Since the launch of its App Store in 2008, Apple has paid more than $260 billion to app developers over the years through the sale of digital goods and services on the App Store.
The iPhone maker made this disclosure in its blog post, where it stated that in 2021 alone, it spent the most on app developers at $60 billion, a digit larger than the previous years, separate from the $200 billion spent so far since inception till 2020.
By the end of 2019, Apple had paid developers a total of $155 billion, the amount compared to the previous year was a little less at $120 billion. This means that payouts to developers jumped by $35 million from 2018 to 2019, also growing by another $45 billion from 2019 to 2020.
Read: Apple becomes first company to hit $3 trillion market cap
What Apple is saying
According to the company, in 2021, Apple’s services helped deliver innovative apps, powerful content, and transformative experiences that enrich users’ lives around the world in more ways than ever before, hence, driving revenue streams of developers in 2021.
It noted, “Apps and games have become the essential source for the world’s most innovative and timely entertainment. The efforts, innovation, and creativity of the developers who leverage Apple technology to build these incredible experiences, coupled with the power of the App Store’s global platform to connect businesses of all sizes with over 600 million people each week across 175 countries, has led to developers selling digital goods and services earning more than $260 billion since the App Store launched in 2008.”
Read: Apple CEO, Tim Cook earned over $98 million in 2021
What you should know
Apple has adjusted its commission structure to reduce its own cut of developer revenue amid an increase in regulatory scrutiny of its App Store business practices, antitrust complaints and lawsuits
The company reduced its commission from 30% to 15% on qualifying apps – those that earned up to $1 million per year – with the launch of Apple’s Small Business Program in November 2020 whilst also dropping commission for selected news publishers’ apps if they chose to participate in its Apple News Partner Program.
Read: Apple to start producing cars by 2024
In spite of this, revenue growth in 2021 follows what could be regarded as a transitional year for Apple as the App Store customers spent more than ever between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in 2021, driving double-digit growth from last year.
According to data released by the company in June, the App Store is one of the world’s biggest app marketplaces, home to more than 1.8 million apps and visited by more than half a billion people each week across 175 countries.
