Mac App Store Dominated by Paid Apps, Top Apps' Revenue at 50% of Top iPad Apps'

[res1233]

There are fewer ipad apps in the app store than iphone apps, and even fewer mac apps in the mac app store than ipad apps. Despite its amazing launch, there are probably more iphones than ipads still, and most likely fewer macs than ipads. I don't think this graph is so shocking. Follows common sense quite well.

 

[michael.lauden]

Even though the data is easy to 'see', I hate it when the same style graphs are used next to each other with different scales....

 

[blueraja]

Kind of misleading since many apps are now "universal" rather than iphone or ipad exclusive.

 

[JAT]

Absolutely. It's achieving another important thing for Apple too - it's creating a buzz around the Mac software ecosystem. If you visit the Mac app store, you'd think the market is very vibrant, busy and popular; whereas in truth there probably aren't many more Mac apps now than there were a couple of months ago - but that's likely to change.

The more I think about the OSX appstore, the more I think it should've been started well before now. Sourcing, and even knowing about, Mac apps has always been a major achilles heel for Apple in the Windows-dominated PC marketplace, and has limited their ability to compete. The familiarity and popularity of the iOS appstore and its ease of use, transferred to OSX, will likely benefit OSX and Apple hardware purchases to no end.

Even enterprise software developers should stand up and pay attention, and find a way onto the appstore. While you can't simply install enterprise software the same way, the presence would be cheap marketing.

 

[marksman]

Hold on a second. This business is based solely on analysing the app store?

Seems like their niche is all app stores, but given the number of app stores and the amount of business, seems like a pretty good niche to have right now. Lots of potential customers out there for detailed analysis.

 

[mmcc]

Nonsense, if I drop the price of my $10 app to 99 cents and don't sell 10 times more more copies, I would be making less revenue at a very low price. Certainly not the highest revenue.

I concur. That is my experience in both App Stores as well. Dropping the price often does not even make up the difference with increased sales. Sales in the App Store are all about visibility and reviews. Apps that are buried out of the "Top" lists do not get activity regardless of how good they may be.

Apps that have no reviews cannot sustain sales regardless of how good they may be. I think there is some gaming of the review system going on as well.

The Mac App Store has been a disaster for my small business. I wrote some details about it at http://www.gamesforone.com/blog. In my market space, the freebies are dominating the Mac App Store resulting in an overall depression of the cash flow for everyone.

Some may say my business deserves its fate. That's fine, but the Mac App Store is a major disruption in the marketplace that is not guaranteed to stimulate more or better quality Mac software development IMO. There is simply not enough cash flowing there to make it worthwhile.

 

[crackbookpro]

Cool stat.

 

[jaksta]

I bet most Mac developers sell more outside of the app store. For iPhone/iPad, this isn't an option. If Apple were to restrict Mac apps to being sold through the app store there would be a developers revolt.

 

[asherk]

To not waste my money, I use iAppSaver. It monitors iPad/iPhone new apps, price drops and updates from the App Store. At least, some price drops apps or free are good and I do not pay the full price.

Regards,

Asher

 

[rhett7660]

I bet most Mac developers sell more outside of the app store. For iPhone/iPad, this isn't an option. If Apple were to restrict Mac apps to being sold through the app store there would be a developers revolt.

Given the app store is still pretty new, you are probably right. But if it continues to gain steam and move along then I foresee this being the place to sell apps.

I agree with others. Some one out there may like the app or want to look for the app that you or I think is crap. I don't know how Apple could filter the "crap" when our "crap" could be someone elses gold!

 

[sparkso]

Interesting figures.