Massive growth since 2020
Apple’s U.S. App Store brought in more than $10.1 billion in commissions last year, according to data from market analytics firm Appfigures. That figure is based on a total of roughly $33.7 billion in gross revenue from apps and in-app purchases, with developers keeping about $23.6 billion.
Just four years earlier, Apple’s U.S. App Store commissions were estimated at around $4.7 billion. The 2024 numbers mark a 112% increase over that period — a reflection of how central the App Store has become to Apple’s services revenue.
Globally, the numbers are even bigger
App Store revenue worldwide reached $91.3 billion in 2024. Of that, Apple is believed to have collected more than $27 billion in commissions. These estimates don’t include all services funneled through Apple devices but processed off-platform — which Apple sometimes counts in its own services numbers.
The biggest slice comes from mobile games, as usual. In the U.S. alone, game-related commissions hit $3.8 billion, while all other apps combined brought in about $6.2 billion for Apple.
Policy shifts, legal pressure
In the middle of these record earnings, Apple’s control over its platform continues to face legal and regulatory scrutiny. A recent U.S. court ruling blocked Apple from taking its usual 27% cut on payments processed outside the App Store. The company was forced to revise its guidelines, allowing developers to point users to external payment options — without penalty.
Since then, apps like Spotify and Amazon’s Kindle have quietly added web-based payments. Others, including smaller developers, have started using platforms like Patreon for funding — bypassing Apple’s ecosystem entirely.
Apple is appealing
The company isn’t letting the changes go unchallenged. Apple has appealed the ruling, arguing that it’s being punished for conduct that wasn’t found illegal. Internally, the company estimates these changes could cut “billions” from its annual revenue.
For now, though, the numbers remain strong. And despite outside pressure, Apple’s slice of the app economy still looks substantial.
As a young independent media outlet, EOTO.tech needs your support. Follow us and add us to your favorites on Google News. Thank you!
