Apple on Thursday shared the results of a commissioned study that delves into the success of the App Store ecosystem and how much money that developers large and small have earned through digital and physical purchases.
The study shows that the U.S. App Store facilitated $406 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024, and that for 90% of those sales, developers paid no commission to Apple. The study was prepared by Professor Andrey Fradkin from Boston University Questrom School of Business and economist Dr. Jessica Burley from Analysis Group.
That amount includes both digital and physical sales. For the latter category, developers pay no commission to Apple. Of the total amount, $277 billion includes sales of physical goods and services, while $53 billion is from digital goods and services (some of which Apple does collect fees on). $75 billion of the amount is attributed to in-app advertising.
Apple has never collected a commission on physical sales, such as are offered by the Amazon app.Apple counts sales of physical goods, digital goods, services, and advertising made through its App Store apps.
Over the last five years, the size of the App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled from $142 billion in 2019 to $406 billion last year, and earnings for U.S.-based developers also more than doubled. Small developers in particular have done well, as their earnings increased by 76 percent between 2021 and 2024.
“For more than 15 years, the App Store has created incredible opportunity for app developers, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That includes the many U.S. developers who are innovating, building their businesses, and finding exceptional success on the App Store. We’ll continue to invest in powerful tools, technology, and resources to help developers in the U.S. and around the world take their apps to new heights and create transformative experiences for users.”
Spending on physical goods more than tripled between 2021 and 2024, and spending on digital goods and services and in-app advertising more than doubled.
U.S. developers also have the ability to list their apps on storefronts in 175 countries and regions, and Apple says those developers have seen impressive success by doing so. The company also touted the App Store’s payment and commerce system that it says has made it easy for developers to monetize their apps in the U.S. and around the world.
Apple is publishing the results of the study as it is waging a legal battle against major U.S. App Store riule changes, which were implemented earlier this year, as a result of its ongoing legal battle with Epic Games.
