Outside of China, Apple and Google control more than 95 percent of the app store market share through iOS and Android, respectively. Both mobile OSes originally came with a few pre-installed apps, but quickly launched app stores, which allowed third-party developers to publish apps and games.
Within a year of both being available, tens of thousands of developers were building apps and games for the platforms. In less than five years, both Apple and Google had over one millions apps and games available, which generated millions in app revenue for both companies.
The app economy was built on these two platforms, which have expanded their offerings to include apps for consumers and every type of business. It is estimated to be worth approximately $6.3 trillion according to App Annie.
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Get StartedOthers have tried to match Apple and Google. Microsoft launched its own store for Windows Mobile and Huawei has its own store after being banned from using Android. There are also niche app and game stores outside of mobile, such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store app for PC.
Apple and Google have both, for the past three years, added more barriers to entry for developers. They have also purged millions of apps from their respective stores, in an attempt to improve quality across the ecosystem.
As Android is unavailable in China, several app stores have sprung up in the country, which include MyApp by Tencent, Huawei App Market, OPPO software store and a few others. These account for approximately 75 percent of all app downloads in China.
Apple is able to continue to operate in China with its app store, although the Chinese government regularly sweep the store to remove apps and games.
We have collected data on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Read on below to find out more.
Apple App Store key statistics
- Apple’s App Store has 1.76 million apps and 460,000 games
- Games make up 21.06% of the Apple App Store
- Business and education are the second and third most popular categories
- Free apps make up 94.1% of the Apple App Store
Want to learn all about the app industry? Our App Data Report covers revenues, downloads, and number of apps across the Apple App Store and Google Play, alongside the top grossing and most downloaded individual apps.App Data Report 2023
Apps & Games in the Apple App Store
Apple’s App Store had 2.184 million apps and games in 2022, an increase of 21.4% on the previous year.
Apple App Store Quarterly Apps and Games 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Apple App Store Annual Apps and Games 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Year | Apps and Games (mm) |
---|---|
2009 | 0.118 |
2010 | 0.208 |
2011 | 0.358 |
2012 | 0.553 |
2013 | 0.849 |
2014 | 1.162 |
2015 | 1.538 |
2016 | 2.099 |
2017 | 2.113 |
2018 | 2.028 |
2019 | 1.882 |
2020 | 1.824 |
2021 | 1.798 |
2022 | 2.184 |
2023 | 2.29 |
Sources: 42matters, PocketGamer, App Data Report
Apps in the Apple App Store
Non-gaming apps make up 78% of the Apple App Store. There were 1.768 million apps on the store in 2022.
Apple App Store Quarterly Apps 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Apple App Store Annual Apps 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Year | Apps (mm) |
---|---|
2009 | 0.068 |
2010 | 0.144 |
2011 | 0.271 |
2012 | 0.437 |
2013 | 0.691 |
2014 | 0.942 |
2015 | 1.202 |
2016 | 1.603 |
2017 | 1.583 |
2018 | 1.523 |
2019 | 1.453 |
2020 | 1.420 |
2021 | 1.415 |
2022 | 1.724 |
2023 | 1.818 |
Sources: 42matters, PocketGamer
Games in the Apple App Store
Apple’s App Store contained 460,000 games in 2022, a 20% increase on the total at the same time the year prior.
Apple App Store Quarterly Games 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Apple App Store Annual Games 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Year | Games (mm) |
---|---|
2009 | 0.049 |
2010 | 0.064 |
2011 | 0.087 |
2012 | 0.116 |
2013 | 0.158 |
2014 | 0.219 |
2015 | 0.336 |
2016 | 0.496 |
2017 | 0.530 |
2018 | 0.505 |
2019 | 0.429 |
2020 | 0.404 |
2021 | 0.383 |
2022 | 0.460 |
2023 | 0.472 |
Sources: 42matters, PocketGamer
Most Popular Apple App Store Categories
Paid vs Free Apps in Apple App Store
Average App Price in Apple App Store
Google Play App Store key statistics
- Google Play’s App Store has 2.266 million apps and 390,000 games
- Games make up 15.2% of the Google Play Store
- Education and business apps are second and third most popular categories
- Free apps make up 96.7% of the Google Play Store
Apps & Games in the Google Play Store
Google Play has 2.65 million apps and games on its store, a 4% decline on the year prior. It is the second year of total apps on Google Play have declined.
Google Play Store Quarterly Apps and Games 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Google Play Store Annual Apps and Games 2010 to 2022 (mm)
Year | Apps and Games (mm) |
---|---|
2010 | 0.090 |
2011 | 0.325 |
2012 | 0.675 |
2013 | 1.030 |
2014 | 1.325 |
2015 | 1.700 |
2016 | 2.600 |
2017 | 3.500 |
2018 | 2.610 |
2019 | 2.810 |
2020 | 2.930 |
2021 | 2.783 |
2022 | 2.656 |
2023 | 2.619 |
Source: AppBrain, App Data Report
Apps in the Google Play Store
The Google Play Store had 2.26 million apps on its store, which make up 85% of the entire store.
Google Play Store Quarterly Apps 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Google Play Store Annual Apps 2010 to 2021 (mm)
Year | Apps (mm) |
---|---|
2010 | 0.069 |
2011 | 0.250 |
2012 | 0.519 |
2013 | 0.793 |
2014 | 1.046 |
2015 | 1.343 |
2016 | 2.054 |
2017 | 2.765 |
2018 | 2.122 |
2019 | 2.324 |
2020 | 2.431 |
2021 | 2.337 |
2022 | 2.266 |
2023 | 2.204 |
Source: AppBrain
Games in the Google Play Store
Google Play has 393,000 games on its store. Total games on the store peaked in 2017, when it had 735,000 games available.
Google Play Store Quarterly Games 2009 to 2022 (mm)
Google Play Store Annual Games 2010 to 2021 (mm)
Year | Games (mm) |
---|---|
2010 | 0.020 |
2011 | 0.074 |
2012 | 0.155 |
2013 | 0.236 |
2014 | 0.278 |
2015 | 0.357 |
2016 | 0.546 |
2017 | 0.735 |
2018 | 0.478 |
2019 | 0.476 |
2020 | 0.498 |
2021 | 0.445 |
2022 | 0.390 |
2023 | 0.415 |
Source: AppBrain