June 4, 2026
UPDATE
The App Store ecosystem reaches a record $1.4 trillion as developers continue to thrive worldwide
Apps with consumer-facing AI saw four times greater billing growth by 2025
Apple today announced that the global App Store ecosystem will facilitate more than $1.4 trillion in billings and revenue for developers by 2025, according to Apple figures. a new study by economists from Analysis Group. For more than 90 percent of the billings and sales facilitated by the App Store ecosystem, developers paid no commission to Apple. Since 2019, the size of the App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled as the App Store remains the safest and best place for users to discover and download apps. The App Store continues to support developers as they build new experiences for users around the world, including apps that leverage emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). By 2025, more than 40 of the top 100 apps in the store had consumer-facing AI capabilities, and those apps saw stronger billing growth than other top 100 apps.
“Developers are the heart 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 create apps that enrich the lives of users around the world.”
An engine of global commerce for developers
The new research reflects the continued growth of the App Store ecosystem and the economic opportunities it provides developers – a testament to the role apps continue to play in people’s lives. By 2025, sales of physical goods and services will reach $1.1 trillion, fueled by continued growth in groceries, food delivery and takeout, general retail and travel. Developer billings and sales for digital goods and services totaled $149 billion, driven by games, enterprise apps and video streaming apps. In-app advertising revenue from ads placed by developers in their apps reached $150 billion.
the App Store, averaging more than 850 million weekly users across 175 countries and regions, allowing developers to grow their businesses and reach new customers around the world at the click of a button. Users increasingly relied on apps to shop for groceries, increase productivity, maintain their health and fitness, and stay connected with friends and family.
AI accelerates app innovation for developers and users
In the App Store, AI is becoming an increasingly integral part of the way apps are experienced. New and existing apps across a wide range of categories are evolving to provide users with richer features and capabilities. From health and fitness apps that provide personalized recommendations using on-device intelligence, to photo and video editing apps with AI-powered creative features, and productivity tools that use powerful, cloud-based AI models to automate complex tasks, the integration of AI into everyday apps is creating new opportunities for developers.
Around the world, developers of all sizes continue to add even more intelligent experiences to their apps through Apple technologies like the Foundation Models framework. By leveraging the large on-device language model at the heart of Apple Intelligence, developers can create new intelligent features that protect user privacy and are available offline, while leveraging free AI inference.
AI also makes app development more accessible than ever before. Developer tools with AI coding features, such as Xcode, enable a wider range of creators to design, build and launch apps. For example, agentic coding in Xcode 26 can work with greater autonomy toward a developer’s goals, giving him or her the power to streamline workflows, iterate faster, and bring ideas to life.
Global growth, regional momentum
The power of the App Store ecosystem in 2025 was reflected not just globally, but in major regions around the world. Over the past six years, App Store-facilitated billings and sales have more than doubled in China and more than tripled in the US and Europe.
Physical goods and services accounted for the largest share of total billings and sales in each region, with general retail being the number one category in all markets. In addition to retail, local consumer habits drove clear regional trends. Travel was the second largest spending category for physical goods and services in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. In Korea, food delivery and takeout ranked second. And in China, groceries and food delivery became the second and third largest categories, respectively.
These clear regional trends demonstrate how the App Store ecosystem supports developers on a global and local scale. By supporting large universal categories like retail alongside highly specific local demands like regional food delivery and travel, the App Store provides a trusted marketplace where developers of all sizes can build businesses that meet the everyday needs of their communities.
Invested in developers. Everywhere.
Apple remains deeply committed to providing developers with the tools, resources and support they need to build, grow and scale successful businesses on the App Store. Developers benefit from a broad ecosystem of capabilities across the entire development lifecycle: from building and testing apps with Xcode and TestFlight, to understanding performance with App Analytics, to reaching users through features like custom product pages and App Store editorials across global stores. Apple also invests in platform technologies, commerce systems and distribution infrastructure that help developers build secure apps, offer digital goods and subscriptions, and scale their operations globally. Every year, Apple continues to invest in expanding its frameworks with powerful new APIs and technologies that help developers create innovative, high-quality experiences across all Apple platforms.
By 2025, Apple Developer Centers were home to thousands of developers in the US, China, India and Singapore. A new Apple Developer Center will open in Berlin later this year, which will also serve a large and vibrant developer community across Europe. With nearly two dozen Apple Developer Academies in Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the US, along with dozens of Apple Foundation Programs, Apple continues to equip the next generation of developers with foundational skills in coding, AI, design and marketing.
Apple also offers developers a variety of online and in-person programs, including /Meet with Apple sessions, appointments and labs, and access to Apple Support via phone and email in nine languages. Resources like Pathways and Apple Developer Forums help developers connect within the community and easily access tools, documentation, and videos to create their best products on Apple’s platforms.
Next week, at Apple’s annual meeting Global Developer ConferenceApple will provide a first look at exciting new features, APIs and technologies that will further empower developers to create powerful experiences across all Apple platforms. Developers and students can access more than 100 new video sessions on tools, technologies and design; participate in Group Labs; and participate in conversations on the Apple Developer Forums. All sessions are available on the Apple Developer app, website, YouTube channel. Developers can also follow the conference worldwide LinkedIn WeChatand beyond available.
Press Contacts
Josh Zeliger
Apple
(647) 537-7244
Cortney Hughes
Apple
(647) 943-4562
