Apple-Sponsored Study Highlights Success of Small Developers

[MacRumors]

Small developers have seen growing success over the course of the last two years, according to an Apple-commissioned study conducted by economists at Analysis Group. Data shared today highlights the ways the App Store has benefited independent App Store developers.

Between 2020 and 2022, the revenue earned by small App Store developers increased 71 percent, and in the U.S. specifically, earnings growth was at 83 percent. Analysis Group defines small developers as those who have fewer than a million annual downloads and who earn up to $1 million per year, and this group accounts for more than 90 percent of developers on the App Store.

According to the study, revenue growth for small developers outpaced revenue growth for large developers, with earnings improving across all app categories. The study points out the opportunities provided by the App Store, such as tools that help developers reach a worldwide audience. Close to 80 percent of small developers are active on multiple storefronts and earn 40 percent of total app downloads from outside of their home country.

Developers have seen success over time, with the study suggesting that many apps earning over $1 million in 2022 started out as apps from small developers. 40 percent of these developers were not on the App Store or had less than $10,000 in earnings five years ago.

Apple has commissioned several App Store studies from Analysis Group as it faces growing pressure to open up iOS to sideloading and alternate app store options. The European Union, for example, is requiring Apple to allow apps to be installed outside of the App Store, functionality that Apple is rumored to be implementing in Europe in iOS 17.

In the United States, government officials are considering legislation that would let developers use non-Apple app stores and alternative in-app payment systems on iOS devices. Apple has been fighting these changes and studies like these from Analysis Group can be used to convince regulators and the public of the benefits of the App Store.

More information and the full study can be accessed through the Apple Newsroom.

Article Link: Apple-Sponsored Study Highlights Success of Small Developers

 

[toobravetosave]

Apple funded study shows the results apple wants?

My goodness that’s amazing!

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

"Apple Sponsored study"

Stopped reading there. That's all that I needed to judge the validity of this "study"

 

[andrewxgx]

Apple funded study shows the results apple wants?

My goodness that’s amazing!

this is basically how all academia works these days

 

[Wildkraut]

Yeah with Apples lock-in they hardly ever will become big.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Similar to the claims made every year or two that Apple is responsible for creating and supporting millions upon millions of jobs.

 

[Wildkraut]

Similar to the claims made every year or two that Apple is responsible for creating and supporting millions upon millions of jobs.

Yep, there were all begging on Skid Row LA before Apple joined the game.

 

[floral]

So like... where's the source? Can Apple name one of these small developers that hit it big?

 

[vertsix]

This is the equivalent of a Twitter (a.k.a Elon Musk) sponsored study on how people like Twitter.

 

[timber]

I wonder if that study crosses that data with those using IAPs in their freemium apps.

Probably not.

 

[ThisIs🐵]

Some people might get an impression that all small developers are successful on the App Store and earn lots of money.

The truth is there are many small developers, including me, who don’t even earn enough to cover the yearly $100 App Store Developer Account fee.
The competition is very high and only a small minority succeeds.

 

[phenste]

everyone has been quick to rightfully lambast the slanted nature of an Apple-sponsored study here—for me, the highlight of this story is, yet again, that sideloading/alt app stores will likely be EU-only in iOS 17.

really a shame.

 

[timber]

Some people might get an impression that all small developers are successful on the App Store and earn lots of money.

The truth is there are many small developers, including me, who don’t even earn enough to cover the yearly $100 App Store Developer Account fee.
The competition is very high and only a small minority succeeds.

Giving that impression is probably one of the mais goals of commissioning studies like this.

 

[CarAnalogy]

everyone has been quick to rightfully lambast the slanted nature of an Apple-sponsored study here—for me, the highlight of this story is, yet again, that sideloading/alt app stores will likely be EU-only in iOS 17.

really a shame.

First they took the SIM slot from Americans. With that move they demonstrated their strategy of different iPhone features for different markets.

Stupid, and short sighted.

In a few years iOS and the iPhone may be significantly fragmented simply because of Apple’s childish obstinace in doing the absolute bare mininum to comply with the letter of the law whose spirit is to stop Apple from being obstinant.

 

[lkrupp]

Some people might get an impression that all small developers are successful on the App Store and earn lots of money.

The truth is there are many small developers, including me, who don’t even earn enough to cover the yearly $100 App Store Developer Account fee.
The competition is very high and only a small minority succeeds.

You know, such is life. You may consider your app to be great and perfect but the public may not agree and select a competing app instead. Success is never guaranteed. It’s sort of like how actors, athletes, or musicians become famous by being in the right place at the right time with the right skills.

 

[mystery hill]

Tim Cook sponsored study highlights success of Apple CEO.

 

[neuropsychguy]

"Apple Sponsored study"

Stopped reading there. That's all that I needed to judge the validity of this "study"

It does not mean the study is invalid. It might mean results could be questionable or cherry-picked (which is generally true in the business world) but discounting solely because Apple funded the study is rather myopic.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

It does not mean the study is invalid. It might mean results could be questionable or cherry-picked (which is generally true in the business world) but discounting solely because Apple funded the study is rather myopic.

I guess I can trust any study funded by a company that makes them look favorable. You hear that Big Oil and Big Tobacco? Doors open boys!

 

[gatorvet96]

this is basically how all academia works these days

That is complete BS. "all"? The sciences work on peer-reviewed and repeatable findings. This protects findings from being "curated", and reduces false information better than any other system.

 

[prime17569]

This study in a nutshell:

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Some people might get an impression that all small developers are successful on the App Store and earn lots of money.

The truth is there are many small developers, including me, who don’t even earn enough to cover the yearly $100 App Store Developer Account fee.
The competition is very high and only a small minority succeeds.

You could at least make $1000 from the Class Action Lawsuit.

 

[Mr. Nice]

I'm doing a study soon that shows that developers who have a home page for user accounts, through which users pay contributions directly, earn even more.

Note:
Why does Apple manipulate the ratings in the App Store so extremely?
See Spark from Readdle!
Since version 3 a lot of 0 star ratings and the overall rating is set in concrete at 4.5.

Apple should let users select that they only see the ratings of the last 12 or 6 months. Or only the last major version.
What do I care about 5 star ratings from X years ago?

 

[Shasterball]

this is basically how all academia works these days

This is untrue.

 

[cyanite]

First they took the SIM slot from Americans. With that move they demonstrated their strategy of different iPhone features for different markets.

I don’t think that will end up being an example of that. It seems likely that it’s a staggered release which they eventually plan to bring everywhere. For various (coverage) reasons, they haven’t yet.

 

[steve09090]

So like... where's the source? Can Apple name one of these small developers that hit it big?

Yes. They actually named two in the report. The source is a couple of people with Ph.D.s. No idea who they are or the accuracy, I'm just saying what is available if they actually follow the link in the story.

iScape (US, 2018) - Since launching, the app has been quickly growing with over 2.5 million downloads and a triple-digit percent growth year-to-year​

​

Plane Finder (UK, 2009) - Plane Finder has benefited from Apple’s Small Business Program, and its subscription earnings have grown 60% year-over-year.​