Apple has released a new study by Professor Viswanath Pingali of IIM Ahmedabad, revealing that India's App Store ecosystem generated a substantial Rs 44,447 crore ($5.31 billion) in developer billings and sales in 2024. Remarkably, over 94 per cent of this revenue went directly to developers, with minimal commission retained by Apple.
The report also highlighted that global earnings for India-based developers have tripled over the past five years. Apple CEO Tim Cook hailed the App Store as an "economic miracle" for Indian developers, emphasizing the company’s continued commitment to fostering innovation and growth.
In application (App) categories such as food delivery, travel, gaming, and entertainment witnessed significant growth. Indian developers are increasingly making their mark internationally, with 80 per cent of their App Store earnings now coming from outside India. Collectively, their apps were downloaded over 755 million times globally—twice the volume recorded five years ago. Success stories such as Fluid Touch’s Noteshelf and Raja Vijayaraman’s Lumy underscore the global impact of Indian developers, supported by Apple’s initiatives like the Developer Center in Bengaluru.
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Domestically, the App Store ecosystem has also seen strong momentum. App downloads within India have tripled over the last five years, while earnings have surged fivefold. The expansion of quick commerce platforms and gig economy applications have fuelled this growth. Particularly notable is the success among small developers, whose App Store earnings increased 74 per cent between 2021 and 2024. Apple attributed part of this success to its Small Business Program, which offers reduced commission rates to qualifying developers.
Reinforcing its commitment to a safe and trustworthy digital marketplace, Apple highlighted its efforts in in-app security and user protection. Between 2020 and 2023, Apple blocked over 7 billion dollars in fraudulent transactions and rejected more than 1.7 million apps that failed to meet its quality and security standards. These measures, the company said, not only protect users but also create a secure environment that benefits developers worldwide.
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