper-competitive digital world, having a mobile app isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. But creating an app that stands out among other apps worldwide? That’s the real challenge!

While sleek designs and smooth interfaces are important, having the right set of features implemented in your mobile app can make a huge difference from those that fade into oblivion.

If you’re developing a mobile app, you need to ask yourself: what mobile app features will make users engage, return, and spread the word?

That’s where this blog comes in: discussing every aspect of selecting mobile app features, from must-haves to can-haves, and those that boost user engagement and ultimately helping you create mobile apps that drive sales.

Top Reasons Why You Should Pick Mobile App Features with Market Trends in Consideration

As you’re creating a mobile app with a specific business opportunity in mind, you definitely want it to be relevant to today’s mobile app development trends that actually your target audience likes. But why is that important?

Some of the top reasons to select mobile app features with market trends in consideration include:

Better User Satisfaction

Do you know why Spotify leads the charts in on-demand music streaming? Its features, including AI-based personalization and categorization, help users discover songs tailored to their preferences, even enabling autoplay after their playlist ends. All these features make users prefer Spotify over others.

Likewise to that, when you align your app’s features with current market trends, you’re directly responding to the evolving needs and preferences of your target audience. Market trends often reflect what users expect from modern apps, whether it’s personalization, AI-driven experiences, or enhanced security.

By integrating features that cater to these expectations, you create an app that feels relevant, intuitive, and up-to-date.

Competitive Advantages

Every business wants to dominate the market. When it comes to the e-commerce landscape, the Amazon shopping app is still unbeatable, dominating with over 310 million active users globally. Do you know why it is – because it has powerful features like virtual try-on, view in 3D, Rufus a generative AI-powered shopping assistant, and many other compelling features.

Amazon never misses a chance to crack the changing market feature trends to give its shopping app a competitive edge by ensuring it keeps pace with or surpasses its competitors.

This says that application feature trends like AI integration, augmented reality (AR), cross-platform compatibility, or social media sharing capabilities are not just “nice-to-haves” anymore but essential.

By picking features based on market trends, you demonstrate that your app is at the forefront of innovation, which can attract more users and set you apart from apps that may feel outdated or less responsive to user demands.

Improved Monetization Opportunities

Market trends often highlight new ways to monetize your app effectively. Features that align with current trends can open up additional revenue streams. For instance, trends like freemium models, in-app purchases, and subscription-based services have proven to be lucrative strategies.

Let’s understand this better with an example of LinkedIn – a social networking platform for professionals that turned into an asset for many businesses, professionals looking to market their skills and getting job opportunities, and more.

This platform in the beginning allows users to create their profile and use most of the services for free, but when it comes to expanding the reach, using its AI assistant to find better networking and job opportunities, and getting advanced analytics on their profile performance, it has a compelling way to monetize its services. Its Sales Navigator is also included in one of its premium subscriptions that allows professionals to connect with leaders of an organization to create business opportunities and expand networks.

Hence, it has 175.5 million premium subscribers, giving it a really good capitalization.

Just like LinkedIn, you can also find features for which users show willingness to pay for premium experiences. By incorporating these monetization-friendly features, you not only meet user expectations but also boost your potential to generate consistent revenue.

So, let’s explore current market trend-based app features that can enhance user satisfaction, provide competitive advantages, and create monetization opportunities.

Must Have App Features In Your Mobile App

No matter what category of mobile app you’re creating, it’s a must to finalize the following must-have features at the time of wireframing for mobile app development project:

1. User Authentication

While it may appear to be a simple feature, incorporating this into your app can significantly enhance users’ sense of security and ownership over their accounts. It provides a personalized experience by allowing users to create accounts and log in securely using credentials such as email, phone numbers, or social media accounts.

For extra security, you can also implement 2-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security. By authenticating users, the app can personalize content, save preferences, and enhance overall engagement by maintaining user profiles across sessions.

2. Search Functionality

Regardless of the app you’re building, search functionality is essential for enhancing the user experience, especially in content-rich apps. It allows users to quickly find what they are looking for—whether it’s products in an e-commerce app, an on-demand video/music streaming app, or articles in a news app.

Advanced search options, such as filters, voice search, and predictive text, further improve usability by delivering more precise and relevant results efficiently.

3. Real-time Push Notifications

When it comes to making your users come back to your mobile app, real-time push notifications do their job the best if backed by compelling copywriting.

From timely updates and reminders to promotions, push notifications become helpful tools when the app is not in use.

In addition to that, personalizing notifications based on user behavior further enhances their effectiveness.

4. Integration with Social Media

Social media integration enables users to share content, achievements, or updates from the app directly to their social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

It also facilitates social logins, allowing users to register and log in using their social media accounts, streamlining the onboarding process. 

No matter what your mobile app idea or concept is (e-commerce app or social media), having it integrated with social media with a social sharing option can help you reach a larger audience.

5. In-App Purchases

In a mobile app, having in-app purchase enablement offers monetisation opportunity for businesses, allowing users to buy additional content, features, or upgrades directly within the app.

You can have it in combination with a freemium model, allowing users to first try out basic features for free of cost and get a premium subscription (tier-based) if they want to explore some advanced features and functionality.

This feature is especially important for gaming, entertainment, community-based, and online reading & news apps.

6. Analytics and User Feedback

Analytics and user feedback are essential for understanding user behavior and improving app performance.

Analytics tools track key metrics such as user activity, engagement, session duration, and conversions.

Gathering feedback directly from users, whether through surveys, rating systems, or in-app forms, helps app developers make informed decisions about updates and improvements.

This data-driven approach allows continuous optimization of the app experience.

7. Customer Support Channels

Having customer support channels is important when having an online on-demand service-based app concept.

You can provide features like chat support (enabled with both AI and personnel assistance), a help center, FAQs, a ticketing system, and on-demand calling support, similar to what Amazon offers its users.

Offering responsive and accessible customer support is vital in reducing user frustration and enhancing satisfaction.

8. Secure Payment Options

Secure payment options are crucial for any app that processes transactions, such as e-commerce, on-demand streaming services, or other service apps.

By integrating trusted and secure payment gateways (like PayPal, Stripe, or Apple Pay), you ensure users can complete purchases with peace of mind.

Offering multiple payment methods, including credit cards, e-wallets, or mobile banking, while adhering to security protocols (such as encryption and PCI-DSS compliance), increases user trust and reduces cart abandonment.

Want to know tips to integrate payment gateway in mobile app of yours? Read our linked blog for better insights!

9. Geolocation API Integration

Location-based services’ enablement in a mobile app plays a vital role in a mobile where users have to explore nearby services, including getting restaurant recommendations, local deals, real-time navigation, or location tagging.

This feature for geolocation API integration is essential for apps like delivery services, travel, fitness, or ride-sharing. It enhances the user experience by offering personalized and relevant services based on a user’s location in real-time.

Are you looking to enhance your software capabilities without excessive coding and time investment? Then, APIs are your solution! But do you know what exactly APIs are and how they work and are developed? Then this detailed guide to API development is your easy and quick way to know all.

10. Content Sharing Options

Allowing users to share app content with friends, family, or colleagues enhances user engagement and widens your app’s reach.

Features like one-tap sharing of articles, images, videos, or products to social media, messaging apps, or email help users spread the word about the app.

This can also foster organic growth, turning users into advocates and driving app downloads or engagement.

11. Accessibility Features

The more users you can get for your mobile app, the better chances are there for your business to succeed. This also asks for not missing out on users with disabilities or impairments.

You can do that by including options like text-to-speech functionality, adjustable font sizes, color contrast settings, and compatibility with screen readers.

Ensuring accessibility not only broadens your app’s audience but also demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity, which is becoming increasingly important for app users, and compliance with legal standards (like ADA).

 12. Bookmarking and Favorites

Your mobile app could have tons of content (whether it’s articles, products, videos, or recipes) that users can explore, but there are a few that users want to visit often or save to revisit content without searching again.

No matter what, with bookmarking and favorite features, you allow your mobile app users to save content or items they find interesting for easy access later.

Advanced Features Your Mobile App Can Have

The tech world is changing, and so are the expectations of the users. In this age of AI, users’ expectations have been exceeded to get a more personalized and customizable level. Hence, having the advanced mobile application features mentioned below can add extra value to your mobile app development project.

13. AI-powered Chatbots

A customer support channel is essential for your mobile app, but enhancing it with AI capabilities for personalized support is a valuable addition that can help build customer trust in your online services.

AI-powered chatbots enhance user engagement and support by offering real-time assistance without the need for human intervention. These chatbots can handle customer inquiries, provide recommendations, troubleshoot issues, and even process orders—all through natural language processing (NLP).

With machine learning, these chatbots get smarter over time, delivering more accurate and personalized responses.

In addition to improving customer satisfaction, chatbots also help businesses reduce operational costs by automating customer support.

These type of chatbots are more helpful for apps like e-commerce or healthcare where customers need 24*7 assistance.

Did you know that in the world of smart assistance through chatbots, AI-powered chatbot app like Replika did an amazing job, which you can also take as your reference to penetrate this market, which will be worth $42 billion by 2032?

14. Augmented Reality Integration

Be it for the navigation-based app, online shopping app, or camera app like Snapchat, this AR feature (a blend of both digital and physical worlds) gives virtual try-on enablement and unlocks an amazing app user experience.

With AR integration, apps can provide immersive experiences like virtual try-ons for fashion or makeup, interactive product demos, or real-time navigation assistance.

If summing up its application, AR is particularly valuable for industries like retail, real estate, gaming, and education, as it allows users to visualize products or environments in a way that enhances their decision-making process.

By integrating AR, your app stands out as cutting-edge, boosting both engagement and user retention.

15. Voice Recognition and Commands

In an app, having accessibility is very important, which ensures that you don’t miss out on users with physical disabilities or impairments or not having good knowledge of how tech works.

When it comes to that, mobile app features like voice recognition and commands enable users to interact with apps using their voice, making it easier and faster to perform tasks without manual input.

Whether it’s conducting searches, sending messages, or setting reminders, voice recognition streamlines the user experience.

This feature is increasingly becoming a necessity due to the growing popularity of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

By offering voice-activated features, your app caters to users seeking hands-free convenience and accessibility.

16. Personalization

From getting shopping assistance in e-commerce apps to movie/music streaming recommendations as per your taste – personalization is the new buzz in the app industry.

This is not just a helpful app feature recommendation from our end that benefits users (by making them feel valued, boosting satisfaction and retention) but also your business.

With the help of AI and ML development solutions, apps can analyze user behavior, past interactions, and preferences to customize app content such as news feeds, product suggestions, or even interface themes.

This feature is especially crucial in entertainment, e-commerce, and social media apps, where keeping users engaged with relevant content is vital.

17. Social Collaboration Features

Social collaboration features allow users to interact, share, and work together within the app, adding a layer of community engagement. These features can include commenting, liking, sharing, group messaging, or even co-editing documents or projects in real time.

Social collaboration is a powerful way to boost user interaction, increase engagement time, and create a sense of community within the app.

Apps that foster collaboration—whether in professional, educational, or creative settings—benefit from stronger user loyalty and organic growth through peer-to-peer sharing.

Having These Features Can Add Value to Your Mobile App

Understanding basic and advanced features is important, but knowing about these value-adding mobile application features can significantly increase your chances of attracting more users and retaining them. Check out the app features that make a difference and create better business opportunities.

18. Customizable Themes and Layouts

Whether it’s choosing between dark and light modes, adjusting color schemes, or rearranging the interface elements, customization makes the app more user-friendly and tailored to individual preferences.

This feature for customizable themes and layouts can also improve accessibility by letting users adjust the layout to better suit their needs, ensuring a more enjoyable and personalized experience that keeps them engaged.

19. Gamification Elements

Who doesn’t like to complete milestones to earn some amazing rewards in the form of cashback, gift cards/vouchers, or badges? Gamification is the feature to make your mobile app users glued to your app.

By introducing reward systems for completing certain actions—like daily usage streaks or inviting friends—users are incentivized to spend more time in the app.

When it comes to naming some internationally known apps with gamification features,

• Duolingo makes learning languages amusing through gamification
• Starbucks makes customers come back to get extra discount on their next purchase with introduction to reward points system

You’ll find more apps with gamification elements that win the hearts of their customers to make them come back to their app and get mutually benefited.

20. Multi-Language Support

When it comes to expanding your app services and making them accessible to users from all continents, relying only on English is not ideal because only 39% of all countries have English speakers.

Providing multi-language support as your app feature allows your app to cater to a global audience, making it accessible to users in different regions and languages.

21. Crash reporting

Let users be your informers to help you know the limitations of your app and help you improve its performance and supportability.

With the crash reporting feature, users can easily alert you about any challenges they encounter, allowing you to address bugs before they lead to public negative reviews.

When users activate this feature, the integrated tool analyzes the app’s code, generating detailed bug reports to help you swiftly diagnose and resolve issues. This proactive approach improves your app’s reliability and ensures a seamless user experience.

22. Reviews and Ratings

Enable users to support each other by sharing valuable reviews and ratings for the products you’re selling and the services available in your app.

This will not only boost the credibility of your offerings but also help users find greater value in using your app for the services they seek.

App Features That Users Love the Most

After listing every feature you believe could add value to your mobile app, you should also consider the users’ preferences. Implement features they want and feel are necessary to enhance their browsing and overall app experience. Some of the popular mobile app features that users value in an app include:

23. Personalized Recommendations

From recommending the next buy or what you can buy with your existing cart product to what to watch/listen to next, these are the kinds of features that users like the most.

This AI/ML-powered feature may seem small but has a huge impact when talking about mobile app user experience – powered by user search intent and behavior data generated in a mobile app backed by things they’ve bookmarked. This is also known as a recommendation engine – in technical terms.

24. Offline Access to Content

The internet is not always accessible everywhere. Considering this, enabling offline access for content adds significant value for users, especially when they are traveling to areas with poor network coverage. Additionally, for users who prefer not to access the internet, this feature proves to be highly beneficial.

This feature is particularly useful for app concepts like online streaming services, fitness apps, maps, reading apps, and many others.

Want to know how we helped our celebrity athlete customer – Mr. Jeff Cavaliere, build the 6 Pack Promise (6PP) app—an Ab Workout App that offers offline content accessibility features.

25. Instant Messaging/Chat Features

Whether it’s a social media app, networking app, or shopping app, having an instant messaging feature always enhances the user experience. It allows users to share their thoughts, content they like, and chat about topics of interest in real-time.

26. Reward Programs or Loyalty Features

Everyone likes to get rewards, even if it comes post-completion of a milestone. Hence, this feature for reward/loyalty features encourages users to keep using your app in order to get back some amazing rewards in return.

27. Quick App Login

Nowadays, having a signup/sign-in screen is common across all app categories. But do you know what users appreciate the most? Being remembered by the app, combined with an added layer of security to protect their personal information. This can be achieved with quick login features, including biometric authentication and passcodes for app access.

With this enhanced security, users can keep their information safe while enjoying the convenience of not having to repeatedly enter their ID and password, easily logging in through facial recognition or fingerprint authentication.

28. Voice Search

Voice search is becoming increasingly popular as users seek more efficient, hands-free ways to interact with apps. By integrating voice search, users can quickly find information, perform actions, or navigate the app using voice commands rather than typing.

This feature is highly convenient for multitasking and provides accessibility benefits for users with disabilities or those on the go – especially for shopping, travel, and productivity apps.

App Features For Better Monetization

Now that you’ve considered user convenience by adding those features, it’s equally important to ensure a return on your investment. That’s why implementing mobile app features that create monetization opportunities is crucial. Let’s take a look at the features that can drive such opportunities:

29. Different Tier-based Subscription Models

This feature is especially popular in SaaS, media streaming, and fitness apps, where users can select a plan that fits their needs and budget—whether it’s basic (free), premium, or enterprise levels.

Tier-based pricing enables users to choose how much they want to invest based on the benefits they receive.

30. In-App Ad Integration

You can also monetize on mobile apps by displaying ads, offering an alternative to subscription-based or in-app purchase models. Whether it’s banner ads, video ads, or native advertising, in-app ads provide a way to generate revenue without charging users directly.

This is especially valuable for free apps or those that cater to a large audience. Effective ad integration ensures that the ads do not disrupt the user experience while still offering businesses a way to reach potential customers.

How MindInventory Can Help You Build A Successful Mobile App

MindInventory has a proven track record as a top mobile app development company that businesses trust. From offering CTO-as-a-Service to delivering full-cycle product development, we ensure your projects are managed from start to finish by the same dedicated team. What makes us confident? Our impressive 90% talent retention rate, with staff members who have been with us since the company’s inception.

Not to boast, but in our Passio.AI project, our mobile app developers for hire recommended adding a segment feature that enables users to customize selected features—an add-on to the computer vision and AR-powered functionalities. This allowed for remote wall color planning with 95% accuracy for the Paint.AI module.

We also played a key role in the app feature planning stage of Eduvanz, an eLearning and finance app. Our strategies helped them compete with industry giants like Coursera and Udemy, leading to a 1.8x increase in leads for our customer.

FAQs on Mobile App Features