Data analytics reveal that we’re downloading fewer iPhone applications this year compared to last, yet our spending on them has seen a substantial rise. This shift is largely attributed to the fact that nearly half of developers’ earnings now stem from subscriptions.
While app downloads from the App Store have slightly dipped over the past year, total consumer expenditure has surged from $73.7 billion last year to $91.6 billion this year…
Decrease in app downloads but an increase in spending
According to Appfigures, the total number of app downloads fell by 2.3%, while spending increased by 15.7%, a trend primarily seen within the Apple ecosystem. TechCrunch highlights:
In 2024, global consumer expenditure on mobile applications and games reached $127 billion across both the App Store and Google Play, marking a 15.7% increase from the previous year. Notably, this growth was mainly fueled by the App Store, as spending on Google Play saw a decline.
The focus on subscriptions
The disparity in app downloads contrasted with increased spending can be easily explained.
Last year, only 5% of apps worldwide provided subscription options, yet these accounted for a striking 48% of total app revenue across both app stores, according to Appfigures.
Temu tops the charts in the US
While it’s expected that social media applications led the global download rankings, in the US, the most downloaded app was the Chinese shopping platform Temu, which aligns with Apple’s own rankings.
Photo by Vitaly Taranov on Unsplash
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