The majority of mobile apps include upgrade possibilities, with users being able to purchase subscriptions or make one-time payments. Between the first and the third quarter of 2023, around 97 percent of the consumer spending recorded on business apps worldwide came from subscriptions. Similarly, 96.5 percent of the consumer spending on health and fitness apps came from global users starting a mobile subscription. In comparison, 77 percent of consumer spending on books and reference apps on iOS came from one-time purchases.
Distribution of mobile app spending on subscriptions and one-time payments among users worldwide from 1st to 3rd quarter of 2023, by category
Characteristic
Subscription
One-Time Purchase
Business
96.7%
3.3%
Health and fitness
96.5%
3.5%
Utility and productivity
93.5%
6.5%
Photo and video
93.2%
6.8%
Education
88.2%
11.8%
Entertainment
64.6%
35.4%
Social media
63.1%
36.9%
Sports
32.4%
67.6%
Books and reference
22.9%
77.1%
0%25%50%75%100%125%
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Data for one-time purchases in the categories "Business," "Health and Fitness," and "Utility and Productivity" was calculated by Statista based on the information provided by the source.
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Data.ai. (November 13, 2023). Distribution of mobile app spending on subscriptions and one-time payments among users worldwide from 1st to 3rd quarter of 2023, by category [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483573/app-spending-subscriptions-and-one-time-purchase-by-category/
Data.ai. "Distribution of mobile app spending on subscriptions and one-time payments among users worldwide from 1st to 3rd quarter of 2023, by category." Chart. November 13, 2023. Statista. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483573/app-spending-subscriptions-and-one-time-purchase-by-category/
Data.ai. (2023). Distribution of mobile app spending on subscriptions and one-time payments among users worldwide from 1st to 3rd quarter of 2023, by category. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 15, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483573/app-spending-subscriptions-and-one-time-purchase-by-category/
Data.ai. "Distribution of Mobile App Spending on Subscriptions and One-time Payments among Users Worldwide from 1st to 3rd Quarter of 2023, by Category." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483573/app-spending-subscriptions-and-one-time-purchase-by-category/
Data.ai, Distribution of mobile app spending on subscriptions and one-time payments among users worldwide from 1st to 3rd quarter of 2023, by category Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483573/app-spending-subscriptions-and-one-time-purchase-by-category/ (last visited May 15, 2025)
Distribution of mobile app spending on subscriptions and one-time payments among users worldwide from 1st to 3rd quarter of 2023, by category [Graph], Data.ai, November 13, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1483573/app-spending-subscriptions-and-one-time-purchase-by-category/
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