Developers have made $550 billion on Apple's App Store since 2008

[ad_1] Apple providers had a “record-breaking yr,” in accordance with a weblog put up by senior vice chairman Eddy Cue.

In 2025, Apple had 850 million common weekly App Retailer customers (up from 813 million in 2024), over $100 billion in Apple Pay service provider gross sales, and a 36% enhance in month-to-month Apple TV engagement.

Apple Music additionally had its greatest yr ever for listenership and new subscriber development, which is spectacular amid Spotify’s longstanding dominance of the market.

Apple has much less continuously disclosed figures about App Retailer payouts over the past a number of years, however the firm shared that it has now paid $550 billion to builders since its launch in 2008. This means important development, as Apple final reported that as of 2021, it had paid out $260 billion to builders, up from the $200 billion it reported in 2020.

The App Retailer usually takes a 30% fee from in-app purchases, although it provides small companies (builders making below $1 million yearly) a diminished 15% payment. This part of Apple’s enterprise has been the goal of heavy regulatory scrutiny, with worldwide courts investigating it for monopolistic practices.

Apple Music and Apple TV are rising

Apple’s leisure merchandise are making strides, too. Apple TV eclipsed all prior viewership data in December 2025, the corporate says, and Apple Music achieved report highs in listenership and new subscribers.

Apple TV’s development comes alongside the debut of latest hits like “Pluribus” and “The Studio,” in addition to ongoing successes like “Severance.” Apple TV additionally struck main streaming offers with Main League Soccer and Formulation 1. “F1,” Apple TV’s film in regards to the sport, turned Apple Studios’ highest-grossing movie but, in addition to the highest-grossing movie of star Brad Pitt’s profession.

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Apple credit its karaoke-like “Sing” function, partnerships with firms like GM and Chase, and different new developments for its development. It notes that Shazam generated over 1 billion recognitions per 30 days, which may have funneled development into its Music service.

Nevertheless it’s additionally attainable that Apple benefited from controversy round Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s enterprise ventures.

Ek’s funding agency led a €600 million funding in European protection tech firm Helsing, which makes AI-powered navy software program and strike drones. Artists like Xiu Xiu, Sylvan Esso, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Deerhoof, and others eliminated their catalogs from Spotify in protest.

Spotify has confronted different controversies over the past a number of years, from its platforming of COVID-19 misinformation through Joe Rogan’s podcast (previously a Spotify unique) to its artist payout metrics.

However, Apple Music could possibly be rising as a result of it’s merely making a product that's higher suited to some listeners (I wrote about my resolution to change from Spotify to Apple Music as I turned more and more suffocated by algorithmic suggestions).

It may be a monetary resolution amid unsure financial instances — Apple Music lures new subscribers with its three-month free provide, which comes alongside the acquisition of most new Apple gadgets.