Apple’s App Store continues to thrive year on year, with the company announcing it had facilitated more than $US1.4 trillion in developer transactions in 2025 alone, according to a study by economists at Analysis Group.
And Apple says for more than 90 per cent of the billings and sales through the App Store ecosystems, developers did not pay any commission to Apple.
The App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled since 2019 as developers have embraced it as the safest and best place for users to discover and download their smartphone apps.
“Developers are the heartbeat of the App Store, and this year’s incredible milestone is a testament to their boundless creativity,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
“We are deeply committed to providing developers with the tools, technologies, and trusted platforms they need to build for the future. Together, developers are creating apps that enrich the lives of users around the world.”
The Analysis Group study further highlights the sustained growth and strength of the App Store ecosystem, which is a direct reflection of the role apps continue to play in our daily lives.
In 2025, sale of physical goods and services made up $US1.1 trillion which was mainly due to the growth of grocery, food delivery and pick-up, general retail and travel.
Billings and sales by developers for digital goods and services totalled $US149 billion and this was made up mainly by games, enterprise apps and video streaming apps.
In-app ads placed by developers generated $US151 billion in revenue in 2025.
In 2025 the App Store had more than 850 million average weekly users across 175 countries and regions and it was this incredible reach that helped developers grow their businesses and reach new customers around the world.
AI is also playing a role in the growth and improvement of the App Store.
A wide range of apps are now benefiting and evolving with richer features and capabilities because of on-device intelligence, ranging from things like photo and video editing apps to productivity tools that can automate complex tasks.
Developing apps has also become even more accessible than ever before, thanks to AI.
Developer tools with AI coding features, including Xcode, are making it possible for more creators to design, build, and launch apps.
This week Apple will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, where we will see the new features, APIs, and technologies to empower developers across Apple’s platforms for the very first time.
Students and developers can access more than 100 new video sessions about tools, technologies, and design and take part in group labs and join conversations on the Apple Developer Forums.
