Key Highlights
- The global mobile app revenue is projected to reach $935 billion by 2023
- There are over 4.8 million apps available across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store combined
- The average smartphone user has more than 80 apps installed on their device
- Mobile apps generate 89% of the total time spent on digital media
- The top 10 app categories account for over 80% of all app downloads
- Gaming apps constitute the largest share of app downloads, making up nearly 30% of total downloads in 2023
- The revenue from mobile gaming is expected to total $116 billion in 2023
- More than 70% of mobile app revenue comes from in-app purchases and in-app advertising
- The number of mobile app downloads worldwide reached 230 billion in 2021
- The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $57 globally
- Android holds about 71% of the global mobile OS market share, while iOS holds around 29%
- The number of active iOS devices reached nearly 1 billion in 2022
- In 2023, mobile apps are expected to generate over $140 billion solely from in-app advertising revenue
The mobile app industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with revenues projected to hit nearly $935 billion in 2023, driven by over 4.8 million apps, widespread consumer engagement, and a booming gaming and mobile commerce market that collectively reshapes how we connect and spend in the digital age.
Advertising and Monetization
- More than 70% of mobile app revenue comes from in-app purchases and in-app advertising
- The average cost to acquire a mobile app user through advertising is around $2.50
Advertising and Monetization Interpretation
App Development and Trends
- The average cost for developing a simple mobile app is between $10,000 and $50,000
- The demand for cross-platform app development frameworks increased by 25% in 2023
- On average, it takes about 4 to 6 months to develop and launch a mobile app
- The average number of updates per mobile app is about 3.5 per year
- Mobile app development is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2023 to 2028
- The number of mobile app developers worldwide exceeded 2.8 million in 2023
App Development and Trends Interpretation
App Popularity and Downloads
- The top 10 app categories account for over 80% of all app downloads
- Gaming apps constitute the largest share of app downloads, making up nearly 30% of total downloads in 2023
- The number of mobile app downloads worldwide reached 230 billion in 2021
- Over 80% of mobile apps are downloaded from the Google Play Store
- The total number of downloadable apps from the Apple App Store surpassed 200 billion in 2022
App Popularity and Downloads Interpretation
Market Size and Revenue
- The global mobile app revenue is projected to reach $935 billion by 2023
- There are over 4.8 million apps available across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store combined
- The revenue from mobile gaming is expected to total $116 billion in 2023
- The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $57 globally
- Android holds about 71% of the global mobile OS market share, while iOS holds around 29%
- The number of active iOS devices reached nearly 1 billion in 2022
- In 2023, mobile apps are expected to generate over $140 billion solely from in-app advertising revenue
- The top 10 countries by app store spending account for approximately 65% of total mobile app revenue
- In 2023, consumer spend on mobile apps in the U.S. reached around $70 billion
- The rise of mobile commerce has led to over 50% of online sales being made through mobile devices in 2023
- Mobile app advertising spend is expected to surpass $290 billion globally in 2024
- The revenue per user for subscription-based apps is significantly higher than free apps, with an average of $72 annually
- The majority of mobile apps are designed for smartphones, with over 85% being optimized for mobile devices
- The most lucrative app categories include gaming, dating, and shopping, generating billions in revenue annually
- In 2023, the worldwide mobile app advertising market size was valued at approximately $276 billion
- User spending on mobile apps is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12% until 2026
- The number of mobile app users in China exceeded 800 million in 2023, making it the largest single market
- The average revenue per app user differs significantly by country, with the U.S. averaging around $84, while India averages $22
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
User Behavior and Engagement
- The average smartphone user has more than 80 apps installed on their device
- Mobile apps generate 89% of the total time spent on digital media
- The average session duration for mobile apps is about 4.2 minutes
- 65% of mobile users open an app more than 11 times per month
- 50% of all app downloads are abandoned within the first 30 days
- The fastest-growing app category in 2023 is health & fitness, with a growth rate of over 20%
- Nearly 79% of mobile apps are abandoned after three days of inactivity
- About 60% of mobile app users prefer to access content via apps instead of mobile websites
- Mobile apps’ average retention rate after 30 days is around 20%
- The average app session length for social media apps is approximately 6 minutes
- The proportion of mobile apps offering personalized experiences has increased by over 30% in the past three years
- 90% of mobile app users prefer apps with integrated payment options
User Behavior and Engagement Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1APPANNIEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2STATISTAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3APPSFLYERResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4NEWZOOResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5DEVELOPERResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6EMARKETERResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7SITESResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 8SENSORTOWERResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 9TECHRADARResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 10STACKOVERFLOWResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 11APPTENTIVEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 12EMARKETERResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 13MARKETWATCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 14PWCResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 15ADWEEKResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 16GRANDVIEWRESEARCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 17TECHCRUNCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 18APPLEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source