Apple: Developers Paid No Commission on 90% of 2024 Sales

Core Insights - The App Store in the United States facilitated $406 billion in developer billings and sales last year, reflecting significant growth in the ecosystem [1] - Over 90% of the billings and sales did not incur any commission fees to Apple, indicating a favorable environment for developers [2] - The App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled in size from $142 billion in 2019 to $406 billion last year, with U.S.-based developers' earnings more than doubling [2] - Small developers experienced a remarkable 76% increase in earnings between 2021 and 2024 [2] Financial Performance - The App Store ecosystem facilitated $277 billion in billings and sales from physical goods and services, $75 billion from in-app advertising, and $53 billion from digital goods and services last year [2] - Key growth drivers included food and grocery delivery, entertainment, and enterprise applications [2] - U.S. developers saw increased earnings across top categories such as productivity, education, and business, with game developers achieving the highest earnings last year [4] Innovation and Future Developments - The App Store is recognized as a global launchpad for innovation, particularly with the rise of AI-powered applications [3] - Spending on travel and food delivery surpassed ride-hailing, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards app-based services [3] - Apple is set to announce tools for third-party developers to utilize large language models in their software at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference [4][5] Fraud Prevention - The App Store prevented over $2 billion in fraudulent transactions during 2024 and more than $9 billion in the past five years, showcasing its commitment to security [5]