18 Apps That Were Cool for Exactly One Month
These apps had their big moment, but faded almost as fast as they appeared.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Some apps arrive like a storm, taking over your phone screen and every conversation for a short time. Then, just as quickly, they vanish into the digital graveyard of forgotten downloads. Here are the ones that burned bright but couldn’t hold on.
1. Peach
Tokyoship on Wikimedia Commons
Peach was a quirky social app in 2016 that combined status updates, doodles, and “magic words” for fun commands. People loved its fresh feel at first, but the novelty wore off fast. Most users abandoned it within weeks, leaving it a ghost town.
2. Houseparty
Life On Air, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Houseparty became a quick hit during early lockdowns, letting friends video chat and play games together. It felt like the perfect way to stay connected at home. However, once restrictions eased, the hype vanished almost instantly.
3. Ello
https://ello.co/ello-icon.svg on Wikimedia Commons
Marketed as the “anti-Facebook,” Ello promised no ads and a more creative community. People rushed to sign up out of curiosity. Interest dropped when users realized it lacked the features to keep them coming back.
4. Yo
Life Before Us, LLC on Wikimedia Commons
Yo made waves for being hilariously minimal — it only let you send the word “Yo” to friends. For a brief time, everyone was in on the joke. Once the laughter faded, so did the app.
5. Meerkat
pgnunes on Wikimedia Commons
Before live streaming became common, Meerkat let users broadcast themselves instantly. Celebrities and influencers jumped on it early. Then, Twitter cut off support, and Meerkat’s short reign ended.
6. Periscope
Twitter Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Twitter’s live-streaming app Periscope looked unstoppable when it launched. For a while, people streamed everything from concerts to daily life. However, by the time TikTok rose, Periscope was already fading into the background.
7. Clubhouse
Clubhouse on Wikimedia Commons
Clubhouse blew up with its invite-only audio chatrooms, making it feel exclusive. People flocked to discussions with celebrities and thought leaders. Once competitors copied the idea, the buzz wore off quickly.
8. Vero
VEB Kombinat Vero Olbernhau on Wikimedia Commons
Vero positioned itself as the honest alternative to Instagram, promising no ads and no algorithm. A sudden surge of downloads in 2018 made it the app of the moment. The excitement lasted only a few weeks before people returned to familiar platforms.
9. Beme
Beme Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Created by YouTuber Casey Neistat, Beme aimed to make video sharing more authentic. Users could record quick, unpolished clips without retakes. Despite the hype, it failed to stick around for long.
10. Yik Yak
Joseph Albanese on Wikimedia Commons
Yik Yak let people post anonymous messages tied to their location. College campuses made it explode with funny and shocking posts. However, controversy and harassment issues soon led to its downfall.
11. Path
Gottschalk+Ash Toronto on Wikimedia Commons
Path was a private social network where users could share updates with only their closest friends. It was sleek and beautifully designed, which drew people in at first. However, bigger apps overshadowed it, and it faded fast.
12. iBeer
Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels
iBeer turned your phone screen into a virtual glass of beer, and people loved showing it off. It was the ultimate gag app at parties. The fun lasted a month before the novelty wore off.
13. Secret
Deyvi Romero on Pexels
Secret was an anonymous sharing app that encouraged people to post unfiltered thoughts. It gained traction quickly but spiraled with bullying and scandals. The app shut down less than two years after its peak.
14. Dubsmash
Motion Media GmbH on Wikimedia Commons
Before TikTok, Dubsmash was the go-to for lip-syncing videos. Celebrities and teens jumped on it, creating countless viral clips. However, TikTok’s rise completely wiped it out.
15. Flappy Bird
Gametech Holdings on Wikimedia Commons
Flappy Bird became a worldwide craze with its frustratingly hard gameplay. For a short period, everyone was glued to their screens. Its creator famously pulled it from app stores, ending its moment almost overnight.
16. HQ Trivia
HQ Trivia on Wikimedia Commons
HQ Trivia made live quiz shows on your phone a daily event. The chance to win real money brought in millions of players. Once the novelty wore off and prize funds dropped, people lost interest.
17. Vine
Vine Labs, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Vine’s six-second videos created internet stars and countless memes. It was everywhere for a short but powerful moment. Sadly, it could not keep up financially and was shut down too soon.
18. Google Wave
User:ZyMOS on Wikimedia Commons
Google Wave launched in 2009 with the promise of reinventing online communication. It combined email, instant messaging, and document collaboration into one futuristic platform. People signed up out of curiosity, but the learning curve was too steep, and it quickly lost momentum.