Apple Says U.S. App Store Generated $406 Billion in Developer Sales in 2024
Just ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple has revealed new data showcasing the financial growth of its U.S. App Store. According to the company, the App Store ecosystem generated $406 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024, nearly triple the $142 billion reported in 2019.
Apple emphasized that 90% of these transactions incurred no commission, highlighting that the vast majority of App Store activity happens outside of Apple’s standard fee structure.
The data comes from an Apple-funded study conducted by Boston University Professor Andrey Fradkin and Dr. Jessica Burley of the Analysis Group. The latter has partnered with Apple for years to produce reports that frame the App Store as a positive force for developers amid growing antitrust scrutiny.
These studies stress that relatively few developers pay the full commission rate, with many enrolled in Apple’s Small Business Program, which cuts fees from 30% to 15% for those earning under $1 million annually.
Despite these claims, Apple continues to face regulatory pressure. In May, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple had violated a previous court order tied to the Epic Games lawsuit, requiring it to allow developers to link to external payment options—where Apple cannot collect a commission. Apple is currently appealing that decision.
The ongoing debate has intensified tensions with the iOS developer community, many of whom believe their apps have significantly contributed to the iPhone’s success and feel Apple’s policies are overly extractive.
Apple maintains that the App Store is key to developer success, offering discovery tools, payment infrastructure, and security protections. The company says U.S.-based developer earnings have more than doubled over the past five years, with small business developer revenue rising 76% between 2021 and 2024, thanks in part to its reduced-commission programs.
Apple also reiterated the App Store’s global reach—serving 175 countries and regions—and its role in preventing billions in fraudulent transactions. The platform provides developers with access to 250,000 APIs across technologies like HealthKit, Metal, Core ML, MapKit, and SwiftUI.
The report also breaks down 2024 U.S. App Store billings and sales by category:
- $277 billion from physical goods and services
- $75 billion from in-app advertising
- $53 billion from digitalSince 2019, spending on physical goods and services has more than tripled, while digital goods and in-app advertising revenues have more than doubled. Notably, categories like general retail and grocery delivery saw more than 4x growth during that period.