Meta apps reported the highest average data collection in Surfshark's 2026 Big Tech analysis.
Google and Amazon apps also collect multiple categories of user information.
Understanding privacy labels and managing permissions can help reduce unnecessary data exposure.
Your phone can reveal more about you than you might expect. Apps can collect location, contacts, identifiers, purchases, and usage information. Some data collection supports essential features. Other data can support advertising, analytics, or personalization.
A 2026 Surfshark analysis highlighted Meta apps among the biggest data collectors. The study examined 171 iOS apps from major technology companies. Meta apps disclosed an average of 25 data types. This does not mean every user shares every data type. It shows what developers disclose through Apple's privacy system.
Meta's apps dominate the top of Surfshark's 2026 ranking. Seven of the study's most data-hungry apps belonged to Meta. Meta AI reportedly listed 33 of 35 possible data types. Meta Horizon, Messenger, Facebook, and other apps followed closely.
The categories can include identifiers, location, product interactions, and browsing information. Some Meta apps also declare data linked directly to users. Meta says information from businesses can help personalize content and AI experiences. Its June 2026 update expanded how this activity can influence personalization. The important point is context. Data collection does not automatically mean misuse.
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Google apps ranked below Meta on average in the same study. However, Google's enormous app portfolio makes the picture more complicated. The research examined 44 Google apps. Twenty-nine Google apps appeared among those declaring the broadest data collection.
Different Google apps can collect different types of data. These may include search history, purchases, photos, email addresses, and identifiers. Some collection directly supports useful features. Search personalization, account synchronization, and security can require certain information. Users should therefore examine individual app disclosures. A company's overall reputation does not describe every application.
Amazon's apps also collect several categories of user information. The study found an average of 12 data types across Amazon's apps. Amazon apps commonly declared names, email addresses, device identifiers, and product interactions. Some also declared precise location information.
Fitness apps deserve separate attention. Health and fitness applications can access particularly sensitive information. The Surfshark analysis found Fitbit, Strava, and Nike Training Club among data-heavy fitness apps. Fitbit declared 24 data types in that analysis.
Fitness data can reveal routines, locations, activities, and other personal details. That makes permission choices especially important.
Data collection and tracking are not the same thing. Apple's privacy system separates these concepts. ‘Data linked to you’ means collected information connects with your identity. ‘Data used to track you’ involves linking information with third-party data.
That distinction matters when reading privacy labels. An app can collect information without necessarily using it for cross-service tracking. Apple's App Store labels show declared data categories and their purposes. Developers provide this information themselves. Therefore, privacy labels should be treated as a starting point. They are not a complete technical audit of an application.
You do not need to delete every app to improve privacy. Start by reviewing permissions you rarely use. Location access deserves particular attention. Consider whether an app really needs precise location access. Review microphone, camera, contacts, photos, and Bluetooth permissions too. Disable access when those features are unnecessary.
On iPhone, the App Privacy Report can show network activity and accessed domains. It provides visibility into connections made by apps and websites. Android users can similarly review permissions through system privacy controls. App-store privacy information can provide another useful reference. Users should also review advertising and personalization settings regularly. These controls can change as platforms update their privacy systems.
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Modern apps need some information to function properly. Navigation apps need location, while shopping apps need account and purchase details. The bigger issue is understanding what information leaves your device. Users should also know why companies collect it.
The data-hungry app rankings offer a useful warning. Popular services can collect far more categories than users expect. That does not make every data-heavy app dangerous. It does make privacy settings worth reviewing. A few minutes spent checking permissions can significantly improve your digital privacy. The best approach is informed use, not fear of every app.
What are data-hungry apps?
Data-hungry apps are applications that report collecting many categories of user information. These categories can include location, identifiers, browsing history, purchases, contacts, and usage data. Collection levels vary between apps, and gathering more data does not automatically mean an app is unsafe or malicious.
Which apps collect the most personal data in 2026?
Surfshark's August 2026 analysis found Meta had the highest average data collection among five major technology companies. Meta apps collected an average of 25 out of 35 possible data types. Meta AI ranked highest individually, declaring 33 data types.
Does data collection mean an app is tracking me?
Not necessarily. Data collection and tracking have different meanings. Apple defines tracking as linking app or device data with information from other companies for targeted advertising or measurement. An app can collect information without necessarily using it for cross-service tracking.
What personal information can mobile apps collect?
Depending on the app, collected information can include location, email addresses, names, device identifiers, purchase history, browsing history, photos, and usage information. Health and fitness apps can also handle sensitive activity-related information. The exact categories depend on the app and its disclosed practices.
Are Meta apps the most data-hungry apps?
According to Surfshark's 2026 study, Meta had the highest average among the five Big Tech companies analyzed. Its apps averaged 25 of 35 possible data types. The study found that Meta's seven highest-collection apps occupied the top seven positions.