App Categories
These categories recognize excellence in mobile websites and apps.
Nominations that won in the 2026 ABAs may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2027 ABAs. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.
Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories for the 2027 ABAs will include
1. Written answers to the following questions, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length that answers all of the same questions:
a. The date on which this nominated app was first distributed or otherwise made public. Required
b. Briefly describe this app’s communications objectives and how it met those objectives since the beginning of 2025 (up to 1,500 characters) If applicable, include the platforms your app supports. Required
c. List the appropriate creative and production credits for this entry (up to 1,500 characters). Optional
d. Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters). Optional
2. The mobile site or app itself, in the form of a demonstration video of up to three (3) minutes in length. You must attach the video to your entry through our attachment/link uploading tool.
3. Optional (but highly recommended), add to your entry up to 10 webpage links and up to 10 document uploads to support your case to the judges. These might be press articles, press releases, videos, or images, for example. These might be planning documents, press clippings, work samples, photographs, video clips, etc.
F55. Arts & Culture
Apps built to promote or enhance the experience of art, an event, or a cultural institution, such as museums, parks, zoos, gardens, aquariums, theaters, arenas, and so on.
F56. Best User Experience
Apps that offer the best user experience through innovative design, personalized data experiences, and useful functionality.
F57. Best User Interface
Apps that set an industry standard of excellence with their user interface design.
F58. Best Use of AI & Machine Learning
Apps that set an industry standard. Best, most innovative use of artificial intelligence and/or machine learning.
F59. Best Use of Augmented Reality
Only augmented reality will be judged here. Best, most innovative use of augmented reality.
F60. Best Use of Generative AI Technology
Apps that leverage generative AI to produce unique content, innovative solutions, or personalized experiences.
F61. Best Visual Design - Aesthetic
Only visual design judged. Apps or experiences where visual design aesthetic is intended to be beautiful, innovative, emotional, and appeal to the senses.
F62. Best Visual Design - Function
Only visual design judged. Apps that set an industry standard of excellence by relying on visual design as a critical part of a functional user experience.
F63. Business/Government
Apps built for general business- or government-related purposes that are not addressed by one of the other app categories available.
F64. Cybersecurity & Privacy (New for 2027)
Apps designed to protect users, organizations, devices, data, or digital identities. Eligible apps may include cybersecurity, identity and access management, authentication, privacy management, fraud prevention, threat detection, secure communications, and other security-related applications.
F65. Education, Science & Reference
Apps designed primarily to provide users with informational, scientific, academic, or reference content, rather than structured instruction or coursework. Eligible apps may include dictionaries, encyclopedias, research and reference tools, scientific resources, educational databases, field guides, and other applications that help users access, explore, or understand information.
F66. Entertainment & Sports
Apps developed for entertainment and sports content, such as games, news, gossip, humor, music, fantasy leagues, and reviews. These may be offshoots of established broadcast or online news and entertainment operations, or developed specifically for the mobile device.
F67. Events
Apps built to offer registration, guidance, navigation, networking, and other functions to attendees, exhibitors, and/or sponsors of professional events.
F68. Excellence in Accessibility
Recognizes mobile apps or mobile sites that prioritize inclusive design, providing seamless access and usability for individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.
F69. Experimental & Innovation
The use and/or implementation of groundbreaking technology or unconventional applications in apps and environmental situations. Entries in this category may be theoretical, pre-production technologies pushing the boundaries and definitions of handheld mobile device experiences.
F70. Family & Kids
Apps that feature interactive content, games, education, or tools specifically for children, families, and parenting.
F71. Fashion & Beauty
Apps created to provide beauty- or fashion-related services to users, such as simulations, modeling, and recommendations.
F72. Financial Services / Banking
Apps providing financial services and/or information. These include online stock trading, financial news, mortgage information, credit cards, or investor relations and services.
F73. Food & Drink
Apps developed to offer services, advice, recommendations, and/or utilities related to food and beverage preparation, storage, or consumption.
F74. Games
Apps built to provide a gaming experience to users.
F75. Guides/Ratings/Reviews
Apps that offer users the ability to create or access ratings and reviews of products, services, experiences or other things.
F76. Health, Wellness & Fitness
Apps that promote personal health, well-being, and fitness. These include wellness services, physical education platforms, fitness videos, and references.
F77. Healthcare & Medical (New for 2027)
Apps developed to support healthcare delivery, patient care, medical professionals, health management, diagnostics, telehealth, or other clinical and healthcare-related purposes.
F78. HR & Employee Experience
Apps that help organizations customize an experience for talent and employees, including but not limited to recruitment, talent management, benefits administration, payroll, time tracking, and more.
F79. Learning & Education
Apps designed primarily to help users learn or develop knowledge and skills through structured or interactive educational experiences. Eligible apps may include digital learning platforms, tutoring and study tools, language-learning apps, educational games, course platforms, test-preparation tools, and other applications that facilitate teaching and learning.
F80. Marketing & Content Management
Apps that help organizations automate, streamline and measure their marketing efforts, including but not limited to CMS, CRM, Social media management.
F81. Messaging
Apps that provide messaging services to users.
F82. Music
Apps providing or related to music: streaming, reviews, ratings, discover, etc.
F83. News
Apps built to provide news and information services to users.
F84. Professional Services
Apps developed by professional service firms to provide resources, account access, research, and other tools to their customers.
F85. Public Service & Activism
Apps that provide or offer access to government services; and apps that encourage or permit users to engage in civic discourse or activity.
F86. Real Estate
Apps that provide real estate-related information and/or services.
F87. School / University
Apps developed specifically for schools, colleges, universities, or other educational institutions to serve their communities and support institutional activities.
F88. Shopping & Retail
Apps that provide consumers online commerce, marketplaces and retail sales of any products or services.
F89. Social
Social media apps that provide engagement for their users.
F90. Social Good
Recognizes mobile applications focused on addressing societal issues such as healthcare, education, environmental protection, or community support, and making a measurable impact.
F91. Technical Achievement
Apps that set an industry standard by using new and innovative technology in an outstanding way that improves the overall experience. Could include the use of new Web3 or blockchain technology (NFTs, tokens, crypto-currency etc).
F92. Training
Apps developed to provide training, remediation, performance support, certification, testing, or other professional training-related services.
F93. Transportation & Mobility (New for 2027)
Ride-sharing, public transportation, navigation, fleet management, EV charging, parking, and mobility services.
F94. Travel
Apps that provide travel and tourism services and information. These include online agents for purchasing tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages, and other travel services. Includes online travel guides, travel writing, and travel tools.
F95. Utilities & Services
Apps that allow real-world activities to be done on the go. This includes apps and mobile sites, which help organize transportation, edit photos, find jobs, locate housing, make dates; or tools, which facilitate typically offline activities from a mobile device.
F96. Work, Productivity & Collaboration
Apps that help manage communication, organization of information and projects more efficiently across teams, including tools that enable activity management, online appointment management, social collaboration, and web conferencing software, among other collaboration and productivity needs.