App Store ecosystem powered $1.3 trillion in sales in 2024, claims Apple-backed study

Apple App Store

Apple’s App Store ecosystem facilitated a staggering $1.3 trillion in developer billings and sales globally in 2024, according to a new independent study by economists Prof. Andrey Fradkin and Dr. Jessica Burley. More than 90% of this commerce generated zero commission for Apple, the company noted, underscoring the breadth of developer-led transactions outside its traditional fee structure.

Apple CEO Tim Cook called the findings “a testament to the many ways developers are enriching people’s lives,” citing the App Store’s global reach and impact on innovation.

The study breaks down the trillion-dollar ecosystem into:

•$1 trillion from physical goods and services — with food delivery, grocery orders, and travel booking as key drivers.

•$131 billion from digital goods and services — dominated by games and content creation tools.

•$150 billion in in-app advertising revenue — helping keep many apps free or low-cost.

Global growth trends highlight how developer monetisation has diversified. Digital content creation apps like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom saw surging demand, while mobile payments rose 7x in the U.S. since 2019. Online grocery spending in China grew 5x, and food delivery in Europe more than tripled. In markets like India, Japan, and Australia, travel apps emerged as high-growth categories.

The App Store reportedly draws 813 million average weekly visitors, functioning as a global distribution platform for both indie developers and established brands.

Since 2019, developer-driven commerce across all categories has more than doubled, positioning the App Store not just as a marketplace, but a robust engine of global economic activity — now increasingly shaped by AI-powered apps and creative tools, claims the report.

The report, released ahead of Apple’s WWDC 2025, is seen as a strategic reminder of the App Store’s economic clout amid ongoing global scrutiny of its platform policies.