Global e-commerce sales will reach roughly $7.4 trillion in 2026. This is up from an estimated $6.86 trillion in 2025. This growth is far faster than offline retail growth, according to analyst estimates from eMarketer.
In the US alone, online retail sales reached about $1.23 trillion in 2025. Forecasts for 2026 point to around $1.3 trillion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s growth of roughly 8.8%. This is several times faster than in-store retail.
Today, the average customer would rather scroll through a personalized product feed in a mobile app than walk through physical stores looking for what they need. The motto of our time is simple: faster is better. Online stores meet this demand perfectly. In this article, we’ll look at why a mobile app is a real advantage for stores in 2026, and whether it’s truly worth it.
The Scale and Growth of Mobile Commerce
It’s an undeniable fact: e-commerce keeps growing, and mobile is where more of that growth happens. According to Adjust (AppLovin)’s Mobile App Trends 2026 report, the e-commerce app segment kept its momentum in 2025. User sessions grew 5% year-over-year worldwide.
Globally, mobile e-commerce sales totaled an estimated $2.51 trillion in 2025. This is up 21.3% year-over-year from $2.07 trillion in 2024. Mobile now makes up roughly 59-60% of all online retail sales worldwide, according to Capital One Shopping Research and other market trackers.
In the US specifically, mobile shoppers spent an estimated $577.6 billion in 2025. Mobile now makes up around 40-45% of total US e-commerce revenue (estimates vary by source, e.g. Capital One Shopping, Mobiloud). This is a smaller share than the global average, but it’s growing steadily and closing the gap year over year.
Why Is This Happening?
The number of smartphone owners keeps growing, and so does the number of online shopping enthusiasts. Mobile is becoming the dominant shopping channel. It’s simple, functional, and very convenient.
About 1.65 billion people worldwide are estimated to shop via smartphone. This figure is expected to stay consistent into 2026. Together, global smartphone users spent an estimated 78 billion hours on shopping apps in 2025 alone (Capital One Shopping Research).
In-store behavior tells the same story. Roughly 80% of shoppers worldwide have browsed a retailer’s website on their phone while inside a store. About 74% have used that retailer’s app while shopping in-store. This shows that mobile isn’t a separate channel — it’s part of the whole shopping journey.
Why Users Prefer Mobile Apps
Shopping via smartphone has become as natural and effortless as breathing. This isn’t surprising — a smartphone isn’t just a device anymore, it’s an entire world at your fingertips. There’s no need to hunt for a specific brand on a supermarket shelf. A store’s mobile app keeps your favorite brands, convenient payment methods, and even your shopping cart saved, ready for you to pick up where you left off.
Mobile apps are loved for their speed, personalization, and predictability. They remember your preferences, analyze your behavior, and show you exactly what you’re interested in. That’s how habits form: people return again and again to where they once felt comfortable and satisfied.
The Advantages of Having a Mobile App
A simple mobile-adapted website may no longer be enough. Even if the site looks good on mobile, a dedicated app offers a much smoother, more engaging experience — both visually and functionally. Users intuitively understand how to navigate through apps, of course, only if the app is well-designed (like Power App, for example).
What a mobile app offers:
Fast loading and improved UX
Push notifications, caching, and personalization
Customer loyalty — easier to retain users and boost repeat purchases
Some apps even work offline
For the seller, a mobile app is a strategic advantage. Customers see your store’s icon on their home screen every day — reinforcing your brand awareness. This leads to higher conversions and average order values since users are constantly reminded of your products. And their next little dopamine boost might just come from your store.
What Awaits Stores in 2026
Having a mobile app is now the new standard for any brand. It’s no longer a risky investment — it’s a necessity. While some sellers are still debating whether it’s worth it, others are already building omnichannel systems, gaining loyal audiences, and raising their average order value.
In 2026, customers don’t just want a product — they want a seamless, intuitive experience with your brand. A mobile app is where that relationship begins.
Conclusion
The mobile commerce market is growing at lightning speed. To stay competitive, businesses must be where their customers are — on their smartphones.
At Cart-Power, we help companies enter the mobile segment effortlessly. That’s why we created Power App — a ready-made solution for online stores and marketplaces. It helps retain loyal customers, increase sales, and grow your brand without complex integrations or long launch cycles. Today, success belongs to those who act fast. And we’re here to help you take that step.
12 Must-Have Features for an E-Commerce App Mobile apps have transitioned from a nice-to-have to a must-have for e-commerce success. Consider these compelling statistics: smartphones now drive…
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Why Every Store Needs an App in 2026
Global e-commerce sales will reach roughly $7.4 trillion in 2026. This is up from an estimated $6.86 trillion in 2025. This growth is far faster than offline retail growth, according to analyst estimates from eMarketer.
In the US alone, online retail sales reached about $1.23 trillion in 2025. Forecasts for 2026 point to around $1.3 trillion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s growth of roughly 8.8%. This is several times faster than in-store retail.
Today, the average customer would rather scroll through a personalized product feed in a mobile app than walk through physical stores looking for what they need. The motto of our time is simple: faster is better. Online stores meet this demand perfectly. In this article, we’ll look at why a mobile app is a real advantage for stores in 2026, and whether it’s truly worth it.
The Scale and Growth of Mobile Commerce
It’s an undeniable fact: e-commerce keeps growing, and mobile is where more of that growth happens. According to Adjust (AppLovin)’s Mobile App Trends 2026 report, the e-commerce app segment kept its momentum in 2025. User sessions grew 5% year-over-year worldwide.
Globally, mobile e-commerce sales totaled an estimated $2.51 trillion in 2025. This is up 21.3% year-over-year from $2.07 trillion in 2024. Mobile now makes up roughly 59-60% of all online retail sales worldwide, according to Capital One Shopping Research and other market trackers.
In the US specifically, mobile shoppers spent an estimated $577.6 billion in 2025. Mobile now makes up around 40-45% of total US e-commerce revenue (estimates vary by source, e.g. Capital One Shopping, Mobiloud). This is a smaller share than the global average, but it’s growing steadily and closing the gap year over year.
Why Is This Happening?
The number of smartphone owners keeps growing, and so does the number of online shopping enthusiasts. Mobile is becoming the dominant shopping channel. It’s simple, functional, and very convenient.
About 1.65 billion people worldwide are estimated to shop via smartphone. This figure is expected to stay consistent into 2026. Together, global smartphone users spent an estimated 78 billion hours on shopping apps in 2025 alone (Capital One Shopping Research).
In-store behavior tells the same story. Roughly 80% of shoppers worldwide have browsed a retailer’s website on their phone while inside a store. About 74% have used that retailer’s app while shopping in-store. This shows that mobile isn’t a separate channel — it’s part of the whole shopping journey.
Why Users Prefer Mobile Apps
Shopping via smartphone has become as natural and effortless as breathing. This isn’t surprising — a smartphone isn’t just a device anymore, it’s an entire world at your fingertips. There’s no need to hunt for a specific brand on a supermarket shelf. A store’s mobile app keeps your favorite brands, convenient payment methods, and even your shopping cart saved, ready for you to pick up where you left off.
Mobile apps are loved for their speed, personalization, and predictability. They remember your preferences, analyze your behavior, and show you exactly what you’re interested in. That’s how habits form: people return again and again to where they once felt comfortable and satisfied.
The Advantages of Having a Mobile App
A simple mobile-adapted website may no longer be enough. Even if the site looks good on mobile, a dedicated app offers a much smoother, more engaging experience — both visually and functionally. Users intuitively understand how to navigate through apps, of course, only if the app is well-designed (like Power App, for example).
What a mobile app offers:
For the seller, a mobile app is a strategic advantage. Customers see your store’s icon on their home screen every day — reinforcing your brand awareness. This leads to higher conversions and average order values since users are constantly reminded of your products. And their next little dopamine boost might just come from your store.
What Awaits Stores in 2026
Having a mobile app is now the new standard for any brand. It’s no longer a risky investment — it’s a necessity. While some sellers are still debating whether it’s worth it, others are already building omnichannel systems, gaining loyal audiences, and raising their average order value.
In 2026, customers don’t just want a product — they want a seamless, intuitive experience with your brand. A mobile app is where that relationship begins.
Conclusion
The mobile commerce market is growing at lightning speed. To stay competitive, businesses must be where their customers are — on their smartphones.
At Cart-Power, we help companies enter the mobile segment effortlessly. That’s why we created Power App — a ready-made solution for online stores and marketplaces. It helps retain loyal customers, increase sales, and grow your brand without complex integrations or long launch cycles. Today, success belongs to those who act fast. And we’re here to help you take that step.
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