Our Favorite Apps Powered by Asian Minds
By Kelli Luu | 22 Sep, 2025

Behind some of the App Store’s most downloaded apps are Asian innovators who are reshaping America’s digital future.

Some of the most handy, everyday apps were built by Asian minds and chances are you already have them downloaded on your phone. 

Number 5: Notion

Co-founded by Ivan Zhao, Notion is the ultimate productivity app that can help anyone plan their days, journal, and create. Over 100 million college students, influencers, and even CEOs use Notion as a workspace or as a way to organize their life. Notion offers many AI tools as well as a library of templates to help improve the users’ content and overall experience. The company reported an estimated annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $500 million in 2025. 

Number 4: Rakuten

This platform allows users to earn cash back when shopping online and in stores. It was founded in Japan by Hiroshi Mikitani and has grown to be one of the biggest rewards apps in the United States with over 20 million American users who have collectively earned over $3 billion in cash back. After partnering with over 3,500 retailers, including giants like Walmart and Sephora, Rakuten has made it easy for shoppers to save money. 

Number 3: Lark Suite

Made by ByteDance, the Chinese tech company who made TikTok, Lark Suite is huge in Asia, but American companies are starting to catch on to this all-in-one collaboration hub. Lark gives employees easy access to AI, chatting, writing documents, and conducting meetings in one single app. U.S. businesses are looking for new ways to prevent app overload and Lark Suite is climbing the productivity app charts. 

Number 2: CapCut

Also created by ByteDance, CapCut sits as one of the top video-editing apps in the United States with over 1 billion downloads on the Google Play Store as of January 2025. The app allows you to edit, split, and design clips and also features a range of AI tools. With over 200 million monthly users CapCut can help you create seamless transitions and easy captions, giving users an effortless pro-level editing app. 

Number 1: Robinhood

Indian-American entrepreneur Baiju Bhatt helped develop an app that completely changed investing in the United States. Robinhood offers commission-free trading right from your phone and has even expanded into crypto options and retirement accounts. The sleek design made Robinhood popular amongst young investors sparking a craze in mobile investing. As of 2025 Robinhood’s net worth is around $107 billion and it has fully disrupted the industry making finance accessible to everyone.