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$29.3 billion was spent overall on Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, with over 35.6 billion app installs, in the third quarter of 2020, according to a new report by Sensor Tower.

q3-2020-app-downloads-worldwide.png


App stores have seen significant year-on-year growth, with customers spending 32 percent more than at the same time in 2019, with 23.3 percent more installs. This is a large growth compared to 24 percent increased spending and nine percent increased downloads last year.

q3-2020-app-revenue-worldwide.png


Spending on in-app purchases, subscriptions, and premium apps rose by 31 percent to $19 billion worldwide on Apple's App Store in the third quarter, up from $14.5 billion at the same time last year. This is almost twice the revenue earned by Google's Play Store, consistent with last year's split between the two platforms. However, of the 36.5 billion app installs, Apple's App Store only accounted for 8.2 billion, whereas the Google Play Store had over three times as many at 28.3 billion.

q3-2020-top-app-download-chart.jpg


Short-form video social media app TikTok was the most downloaded app on both platforms, and it was also the highest-earning non-game app globally. This was its second consecutive quarter as the top-grossing non-game app. At this time last year, Tinder was the highest-grossing non-game app. As in previous quarters, Facebook's apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp, made up the majority of the top five non-game apps by global downloads, although none occupied the top spot.

q3-2020-top-app-revenue-chart.jpg


Tencent took the first and second positions among the five top-grossing games in the third quarter with "Honor of Kings" and "PUBG Mobile." Together, the top five highest-grossing games made more than $2.4 billion, which is 12 percent of all consumer spending on mobile games last quarter. Game installs decreased year on year for Apple's App Store from 2.4 billion to 2.3 billion, with the vast majority of downloads instead being from Google Play, which saw growth of 36.8 percent.

q3-2020-top-game-revenue-chart.jpg


Sensor Tower analysts believe that going into the fourth quarter, new trends will emerge, as will new standout apps, partly driven by platform innovations such as home screen customization on iOS. A full report on global app adoption with specific analyses of top publishers and trends for the third quarter is expected soon.

Article Link: App Store Reportedly Earned Twice as Much as the Google Play Store in Q3 2020
 
How does the App store make money from TikTok? There are no in-app purchases?
 
It seems:
1. Both App Stores grew revenue at essentially the same rate.
2. Customers are basically downloading the same apps, regardless of ecosystem.
3. Both customer bases seem to have a strong affinity for Facebook and their properties
4. Tech nerds may claim aversion, but the public seems addicted to social media
5. China has a huge influence on the App Store.
6. IAP is games.
 


$29.3 billion was spent overall on Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, with over 35.6 billion app installs, in the third quarter of 2020, according to a new report by Sensor Tower.

q3-2020-app-downloads-worldwide.png


App stores have seen significant year-on-year growth, with customers spending 32 percent more than at the same time in 2019, with 23.3 percent more installs. This is a large growth compared to 24 percent increased spending and nine percent increased downloads last year.

q3-2020-app-revenue-worldwide.png


Spending on in-app purchases, subscriptions, and premium apps rose by 31 percent to $19 billion worldwide on Apple's App Store in the third quarter, up from $14.5 billion at the same time last year. This is almost twice the revenue earned by Google's Play Store, consistent with last year's split between the two platforms. However, of the 36.5 billion app installs, Apple's App Store only accounted for 8.2 billion, whereas the Google Play Store had over three times as many at 28.3 billion.

q3-2020-top-app-download-chart.jpg


Short-form video social media app TikTok was the most downloaded app on both platforms, and it was also the highest-earning non-game app globally. This was its second consecutive quarter as the top-grossing non-game app. At this time last year, Tinder was the highest-grossing non-game app. As in previous quarters, Facebook's apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp, made up the majority of the top five non-game apps by global downloads, although none occupied the top spot.

q3-2020-top-app-revenue-chart.jpg


Tencent took the first and second positions among the five top-grossing games in the third quarter with "Honor of Kings" and "PUBG Mobile." Together, the top five highest-grossing games made more than $2.4 billion, which is 12 percent of all consumer spending on mobile games last quarter. Game installs decreased year on year for Apple's App Store from 2.4 billion to 2.3 billion, with the vast majority of downloads instead being from Google Play, which saw growth of 36.8 percent.

q3-2020-top-game-revenue-chart.jpg


Sensor Tower analysts believe that going into the fourth quarter, new trends will emerge, as will new standout apps, partly driven by platform innovations such as home screen customization on iOS. A full report on global app adoption with specific analyses of top publishers and trends for the third quarter is expected soon.

Article Link: App Store Reportedly Earned Twice as Much as the Google Play Store in Q3 2020
 
So I was waiting for macrumors to post the app increase story after I saw it everywhere else so little disappointed when didn’t see it initially. Now I know why. MacR adds that extra to the story...charts, graphs, lists whatever. Really embellishes and that’s a good thing. Good job sirs.
 
As with the smartphone marketshare when measured by revenue and not units, all Android manufacturers combined have less marketshare than Apple. This is of course the reason why most Apps and Apps' new features debute first on iOS, and how there are so many iOS exclusives.

Of course, most free Apps monetize on things such ads and user's data, in this regard, an iOS users data is also valued more than an Android one.

The takeaway is that iOS, together with Apple's lead in the tablet and smartwatch market, maintains a very positive outlook going forward in terms of developer's mindshare and its users can expect to have access to the mobile experiences of the future.

Also, bad news for Epic, because if this report replicates their user base expending distribution, they just lost 2/3rds of their revenue on mobile. Very expensive marketing ploy. If they end up loosing on the courts, surely heads will roll..
 
Ideally, new Antitrust Legislation would force Apple to disclose per-Category Revenue Numbers (at each Earnings Release) for at least the iOS App Store here in the States, so that App Devs get to know what Apple does !
What new antitrust legislation is in the works that is targeting Apple only?
 
No wonder iOS is on top - with all the piracy on Android I'm surprised it's even that high. iOS has the best apps and ecosystem because its customers and users are actually likely to fork out money.
Google apps make huge money outside of the ecosystem while using the apps world wide. Uber, Amazon, Wallets etc few examples
 
Do Android apps see fewer downloads than iOS apps in general, or is it just that people use IAP on iOS but not on Android? Have there been any surveys to see if we can find out why? Are Android users poorer, more frugal, etc, etc, and if we control for those factors, do they spend at the same rate?
 
Again I have no problem with 30% on Games.

I have problems with 30% or even 15% on Services which really has little to do with the App itself. Fitness Class, Web Email Interface / Front End, etc.

Estimated 80% of App Store revenue are from Gaming. Apple could have lowered non-Gaming Apps commission, making more business partner happy. Now they are opening a whole cans of worms and in a complete mess.
 
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Do Android apps see fewer downloads than iOS apps in general, or is it just that people use IAP on iOS but not on Android? Have there been any surveys to see if we can find out why? Are Android users poorer, more frugal, etc, etc, and if we control for those factors, do they spend at the same rate?

These has been pretty well known. Android users spend less on Apps. Consider the lowest, entry level iPhone price, iPhone SE is more expensive than the average AND median Non-iOS Smartphone price selling price in India and China. And slightly below the median price in EU.

Because Android also has the bottom end of the market ( Sub $150 ) , these users also spend less, so pulling down the average spending per Android Phone.

Also a reminder Android numbers does not include China. Where as iOS App Store operate in China.
 
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