Apple App Store Statistics and Facts

Apple App Store’s Background and its Significance in the Realm of Mobile Apps

From the very beginning, the Apple App Store has served as not only a digital marketplace for software but it revolutionized our approach to software, technology, and daily living.

The Start of a New Chapter in Software Distribution:

July 10, 2008 – A day to be remembered throughout tech history. Apple’s visionary, Steve Jobs, introduced the App Store with a modest collection of 500 apps. The importance of this event cannot be emphasized enough; it was a turning point that would remold the next decade and beyond.

• Initial Offerings: From the get-go, the diversity of apps available was commendable. Whether it was MLB At Bat for sports aficionados, Tap Tap Revenge for the gamers, or The New York Times for the news-hungry, the App Store showcased a new paradigm in software access and variety. The likes of eBay and Travelocity paved the way for a novel digital approach to shopping and travel.

Making Software Development Accessible to Everyone:

Before 2008, the software development landscape was under the control of established tech giants. With the App Store’s advent, however, the beginning of a new era was launched, where everyone with a vision – from independent developers to up-and-coming businesses – could develop an application and make it accessible globally.

Safety & Privacy – A Core Tenet:

Since the App Store’s launch, Apple’s adherence to user privacy has been persistent. This ethos is not just about ensuring personal data’s sanctity; it extends to the very apps that find a place in the marketplace. Apple’s rigorous guidelines and meticulous curation have always aimed at fostering a secure, trustworthy space for its vast user base.

The App Store’s Global Impact:

A decade into its launch, the App Store has transformed into a flourishing ecosystem. Nowadays, with its presence in 155 countries, it captures the essence of a universal truth – that the combination of innovation and accessibility is a powerful one having the capacity to transform lives. This isn’t just about downloads or revenue; it’s about redefining work, leisure, communication, and much more.

Impact on the Mobile Ecosystem:

• Making Software Development Accessible to Everyone: Changing power dynamics from a few large corporations to independent developers.
• Economic Impact: Creating a vibrant app economy with diverse opportunities for monetization.
• Safety & Trust: Setting industry standards for app store guidelines and privacy measures.
• Innovation Catalyst: Driving advancements in mobile technology and user experience by nurturing a competitive environment.
• Worldwide Reach: Cross-border software accessibility, promoting a globally connected digital society.

In conclusion, the Apple App Store’s introduction wasn’t just the launch of another service; it was a paradigm shift. A transformation in the way software was grasped, built, distributed, and utilized. In the years to come, this platform would reshape various industry sectors, transform cultures, and impact billions of lives.

Foundation of the iOS Universe: The Integrated Experience

At the heart of Apple’s mobile prowess is the iOS ecosystem. Not just a mere operating system, it’s an intricate tapestry interweaving hardware, software, and services into a singular, unified experience. Whether it’s the iPhone you carry, the iPad you sketch on, the Apple Watch monitoring your health, or the Apple TV elevating your entertainment, the common thread linking them all is the iOS ecosystem. And in the nucleus of this ecosystem? The App Store.

The App Store brought about a large-scale transformation, whose immense impact cannot be understated. It provided a vast playing field for developers where they could showcase their skills, while users were provided with a plethora of apps for every imaginable purpose.

As Apple’s ecosystem keeps its relentless stride toward progress, its impact on mobile technologies becomes evident: facilitating and creating endless possibilities for developers and consumers alike.

The App Store: An Economic Powerhouse in Numbers

The economic significance of the App Store extends far beyond mere download numbers or the revenue it directly generates. It emerges as the powerhouse for a colossal digital economy.

The meteoric rise between 2019 and 2020 elucidates the profound impact of the pandemic on digital ecosystems. With physical interactions dwindling, the world pivoted toward apps, be it for purchases, entertainment, health, or connectivity. The digital shift wasn’t restricted to individuals. Enterprises, educational institutions, and numerous other entities leaned heavily on mobile technologies, primarily apps, to navigate the challenges of remote operations and learning.

In essence, while the App Store began as a revolutionary concept in software distribution, it has matured into a linchpin of a vast, dynamic digital economy. Its role in shaping industries, influencing global commerce, and enabling societal adjustments, especially in challenging times, reiterates its unmatched importance in the mobile ecosystem.

Review of Apple’s App Store: Apps Available for Download

Since its launch, Apple’s App Store, a frontrunner in the realm of digital marketplaces, has seen extraordinary growth. This section will elucidate on the numerical journey of the App Store, illustrating its growth in terms of app availability and user downloads.

Genesis to Giants: A Timeline

July 10, 2008: Steve Jobs heralds the App Store’s launch with an initial offering of 500 third-party applications for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Within this cohort, 125 apps were up for grabs without any charge. By the close of its debut weekend, the store witnessed an avalanche of downloads, hitting the 10 million mark. This trajectory continued, and by September, the count of available apps touched the 3,000 milestone, accompanied by a staggering 100 million downloads.

Key Milestones Over the Years:

• April 24, 2009: The App Store hits its billionth app download and marks this milestone with celebration.

Over its lifetime, the App Store vaulted over several significant thresholds, notably:

The App Store’s Journey in Numbers:

The table below summarizes the App Store’s growth in app numbers from 2015 to 2023:

A glimpse into this data reveals some fascinating insights:

• Peak Year: 2016 saw the App Store’s zenith in terms of app availability, boasting over 2.1 million apps.
• Valleys: The following year, 2017, registered a significant dip, with the App Store’s app count reducing by more than 161,000. This trend persisted into 2018, registering a decrease by another 90,000 apps. This was largely attributed to Apple’s initiative to purge older apps not aligned with contemporary guidelines and technologies.
• Recent Years: As of 2023, the App Store is home to over 1.803 million apps, 79,000 apps more than the total count in 2022, representing a 4.58% growth.

Apple’s App Store Vs. The World:

As of 2023, from a global perspective, the App Store has contributed more than 1.803 million apps to the total count of nearly 8.93 million apps.

In terms of sheer volume, Google Play Store, Apple’s foremost competitor, overshadows with 3.7 million apps. However, where Apple trumps is in revenue generation, raking in US$ 86.8 billion in 2022 as opposed to Google Play’s US$ 42.3 billion.

Key Takeaways:

• 2015: The App Store’s lowest app count at around 1.7 million.
• 2016: An astronomical rise of 401,106 apps, translating to a 22.65% growth from 2015.
• Growth Spurt: 2023 observed a 4.58% increase in apps when juxtaposed with 2022.

Apple’s dedication to crafting a groundbreaking digital experience is clearly visible in its inexorable capacity to pioneer new technologies and design unique solutions for its vast user base.

Source: Statista

Number of Downloads to Date

The digital era has brought about a transformative change in how individuals interact with technology. This evolution is most evident in the growth of the Apple App Store, a pivotal marketplace for digital content. Since its inception, the number of downloads on the platform has soared, showcasing the insatiable demand for apps and games among users.

Apple App Store Quarterly Downloads 2015-2023 The accompanying chart, when transformed into a table, showcases a detailed quarterly breakdown of the number of downloads from 2015 to 2023:

Annual Game Downloads on Apple App Store Games have been a perennial favorite among App Store users. However, there’s been a noted decrease in game downloads over the past two years:

Non-Gaming Apps Annual Downloads Conversely, non-gaming apps witnessed an uptick in 2022, matching the download numbers from 2020:

The count of Apple Store’s apps’ downloads varies greatly, with a substantial portion of them receiving relatively few downloads.

A Glimpse at the App Store’s Content While there was a whopping 2.18 million apps and games available on the App Store in 2022, it’s worth noting that Apple has periodically culled non-compliant apps. This rigorous quality control resulted in notable reductions in the app count during 2019 and 2021.

Key Facts:

• 2021 and 2022 marked a decrease in game downloads.
• Downloads of non-gaming apps reached an all-time high in 2020 and 2022 at 24.3 billion.
• The percentage of apps with less than 100 downloads in the App Store stands at nearly 23%, implying a highly competitive marketplace.

Source: Sensor Tower

App Store Overview – Revenue Generated

The evolution of the Apple App Store has been momentous. This ecosystem, with its vast landscape of applications, has not only transformed the way we interact with technology but has also reshaped global commerce. Let’s dive deep into the revenue generated by the App Store in 2020, along with a comparative view of the previous year.

Note:

• The sales facilitated by the App Store for digital goods and services are not merely App Store billings. The assessment encompasses digital items’ sales that were not purchased from the App Store but were used within Apple device apps. Additionally, it excludes App Store in-app purchases used elsewhere.
• The in-app advertising assessment concerns all iOS app sales.

In 2020, the App Store’s ecosystem had an enormous impact on mobile commerce (“m-commerce”). The highest revenue streams from physical goods and services were from general retail ($383 billion), followed by travel ($38 billion), and food delivery and pickup ($36 billion).

In the global perspective of billings and sales driven by the App Store in 2020, China took the lion’s share at 47%, trailed by the US at 27%, and Europe at 12%. Comparatively, Europe’s share rose slightly from 2019, with the shares of China and the US remaining consistent.

As of 2020, the App Store recorded $643 billion in billings and sales, representing a 24% increase compared with 2019.

This increase, however, masked significant discrepancies across various categories and regions.

A 41% increase in digital goods and services was recorded in 2019, with Europe (+48%) and the US (+53%) leading the way.

On the other hand, the pandemic drastically curtailed the sales of travel and ride-hailing sectors by more than 30%. Yet, it augmented online shopping trends, propelling sales in general retail, grocery, and food delivery.

In conclusion, the Apple App Store has grown into an economic giant, securing its firm position in the global journal of commerce. With the upheavals of 2020, the App Store’s flexibility, adaptability, and expansive offerings have facilitated not only entertainment but also essential services and goods to global users.

The Apple App Store has transformed the way businesses operate and has enabled myriad developers to flourish on its platform. Let’s examine in detail the evolution of app developers over the years and look into some noteworthy success stories.

From Small Beginnings to Large Successes: Where Were 2020’s Large Developers in 2015? (Earnings)

• Above $1M: 23%
• $100K to $1M: 18%
• $10K to $100K: 8%
• Below $10K: 16%
• No App in App Store: 35%

• Streaks (Australia, 2015): A to-do list app that received the Apple Design Award in 2016. Over the years, the two-person team behind Crunchy Bagel witnessed steady growth.
• Cone (India, 2017): Kushagra Agarwal’s debut app Cone was designed to identify colors in everyday life. He later expanded to offer apps aiding colorblind individuals and another focusing on meditation.
• Afterlight (US, 2017): What started as two brothers’ project turned into a photo-editing app with half a million monthly users. Their consistent growth now supports a six-member team.

Achieving Milestones: IPOs & Acquisitions Some businesses, having iOS apps pivotal to their model, have marked significant milestones like going public or getting acquired.

Key Facts:

• Over 75 US and European businesses with iOS apps at their core either went public or were acquired since 2011.
• Notable companies include:
  • Snapchat, valued at $33 billion, became a publicly traded and owned entity in 2017.
  • Stitcher was acquired in 2020 for $325 million.
  • Unity, a real-time game development platform, valued at $13.7 billion, became a publicly traded and owned entity in 2020.
  • Bumble, valued at $8.2 billion, went public in 2021.

The analysis is based on data from Crunchbase, with a focus on businesses that either went public or were acquired between 2011 and 2021 and rely essentially on iOS apps.

However, it is worth noting that the analysis uses a conservative approach. It excludes several businesses that rely heavily on iOS apps but have extensive operations outside the App Store. Companies like Airbnb, Trulia, Etsy, and Yelp serve as notable examples.

Conclusion: While the US and Europe are the primary focus of attention in this section, it’s crucial to recognize that businesses worldwide take advantage of the App Store. Without a doubt, the platform has altered dramatically the way developers, irrespective of their size, envision and achieve success.

Access to Payment Methods

Owning to the Innovations introduced by platforms like the App Store, the digital marketplace has seen steady growth. This success is largely due to the smooth integration of a plethora of payment processors. This not only enhances user accessibility but also enables small-scale developers to make a profit from their offerings on a global scale.

Diverse Payment Options

The seamless integration of various payment methods demonstrates the Apple App Store’s dedication to inclusivity. While most credit and debit cards are universally accepted, Apple has gone a step further. In specific regions, users can utilize Apple Pay and store credits, acquired from gift card redemptions or by simply adding funds to their Apple IDs. Additionally, Apple has implemented third-party payment methods or alternative payment solutions, available in 69 storefronts. Since 2015 a remarkable growth in this respect has been observed, with 54 storefronts adopting such alternative payment processors and 48 storefronts integrating the innovative Direct Mobile Billing method. This particular feature enables users to charge their App Store purchases directly to their mobile phone bills in an easy and hassle-free manner. To put this into perspective, the App Store currently collaborates with over 100 mobile network operators globally, showcasing its extensive reach and user-centric approach.

Bridging Global Gaps

While diverse payment methods provide developers with the power to act effectively, they are not the single advantage. The App Store has effectively addressed potential pain points for developers, such as tax administration, local currency conversions, and fraudulent transaction monitoring. These infrastructural features are indispensable to small developers who, without the App Store’s robust framework, would find it challenging to establish partnerships with numerous global mobile carriers.

Furthermore, payments via popular digital wallets such as TrueMoney in Thailand, KakaoPay in South Korea, and Alipay in China would otherwise be a very hard task to accomplish. Consequently, a substantial increase in App Store billings via alternative payment methods was witnessed. This upswing is critical in ensuring a wider, global user base for developers.

List of Popular Third-Party Payment Methods:

• TrueMoney (Thailand)
• KakaoPay (South Korea)
• Alipay (China)

A Global Monetization Wave

The statistics are astonishing after a closer look at the numbers. Over the past six years, except for traditional credit and debit card payments, new payment processors have introduced more than 60 million new or reactivated users in their first year. Such monumental figures underscore the immense potential and reach of the App Store’s integrated payment systems. For smaller developers, this represents a golden opportunity, as forging global payment agreements would have been virtually impossible without the App Store’s ingrained payment infrastructure. The increase in new customers, along with improved revenue sources increases the App Store’s value, providing benefits for users and developers alike.

By allowing access to diverse payment methods, the App Store has created equal opportunities for all, accelerating growth for developers and ensuring that users, regardless of their location or preferred payment method, can enjoy contemporary digital innovations.

Tools and Technologies: Powering the Future of App Development

Apple has always prided itself on empowering developers. Over the years, the company has released a myriad of tools and technologies tailored to assist developers in crafting and managing innovative apps, turning their ideas into reality.

Integrated Development with Apple’s flagship software development environment, Xcode, serves as the cornerstone for app developers. This platform provides an integrated environment where one can design, code, test, and debug apps seamlessly.

Key Features:

• Swift: Introduced in 2014, Swift is Apple’s modern programming language, designed to make app development more efficient and less error-prone.
• SDKs & APIs: With over 250,000 APIs at their disposal, developers can effortlessly introduce diverse functionalities to their apps. Notably, Apple has consistently rolled out new SDKs since 2008, totaling more than 40 to date.
• TestFlight: This tool, available since 2014, is a great asset for pre-release app testing. Developers can invite users to beta test their apps, ensuring a smoother public launch.

Design & Usability

With aesthetics and user experience in mind, Apple offers developers design guidelines, including templates for in-app components. These resources enable them to invest less time and effort into the process of app design, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

Post-launch Support

Besides the above-mentioned resources, Apple provides ongoing support for developers with tools assessing app performance. These include crash reports, performance metrics, phased rollouts, and user feedback mechanisms like ratings and reviews.

Noteworthy Facts:

• Over the past decade, the cost of app development has seen a significant reduction.
• Apple’s limited device and OS lineup reduces fragmentation, making app development more streamlined and less expensive.
• With Xcode, developers can effortlessly adapt their apps across Apple’s ecosystem, from iPhones and iPads to Macs, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches.
• Studies reveal that app development on iOS is roughly 30% quicker than on other platforms like Android.

The Merits of Apple SDKs

Apple’s SDKs offer developers unmatched benefits over DIY tools or third-party solutions:

• Cost and Skill Efficiency: SDKs eliminate the need for coding functionalities from scratch. For instance, the YamaReco app utilized SpriteKit on watchOS, eliminating the need for a new library.
• Up-to-date and Secure: Unlike third-party solutions, Apple SDKs receive regular updates and bug fixes, ensuring optimal performance. Moreover, being Apple-developed, they guarantee safety and user privacy.
• Popular Usage: Data from App Annie reveals that over 75% of installed location and payment SDKs are Apple-made.
• Diverse Functionalities: SDKs such as MapKit, SiriKit, and CoreML are favored by developers for their diverse functionalities. These tools are not just supplementary but can sometimes form the crux of the app.
• Trailblazing New Avenues: Apple’s innovative SDKs, like HealthKit and ARKit, have forged new app categories. They simplify complex tasks, allowing developers to focus on user experience and content.

Shining Stars: Apple SDK Success Stories

• YamaReco: A Japanese hiking app, facilitating route and location checks with no phone signal, boasting nearly 300,000 downloads.
• Wakeout!: Leveraging HealthKit, this app provides users with short workouts, compiling more than 1.6 million exercises in 2020.
• Learn Math Facts: Combining the powers of ClassKit, CoreML, and PencilKit, this educational tool offers children engaging math quizzes.
• Primer: AR Home Design: Rooted in ARKit, this app allows users to preview home design elements in AR, marking over 500,000 virtual swatch visualizations from its 5,000+ AR products in its first year.

The app development process was revolutionized thanks to Apple’s unwavering dedication to creating a feature-rich developer environment. With state-of-the-art tools and technologies, Apple not only simplifies the app creation process but also ensures developers have everything they need to succeed in the ever-evolving digital realm.

Google Play vs the Apple App Store

Mobile app ecosystems play a fundamental role in the world of smartphones, with Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store at the forefront of the app development scene. Here’s an in-depth look comparing these two giants as of 25th October 2023.

Total Number of Apps Available

• Google Play: 3,656,986
• Apple App Store: 1,815,945

With a massive collection of 3.6 million apps, Google Play Store surpasses the App Store, which offers a little over 1.8 million apps.

Utility apps dominate the scene when compared to the percentage of game apps in both stores. Game apps, however, represent an essential segment, considering the revenue they generate and the high user engagement.

Distribution of Apps by Rating:

Although more than half of the apps on both platforms have received user ratings, a substantial portion remains with no reviews.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of ratings. The user experience plays a pivotal role when it comes to the success of the apps, as reviews help prospective users weigh in their pros and cons.

Key Takeaways:

• Sheer Volume: Google Play boasts a larger number of apps, almost double that of the Apple App Store.
• Monetization Strategy: A slightly higher percentage of apps on the Apple App Store are paid compared to Google Play, suggesting different monetization strategies and user willingness to pay.
• Game Popularity: Both platforms have a strong gaming community, but utility apps dominate in numbers.
• User Feedback: A considerable portion of apps on both platforms remains unrated, indicating either low user engagement or newer apps still trying to gain traction.

While both Google Play and the Apple App Store have their unique strengths and weaknesses, they remain indispensable for app developers and consumers alike. It will be intriguing to witness their growth and evolution in the coming years.

Apple App Store Statistics – Conclusion

The world of mobile applications has undeniably transformed the way we interact with technology, and the Apple App Store stands as a testament to this revolution. Let us summarize the journey and current state of the App Store through some compelling statistics and key takeaways.

Interesting Insights:

• App Store’s Dominance: Besides China, Apple and Google hold over 95% of the app store market share. The dominance of both companies has laid the foundations for the modern app economy.
• Rapid Growth: Apple and Google managed to garner the attention of multiple developers within just a year of their launch, indicating the platforms’ immense potential.
• Revenue Milestones: Within less than five years, both companies were able to compile a collection of over a million apps that produced substantial revenue and altered dramatically the digital monetization landscape.
• The App Economy’s Worth: At present, the app economy’s worth is assessed at $6.3 trillion, with Apple and Google’s platforms at the forefront.
• Consumer to Business Offerings: From its inception, the App Store has expanded its horizons from primarily consumer-centric apps to a comprehensive range encompassing every conceivable business need.

In conclusion, the Apple App Store isn’t merely a platform for apps—it is an embodiment of technological evolution, marking the intersection of creativity, innovation, and commercial success. As we step further into the digital age, the App Store promises to remain a beacon, guiding developers and users alike through the vast expanse of the mobile digital universe.