15 years ago, Apple launched the App Store. Last year, it brought in $1.1 trillion for developers
Back in 2007 when Apple introduced the iPhone, there was no App Store to go along with it. Steve Jobs wanted developers to code third-party web apps instead. Yeah, even geniuses have bad ideas sometimes. A year later, Jobs relented and Apple launched the App Store.
To say the App Store has been a success for not just Apple but developers is an understatement—that is, at least if you go by an independent study from economists at the Analysis Group, which Apple is sharing today. The most striking number from the study is that in 2022, App Store developers generated $1.1 trillion in total billings and sales.
That enormous figure in just one year puts the App Store (which is just one small facet of Apple’s ecosystem) above nearly every other company on the planet, save for a few tech giants. The study also reveals some other interesting numbers about the App Store (and in a press release, Apple added a few of its own):
There’s no doubt that these latest App Store numbers are impressive and go to show just how valuable Apple’s ecosystem is, not just to the company but to both major and independent developers. However, there’s probably an additional reason Apple is sharing this study and these figures now, other than to brag.
It is rumored that in iOS 17, which is expected to be previewed next week at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the company will allow European users to side-load apps for the first time—that is, install apps without having to download them from Apple’s App Store.
It’s a move that the EU is enforcing Apple to comply with over competition fears and one that Apple probably hopes other governments don’t enforce as well. These numbers released today may be Apple’s way of highlighting the positive economic impact of its App Store and serve as a reminder to lawmakers just how beneficial the storefront is to small and large developers across the globe.
(16)