App Store Produces The Most Developer Millionaires

In the continuing app wars between the App Store and Google Play, the App Store has the edge when it comes to million-dollar apps, according to reports.

The App Store has produced nearly twice as many million-dollar apps as Google Play – 164 app makers made their first million in net revenue in 2018, versus 88 in Google Play.

That doesn’t mean Google can’t catch up – in fact, even though the App Store is winning the game, Google Play’s million-dollar publisher numbers are growing faster.

The App Store made 143 million-dollar publishers in 2017, and 164 this year. Alternatively, Google Play made 71 last year and 88 this year, a 24 percent growth rate versus 15 percent for the App Store.

Most of the million dollar-making apps were games, which generally earn the most money. This year, 54 of the App Store’s 164 million-dollar app publishers were games, with FoxNext Games’ Marvel Strike Force in the top spot with a haul of around $15 million.

Other categories saw growth as well. Lifestyle grew from 5 percent to 10 percent, and health and fitness grew from 6 to 12 percent.

When games are compared head-to-head, 65 percent of Google Play’s million-dollar makers were games, versus 33 percent on the App Store. Both app stores continue to grow, in downloads and spending. Combined, both stores reached 113 billion downloads and earned $76 billion in spending.

Apple is always looking for new revenue when it comes to apps; the company recently announced that it would make some changes to facilitate that. Apple made some alterations to its App Store Review Guidelines, and the company will soon allow iOS users to gift in-app purchases.

“Apps may enable gifting of items that are eligible for in-app purchase to others. Such gifts may only be refunded to the original purchaser and may not be exchanged,” according to the new wording, which was reported by MacRumors.