Introduction
Just over a year ago, BeReal was on the rise, with reportedly 20 million users launching the app every day to snap their candid photos. However, in the months since, BeReal’s traction has declined, according to a new report from Similarweb. Despite its rollout of new features like messaging, the ability to post more photos, and a ‘Friends of Friends’ discovery feed, BeReal is struggling to maintain its user base.
The Decline of BeReal
According to data compiled by Similarweb, BeReal has been losing traction in the U.S., where the app’s monthly active users on iOS and Android have declined from a peak of 3.7 million in November 2022 to just over 3 million this August. BeReal, reached for comment, said this estimate was inaccurate, but declined to share its own segmented market metrics.
However, Similarweb told TechCrunch that BeReal’s monthly active users globally have declined to 16.06 million. This would be a drop from last year’s reported 20 million – a figure that roughly lines up with Similarweb’s estimates from January 2022. The decline may have been even more significant except for the fact that BeReal usage has continued to grow in its home market of France, where the app is nearing 615,000 monthly active users in August on Android, up from less than 500,000 last year.
BeReal’s Response
BeReal may need to figure out how to make its app more compelling to a larger group of users. This means more rapid development and tests of new features. Despite its internal metrics being accurate, growth from 20 million to 25 million daily active users in roughly a year is not a massive uptick.
Comparison with Other Social Media Apps
Meanwhile, Instagram’s flagship app continues to have more than 48 times as many users in the U.S. versus BeReal, Similarweb noted. However, in one small win, BeReal is outpacing the Twitter/X rival Bluesky, where it has nearly four times as many monthly active users.
The Challenges Ahead
BeReal may need to adapt quickly to remain competitive in a crowded social media market. This could involve investing more resources into development and marketing, or finding new ways to engage with its user base.
Conclusion
The rise and fall of BeReal is a cautionary tale for social media apps looking to make a splash. Despite initial success, even the most innovative and well-designed apps can struggle to maintain momentum. Only time will tell if BeReal can regain its footing and become a major player in the social media landscape.
Sources:
- BeReal raised $60M in its Series B earlier this year, now has 20M DAUs
- Apps, Startups, Mobile
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