Apple’s global App Store ecosystem facilitated an impressive $1.3 trillion in developer billings and sales throughout 2024, marking a milestone for the platform, the iPhone giant said Thursday.
“It’s incredible to see so many developers design great apps, build successful businesses and reach Apple users around the world,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “This report is a testament to the many ways developers are enriching people’s lives with app and game experiences, while creating opportunity and driving new innovations.”
App Store hits new global high of $1.3 trillion in billings and sales
The figures Apple reported on come from a comprehensive study conducted by economists Professor Andrey Fradkin from Boston University and Dr. Jessica Burley from Analysis Group. The numbers reveal the extraordinary scale of commerce flowing through Apple’s digital marketplace. This follows a recent report on developer billings and sales numbers in the United States, as Cupertino has a clear interest in keeping devs happy.
Perhaps most notably for developers, more than 90 percent of the billings and sales referenced in the new report generated no commission paid to Apple. That demonstrates the platform’s role as a facilitator of broader digital commerce rather than just traditional app purchases, Apple said.
How developers make money on the App Store
The study reveals three distinct revenue streams that all experienced remarkable growth since 2019. Digital goods and services — including games, photo editing apps and enterprise tools — generated $131 billion in developer billings and sales. This category has seen consistent growth as users continue investing in gaming experiences and creative tools that enhance productivity and entertainment.
Physical goods and services dominated the ecosystem with over $1 trillion in sales. That represents the strongest growth category with a 2.6x increase since 2019. An explosion in food delivery and pickup services, along with grocery ordering apps goosed by the COVID-19 pandemic, drives the surge. So the apps iPhone and iPad users rely on to order dinner or groceries contribute greatly to a massive digital economy.
And in-app advertising rounded out the revenue picture with $150 billion. It helps keep many apps free or low-cost for users while providing developers with sustainable business models.
Regional growth tells a global story
Photo: Apple
The App Store’s reach extends far beyond any single market, attracting over 813 million average weekly visitors worldwide. The platform has seen particularly strong growth across major regions, with billings and sales more than doubling in the United States, China and Europe over the past five years.
In the United States, digital payment spending grew over seven-fold since 2019 as mobile payments became mainstream. Chinese users drove substantial expansion in e-commerce marketplaces, with online grocery spending growing over five-fold. European users more than tripled their spending on food delivery and pickup services. And travel apps proved popular in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India.
Creative tools drive innovation
One of the most interesting trends for Apple users has been the steady increase in spending on apps that support digital content creation. Professional creative tools like Adobe’s suite have found tremendous success on Apple platforms. Adobe Photoshop launched a new iPhone app earlier this year designed specifically for mobile image editing. Adobe Lightroom became Apple’s 2024 Mac App of the Year, highlighting how creative professionals and hobbyists alike are embracing mobile and desktop creative workflows.
This trend reflects Apple users’ growing interest in creating content directly on their devices, whether for professional work or personal projects, Apple noted.
Apple’s support system for developers
Behind these impressive numbers lies Apple’s extensive support infrastructure for developers. The company provides tools and capabilities across more than 40 local currencies. It handles tax compliance in nearly 200 regions. And it offers comprehensive development resources through Xcode, TestFlight and App Analytics.
Apple’s integrated payment system has also protected users by preventing over $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the past five years, ensuring the platform remains safe for both developers and consumers.
The company operates Apple Developer Centers in the United States, China, India and Singapore. They hosted tens of thousands of developers over the past year. The centers provide access to more than 250,000 APIs and frameworks including HealthKit, Metal, Core ML, MapKit and SwiftUI.
For future developers, Apple runs Developer Academies in Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United States, offering free curricula covering coding, AI, design and marketing fundamentals.
App Store hits new global high: Looking ahead
Next week’s Worldwide Developers Conference will provide developers with free access to over 100 technical sessions, offering insights into the latest technologies and frameworks. For Apple users, this annual event often previews the features and capabilities that will enhance their devices and apps in the coming year.
The $1.3 trillion figure represents more than just impressive economics. It demonstrates how deeply integrated the App Store has become in facilitating commerce, creativity and connection for Apple users worldwide. As the platform continues evolving, these numbers suggest users can expect even more innovative apps and services designed to enhance their digital lives.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
