Apple has released a new report showing that third-party apps on the App Store are successful and popular around the world, outperforming Apple's own apps in most cases.
The report, conducted by economists at the Analysis Group, focuses on the regional and global success of third-party apps on Apple platforms. Apple says this demonstrates "the breadth of opportunity for developers and the wide choice available to consumers around the world." Since the launch of the App Store, the number of third-party apps has grown from about 500 to over 1.8 million, according to Apple. The iPhone maker itself maintains 60 apps in the App Store. explained the company:
Spotify is ahead
Today, more than 99.99 percent of iOS apps are developed by third-party developers, creating a growing and competitive market that contributes to a dynamic user experience that benefits Apple and third-party developers alike.
According to the report, in some categories, third-party apps are the only available options. In most other categories, the report indicates that Apple apps are far from the most used or popular.
For many app types, Apple's own apps make up a relatively small share of app usage among iPhone users. This is the case even though some Apple apps are pre-installed to enable the device's core functionality.
Users use different messaging apps
For example, the most popular communication apps in the US are Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. Spotify and Pandora rank first and second for music streaming, while Google Maps and Waze are the most popular navigation apps in the country. The report also notes that users often switch between multiple apps within a category, such as between different messaging apps to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues. Apple says this underscores how easy it is to switch between apps and the "breadth of possibilities for developers."
Apple supports developers with useful tools and more
Cupertino says it provides developers with a variety of tools to help them create useful or innovative apps. The report is a clear counterpoint to the growing criticism of Apple's market power. In the US, Europe and other regions, lawmakers and regulators are cracking down on alleged antitrust violations by the tech giants. Among the allegations is so-called self-preferencing, in which the tech giants use their market power to support their own first-party apps on platforms they own or maintain. US lawmakers are considering a bill that could end this practice in the US, while similar laws are in the pipeline in the European Union. (Image: Apple)
