Smartphones of today are filled with all sorts of apps that are designed to manage almost every aspect of daily life. Yet, despite the abundance of options available, many users feel frustrated, disappointed, or overwhelmed with the apps they use daily. The reason behind user frustration is simple: there is often a mismatch between what the users actually want and what developers prioritise and deliver.
Developers usually focus on adding new features, redesigns, and monetisation strategies, while forgetting that users care more about simplicity, reliability, speed, and respect for their time. Understanding user expectations is key to building apps that people enjoy using on a daily basis. So, let us take a look at the things that users really want and expect from everyday apps.
Simplicity
The majority of users prefer simplicity over complexity because they want apps on their phones that are easy to use and understand on a daily basis. Complicated interfaces filled with menus, icons, and hidden features quickly create frustration and overwhelm. Users prefer a simple app over a complex app because a simple app has a clear purpose, uses intuitive navigation, and requires little to no learning curve.
People want to study an app before using it. They just want to install the app, open it, accomplish the intended task, and move on. Apps that prioritise this type of simplicity are more regularly used than complex ones, even if complex ones are powerful.
Speed and Performance
No matter how feature-studded an app is, users will stop using it if it feels slow or has long loading times, laggy interactions, or delayed responses. Users these days expect apps to have quick launch times, instant responses to taps and swipes, and smooth transitions without freezing, like the Android version of CapCut.
In everyday apps, performance is one of the most important factors on the basis of which users trust an app. A fast app feels reliable and professional, and users would rather use an app with fewer features that responds instantly than an app having dozens of features but slow response and loading times.
Reliability and Consistent Functionality
When it comes to everyday apps, reliability is not optional but expected. Users rely on everyday apps for essential tasks like communication, payments, reminders, and file access. If an app is not reliable and has issues like bugs, crashes, or unpredictable behaviour, user confidence in the app can be destroyed quickly. Reliability matters because users form habits around apps, and unexpected failures can disrupt routines. Plus, once trust is lost, it is hard to rebuild. One of the biggest reasons users stick with an app long-term is reliability, and it is what users expect from an everyday app.
Respect for User Time
Time is one of the most valuable resources users have, and users expect apps to respect their time. Apps that waste time through long onboarding processes, unnecessary permissions, or repeated prompts lose appeal quickly. An app that respects user time has a quick setup and onboarding process (like how you set up your WhatsApp account), fewer steps to complete tasks, and no unnecessary confirmations or delays.
Every extra second adds friction to the entire user experience and pushes users away. Apps that help users complete tasks efficiently without wasting any time are more likely to become a go-to choice.
Low Resource Consumption
High resource consumption is a huge turn-off for users these days. All apps drain battery, use storage space, and run in the background, but apps that slow down devices or consume resources unnecessarily are disliked by users. On the other hand, efficient apps that use minimal battery, take up reasonable storage space, and avoid unnecessary background processes are preferred by users, and users are more likely to keep them installed on their devices in the long term.
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