Mobile app publishers - statistics & facts
Mobile app publishers have been providing users with an array of services. The most popular mobile applications have millions of users as their global audience, who rely on them to check e-mails, learn languages, and edit pictures.
During the second quarter of 2024, user app spending across the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store was about 36.2 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of almost four billion U.S. dollars compared to the corresponding period of 2023. China and the United States were confirmed as the largest app publishing markets.
Apps published by Microsoft were among the most downloaded worldwide, with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Authenticator reporting approximately 26.3 million and 19.6 million downloads, respectively, during the third quarter of 2024.
The Irish-based Playrix is behind some of the most engaging gaming apps published in the region, with titles such as Gardenscapes and Homescapes generating billions of U.S. dollars in revenues. In 2024, Israel confirmed itself as a regional power-hub for digital companies, with publishers such Lightricks generating almost 130 million U.S. dollars between January and November 2024.
Renown U.S. and Chinese tech giants such as Google and Tencent are also among the most successful mobile app publishers worldwide. However, the ranking of app developers and publishers is increasingly populated by strong newcomers such as ByteDance, publisher of the social video sensation TikTok. Smaller regional players are also emerging, and despite their size, they are achieving a significant growth in their respective markets. Mobile gaming continues to be a staple of the industry, particularly in in Europe. Mobile-first services such as dating and language learning, such as in the case of Match Group’s Tinder or Duolingo and have been generating millions in revenues via their app presence.
During the second quarter of 2024, user app spending across the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store was about 36.2 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of almost four billion U.S. dollars compared to the corresponding period of 2023. China and the United States were confirmed as the largest app publishing markets.
North America has a stronghold on mobile
In 2023, the mobile app market in North and Latin America was dominated by large corporations based in the United States, with many of the highest-grossing mobile app publishers being globally recognizable names in the digital market. Despite offering only a limited number of paid services or subscription apps, Google LLC was the leading North and Latin American app publisher in 2024, with freemium apps like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Drive contributing over 3.2 billion U.S. dollars in-app purchases for the year.Apps published by Microsoft were among the most downloaded worldwide, with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Authenticator reporting approximately 26.3 million and 19.6 million downloads, respectively, during the third quarter of 2024.
Asia-Pacific publishers achieved global recognition
Even though Chinese tech companies facing tough scrutiny in their home country and abroad, the global public is more than familiar with products such as TikTok, PUBG Mobile, and even mobile streaming services such as iQiYi and Tencent Video. In 2024, Shenzhen-based Tencent reported revenues of almost seven billion U.S. dollars from in-app purchases on Google Play and the Apple App Store alone, without counting its revenues from local app stores.EMEA is the hypercasual gaming hive
Mobile gaming publishers based in Europe have experienced worldwide prominence with many of their products becoming household names. In contrast, mobile non-gaming apps developed in Europe have largely remained under the global public radar. However, notable execptions include music streaming app Spotify, the UK-based DAZN Limited for online streaming, the German Babbel, and the Italian Bending Spoons.The Irish-based Playrix is behind some of the most engaging gaming apps published in the region, with titles such as Gardenscapes and Homescapes generating billions of U.S. dollars in revenues. In 2024, Israel confirmed itself as a regional power-hub for digital companies, with publishers such Lightricks generating almost 130 million U.S. dollars between January and November 2024.
Renown U.S. and Chinese tech giants such as Google and Tencent are also among the most successful mobile app publishers worldwide. However, the ranking of app developers and publishers is increasingly populated by strong newcomers such as ByteDance, publisher of the social video sensation TikTok. Smaller regional players are also emerging, and despite their size, they are achieving a significant growth in their respective markets. Mobile gaming continues to be a staple of the industry, particularly in in Europe. Mobile-first services such as dating and language learning, such as in the case of Match Group’s Tinder or Duolingo and have been generating millions in revenues via their app presence.
