Google+ Experiencing Massive Membership Growth

Google+ may not have membership numbers as strong as Facebook, but it recently had its strongest-month ever and, at least according to one analyst, is on track to reach 400 million users by the end of the year.

Experian Hitwise sent out a tweet on Monday that Google’s social networking site experienced a huge traffic jump in December and more than doubled its traffic in just one month.

“Google+ total US visits reach more than 49 million in Dec-11, biggest month to date & up 55% compared to Nov-11 ow.ly/i/oT3R,” Experian Hitwise tweeted.

Meanwhile, Experian Hitwise tweeted last Friday that U.S. visits for Google+ have grown eight out of the last nine weeks.

Although Google+ has declined to comment on its membership numbers, analyst Paul Allen — who is also the founder of Ancestry.com — told the Daily Mail that the site recently surpassed the 62 million members mark. Of that, 25% of the site’s user base signed up in December alone.

This growth rate is significant since Facebook didn’t pass 60 million members until nearly four years after its debut. At this rate, Allen said he expects Google+ will reach about 400 million users by the end of 2012.

Facebook now boasts more than 800 million active members.

It’s now even easier for users to access Google+ thanks to the strong sales of Android devices, with more than 700,000 purchased each day. Google integrates its Android smartphones with Google+.

Do you think Google+ membership will pass Facebook in the future? Which site do you prefer?