May 29, 2025
UPDATE
The App Store in the U.S. generated over $400 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024.
For more than 90% of these transactions, developers paid no commission to Apple.
U.S. developer earnings have more than doubled in the last five years.
Apple announced today that the App Store ecosystem in the U.S. facilitated $406 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024, based on a study by Professor Andrey Fradkin from Boston University and economist Dr. Jessica Burley from Analysis Group. Notably, developers did not incur any commission on over 90% of these transactions.
Since 2019, the App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled in size, expanding from $142 billion to $406 billion, with U.S. developer earnings also more than doubling. Small developers experienced especially significant growth, with earnings increasing by 76% between 2021 and 2024.
“For more than 15 years, the App Store has created incredible opportunities for developers, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “This includes countless U.S. developers who are innovating and finding success on our platform. We are committed to investing in the tools and technology that help developers elevate their apps and deliver transformative user experiences.”
Significant Growth Across App Categories
Since its launch in 2008, the App Store has been a substantial business opportunity for developers. In 2024 alone, the ecosystem facilitated $277 billion in sales and billings from physical goods and services, $75 billion from in-app advertising, and $53 billion from digital goods and services. Key growth areas included food and grocery delivery, entertainment, and enterprise applications. AI-powered apps are increasingly enhancing users’ daily activities.
Since 2019, spending on physical goods and services has more than tripled, while in-app spending on digital goods and advertising has more than doubled. Retail spending and grocery delivery increased by more than fourfold. In 2024, spending on travel and food delivery surpassed ride-hailing apps, reflecting a growing trend of users opting for app-based services for their travel bookings and restaurant deliveries. U.S. developers also saw earnings rise in key categories like productivity, education, and business, with gaming leading in earnings for 2024.
International Success for U.S. Developers
U.S. developers have achieved remarkable global success, listing their apps in 175 countries and regions. The App Store’s streamlined payment and commerce system has facilitated app monetization worldwide. Many U.S.-developed apps have ranked among the Top 5 most-downloaded apps in 170 out of 175 international storefronts.
The App Store remains a secure marketplace for users, ensured by Apple’s thorough App Review process and strong privacy protections. A recent report highlighted that the App Store prevented over $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the past five years and rejected 1.9 million app submissions in 2024 for not meeting the required security, reliability, and user experience standards.
Expanding Resources for U.S. Developers
Apple continues enhancing App Store features to simplify app distribution and improve discoverability. Investments in App Store Connect provide developers essential tools for tracking performance and engagement through App Analytics, along with enhancements to StoreKit and the introduction of new features such as App Store Accessibility Nutrition Labels, available later this year.
Initiatives like the App Store Small Business Program aim to nurture the next generation of innovative apps, supporting small developers like Slopes, which has grown from a solo passion project to an internationally trusted app for over 5 million winter sports enthusiasts. The Slopes app aids users in tracking personal stats, finding friends on the mountain, and exploring interactive resort maps, integrating various Apple technologies including HealthKit, Live Activities, and ARKit.
Apple also provides numerous online and in-person programs for app developers to enhance their products. The Apple Developer Center in Cupertino hosts year-round activities and fosters a collaborative environment for improving apps using over 250,000 APIs within frameworks like HealthKit, Metal, Core ML, MapKit, and SwiftUI. Resources such as Pathways and Apple Developer Forums connect developers to tools, documentation, and video tutorials for creating exceptional products on Apple’s platforms.
In 2021, Apple launched its first Apple Developer Academy in Detroit in collaboration with Michigan State University to help students develop skills in coding, AI, design, and marketing. Since then, the academy has trained over 1,200 students, while more than 900 have participated in the Apple Foundation Program, an intensive four-week course teaching app development fundamentals at the academy and Henry Ford College.
Apple supports over 2.9 million jobs across the U.S. through direct employment, partnerships with local suppliers and manufacturers, and jobs stemming from the thriving iOS app economy.
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