Total Number of App Store Apps Shrank in 2017 Thanks to Apple's Quality Crackdown

[MacRumors]

The number of apps available in the App Store shrank for the first time ever in 2017, according to data shared today by App Store analytics company Appfigures (via TechCrunch).

At the end of 2017, there were 2.1 million iOS apps available in the App Store, compared to 2.2 million apps at the beginning of the year.

Starting in September of 2016, Apple told developers it would be removing old, outdated apps that had not been updated with compatibility for more recent devices or no longer complied with current review guidelines.

Apple also created new App Store guidelines limiting apps created from commercialized templates or app generation services, and officially banned virus scanning apps, plus it cracked down on clone and spam apps, all of which contributed to the company's App Store cleanup efforts.

Changes in iOS 11 may have had the biggest impact on the available number of apps in the App Store, though. With iOS 11, Apple stopped supporting 32-bit apps, which the company began phasing out in 2013. 32-bit apps do not open on devices running iOS 11, nor can older 32-bit apps be found in the App Store.

Since 2015, Apple has required all apps and app updates to use 64-bit architecture, so apps that became defunct with iOS 11 had not been updated in at least two years.

Appfigures says that the decrease in apps can also be attributed to a dip in the number of new apps submitted by developers in 2017. Just 755,000 new apps were added to the App Store in 2017, down 29 percent from the previous year. This too could be attributed to Apple's more restrictive App Store policies cutting down on low-quality apps.

While the number of App Store apps has declined due to Apple's efforts to make sure apps in the App Store are prioritizing quality, Google Play growth has accelerated. In 2017, Google Play reached 3.6 million available apps, a growth of 30 percent. Android developers released 1.5 million new apps in 2017, up 17 percent.

Article Link: Total Number of App Store Apps Shrank in 2017 Thanks to Apple's Quality Crackdown

 

[dannyyankou]

This is great, quality > quantity

 

[nfl46]

And this is why I’ll never go back to Android.

I’d much prefer a quality, rules enforced App Store like Apple’s over Google Play. Google needs to be way stricter! But hell, Google don’t even follow their own guidelines.

 

[rjohnstone]

This is great, quality > quantity

There are plenty of garbage apps in the App Store.

 

[Moonjumper]

Raising the bar is good as long as everything is clear and consistent. What is good is that Apple have improved on quality, clarity, and consistency. It doesn't mean they get everything right, but they are improving, and it is very welcome.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Appfigures says that the decrease in apps can also be attributed to a dip in the number of new apps submitted by developers in 2017

And people still claim that iOS is the platform to develop on....
Apple is facing the same issues they faced with Windows and its going to work out for them exactly how it worked out for them in the past. Not good long term.

 

[lucianmarin]

This is great, quality > quantity

Quality increases by quantity. I couldn't find any quality apps on App Store, so I switched to Android.

 

[Rogifan]

Quality increases by quantity. I couldn't find any quality apps on App Store, so I switched to Android.

I don’t believe you.

 

[krause734]

Lots of great apps I paid for no longer in the store thanks to Apple's incessant updates.

 

[Cankoda]

And people still claim that iOS is the platform to develop on....
Apple is facing the same issues they faced with Windows and its going to work out for them exactly how it worked out for them in the past. Not good long term.

It’s not good that they want quality updated apps in the App Store instead of garbage that wastes your money and aren’t compatible with anything?
[doublepost=1522881854][/doublepost]

Lots of great apps I paid for no longer in the store thanks to Apple's incessant updates.

More like thanks to the developers lack of keeping it up to date

 

[rafark]

More like thanks to the developers lack of keeping it up to date

Not really true. There are lots of apps I paid for on my old iPod that I want to redownload from the AppStore but there are not available anymore. Apple should give us access to apps we've bought.

 

[chr1s60]

Quality increases by quantity. I couldn't find any quality apps on App Store, so I switched to Android.

Google Play is literally flooded with crap apps. A bad app in the App Store would qualify as a relatively decent app on Google.

 

[oplix]

Good. Apple is actually trying to curb the data masturbation involved with Apps and updates. Android only seems to want to exacerbate it. Likely because that data represents some sort of important figure for Google and it's market valuation.

 

[ackmondual]

Google Play is literally flooded with crap apps. A bad app in the App Store would qualify as a relatively decent app on Google.

It varies. I've talked with Android devs whose clients tell them they'd like their apps to be laid out more like Android apps, as opposed to using what iOS does, in terms of layout and design.

As for quality, all you need are the right ones, no matter what app store you use.

 

[dannyyankou]

There are plenty of garbage apps in the App Store.

Yeah but they got rid of a bunch of them last year

 

[joeblow7777]

It’s funny how companies and the media can spin anything to fit a narrative.
In the past it was all about bragging about how many apps a platform had, and how there’s an app for everything. Now when the app number declines it’s all about how superior quality control pays off.

 

[Cankoda]

Not really true. There are lots of apps I paid for on my old iPod that I want to redownload from the AppStore but there are not available anymore. Apple should give us access to apps we've bought.

But that’s probably because they no longer support newer iOS devices and no longer follow modern App Store guidelines, which is the developers fault for abandoning the app, not Apple’s, they let you download anything that is currently supported
[doublepost=1522884244][/doublepost]

It’s funny how companies and the media can spin anything to fit a narrative.
In the past it was all about bragging about how many apps a platform had, and how there’s an app for everything. Now when the app number declines it’s all about how superior quality control pays off.

Kinda the point of marketing. Plus when the App Store came out that was kinda th big selling point, “we’ve got a lot of apps for you” but now there’s apps for everything everywhere it’s not really a huge marketing point anymore.

 

[Gaprofitt]

And this is why I’ll never go back to Android.

I’d much prefer a quality, rules enforced App Store like Apple’s over Google Play. Google needs to be way stricter! But hell, Google don’t even follow their own guidelines.

That's ridiculous, choices is always good..

 

[Tubamajuba]

It’s funny how companies and the media can spin anything to fit a narrative.
In the past it was all about bragging about how many apps a platform had, and how there’s an app for everything. Now when the app number declines it’s all about how superior quality control pays off.

Speaking of spinning things to fit a narrative...

 

[Superhai]

In the past it was all about bragging about how many apps a platform had, and how there’s an app for everything. Now when the app number declines it’s all about how superior quality control pays off.

Of course commercial companies brag, but both are true, it is good for the platform to have many apps, and it is good for the platform it is able to limit apps which are crappy or not updated.

 

[kuwxman]

This is great, quality > quantity

There are also a ton more Android users with different uses for their devices. Makes sense the quantity would be higher on the Play Store...

 

[joeblow7777]

Speaking of spinning things to fit a narrative...

It’d be naive pretend that it’s not the case. I’m just hanging a lampshade on it. I don’t even mean to suggest that I disagree with either spin. Both perspectives are true, it’s just a matter of emphasis, and I don’t blame Apple or any other organization for casting themselves in the best possible light.

 

[lunarworks]

It’s funny how companies and the media can spin anything to fit a narrative.
In the past it was all about bragging about how many apps a platform had, and how there’s an app for everything. Now when the app number declines it’s all about how superior quality control pays off.

When apps available gets into the millions it tends to carry less weight. There's a **** ton of duplication and cruft.

 

[deanthedev]

And people still claim that iOS is the platform to develop on....
Apple is facing the same issues they faced with Windows and its going to work out for them exactly how it worked out for them in the past. Not good long term.

Thanks for the laugh.

Developers still favor iOS even now in 2018, despite Eric Schmidt proclaiming back in 2011 that developers go where the marketshare is. How’d that work out for you?

iOS still generates 4X the revenue per user and 2X overall vs Google Play.

The Windows analogy is ridiculous on so many levels and has absolutely nothing in common with iosvs Android today.

 

[developer13245]

Innovative Apps for Apple platforms are dead. Apple killed them by screwing small developers.

In 2008, Apple needed a large number of Apps to establish their platform so they had to "lay down with the dogs".
Now they've taken a flea bath and have thrown the Innovation "baby out with the bath water".