The App Store has reached a stage of high maturity. While the total number of apps peaked near 2.2 million in 2021, Apple’s ongoing “quality purges”—designed to remove 32-bit legacy apps and abandoned software—have stabilized the store at approximately 1.96 million to 2.06 million active applications.
App Store Metrics Summary (Late 2025)
| Metric | Statistic |
| Total Active Apps | ~2,065,717 |
| Active App Publishers | ~872,554 |
| Daily App Releases (Avg.) | ~1,890 |
| Monthly App Additions (Avg.) | ~57,480 |
| Annual App Downloads | ~38 Billion |
Application Price Distribution
The market has shifted almost entirely toward the “freemium” model. Nearly 95% of all apps are free to download, relying on in-app purchases (IAP) or subscriptions for revenue.
- Free Apps: 1,967,946 (95.33%)
- Paid Apps: 96,367 (4.67%)
- Average Paid App Price: $1.46 (Standard); $0.74 (Gaming)
Application Category Distribution
Below is the distribution of the top-level categories. Gaming remains the largest single category, though it has seen a slight percentage decrease in share as Business, Education, and AI-integrated Productivity apps have surged in volume.
Current Active Application Count By Category
| Rank | Category | Active Apps (Est.) | % of Total |
| 1 | Games | 208,728 | 10.10% |
| 2 | Business | 202,640 | 9.81% |
| 3 | Education | 196,449 | 9.51% |
| 4 | Utilities | 185,294 | 8.97% |
| 5 | Lifestyle | 158,027 | 7.65% |
| 6 | Food & Drink | 127,661 | 6.18% |
| 7 | Health & Fitness | 114,854 | 5.56% |
| 8 | Productivity | 103,492 | 5.01% |
| 9 | Entertainment | 98,328 | 4.76% |
| 10 | Shopping | 89,238 | 4.32% |
| 11 | Finance | 78,497 | 3.80% |
| 12 | Travel | 72,093 | 3.49% |
| 13 | Social Networking | 56,807 | 2.75% |
| 14 | Sports | 51,229 | 2.48% |
| 15 | Medical | 44,825 | 2.17% |
| 16 | Music | 39,248 | 1.90% |
| 17 | Photo & Video | 32,844 | 1.59% |
| 18 | Reference | 29,126 | 1.41% |
| 19 | News | 28,093 | 1.36% |
| 20 | Navigation | 22,722 | 1.10% |
| 21 | Books | 18,385 | 0.89% |
| 22 | Graphics & Design | 6,816 | 0.33% |
| 23 | Social Casino | 6,197 | 0.30% |
| 24 | Developer Tools | 2,892 | 0.14% |
| 25 | Newsstand | 2,478 | 0.12% |
| — | Total | 2,065,717 | 100% |
The App Store Evolution: A 17-Year Empirical Study (2008–2025)
Abstract: This research tracks the App Store from its 2008 inception to the modern AI-driven landscape. We analyze the transition from a premium-priced marketplace to a “freemium” dominated ecosystem, examining the impact of Apple’s periodic “quality purges” and the shift in consumer category preferences over nearly two decades.
1.97MActive Apps (2025)
94.6%Free-to-Download
$1.3TTotal Ecosystem Value
1. Volume Growth & The “Quality Purge” Era
Between 2008 and 2017, the App Store saw exponential growth, peaking at 2.2 million apps. However, our data reveals a significant correction period starting in late 2017. As Apple enforced the removal of abandoned 32-bit applications and introduced stricter “Spam” guidelines, the total count fluctuated. By 2025, the store has stabilized at approximately 1.97 million highly-optimized applications.
2. The Death of the $0.99 App
In the early years (2008-2011), the “Paid App” was the standard. Developers typically charged $0.99 to $4.99 upfront. Today, that model has nearly vanished. Driven by the success of In-App Purchases (IAP) and Subscriptions, over 94% of apps are now free to download. Our research shows that while the “cost to buy the whole store” has increased, the barrier to entry for users has effectively hit zero.
3. Historical Data & Performance Metrics
Click the column headers below to sort the historical data by year, volume, or developmental status.
| Year ↕ | Active Count ↕ | Free App Share ↕ | Key Milestone ↕ |
|---|
5. The Evolution of “The Apple Tax”
For over a decade, the “30% Commission” was an industry standard that went unchallenged. However, starting in 2021, regulatory pressure and landmark legal battles (such as Epic Games v. Apple) forced a restructuring of the store’s economic foundation.
6. Top Publishers by Market Presence (2025)
While the App Store hosts millions of independent creators, a small group of “Mega-Publishers” controls a disproportionate share of total downloads and revenue. These entities often manage hundreds of localized versions of their applications.
7. Summary Table: Then vs. Now
| Metric | 2008 (Launch) | 2025 (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Active Apps | ~15,000 | ~1.97 Million |
| Standard Commission | 30% (Flat) | 15% / 30% / 27% (Variable) |
| Dominant Category | Games / Entertainment | Utilities / AI / Business |
| Primary Business Model | Paid ($0.99) | Subscription / Freemium |
| Dev Enrollment | $99/yr | $99/yr (Standard) / External Fees |