The digital marketplace Apple runs in the United States generated over $400 billion in developer-facilitated commerce last year, according to a new report backed by the company. Behind this figure lies a steady expansion in economic activity connected to apps, platforms, and mobile-based transactions—growth that has nearly tripled since 2019.
Economic analysts from the Boston University Questrom School of Business and consulting firm Analysis Group traced the $406 billion to various sectors intertwined with App Store infrastructure. The majority of this total came not from digital products but from real-world goods and services. App-based retail purchases alone brought in $146 billion. Meanwhile, industries such as travel, food delivery, ride-hailing, and groceries contributed tens of billions more.
Advertising delivered through in-app channels produced another $75 billion in revenue, while direct digital sales—like media, subscriptions, and app features—accounted for $53 billion.
While Apple serves as the gatekeeper for these transactions, it collected no commission on over 90% of the revenue tied to this ecosystem in 2024. The company emphasized that small developers have shown particularly strong gains, seeing earnings rise by 76% over the last three years.
Apple’s emphasis on economic empowerment and fraud prevention has increased as scrutiny around its App Store policies deepens. The company recently disclosed it prevented over $2 billion in suspicious transactions and blocked nearly 2 million apps from being listed in 2024. These enforcement efforts run parallel to growing criticism from regulators, especially regarding the platform’s restrictions on alternative payment paths and links that guide users outside Apple’s ecosystem.
Even with ongoing controversy, the App Store continues to anchor a substantial portion of Apple’s broader influence in the tech economy. The infrastructure it supports plays a central role not only in revenue generation, but in shaping how modern services—from e-commerce to transportation—interact with consumers across the mobile landscape.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Google Brings Lens Integration to YouTube Shorts in Beta Rollout
Economic analysts from the Boston University Questrom School of Business and consulting firm Analysis Group traced the $406 billion to various sectors intertwined with App Store infrastructure. The majority of this total came not from digital products but from real-world goods and services. App-based retail purchases alone brought in $146 billion. Meanwhile, industries such as travel, food delivery, ride-hailing, and groceries contributed tens of billions more.
Advertising delivered through in-app channels produced another $75 billion in revenue, while direct digital sales—like media, subscriptions, and app features—accounted for $53 billion.
While Apple serves as the gatekeeper for these transactions, it collected no commission on over 90% of the revenue tied to this ecosystem in 2024. The company emphasized that small developers have shown particularly strong gains, seeing earnings rise by 76% over the last three years.
Apple’s emphasis on economic empowerment and fraud prevention has increased as scrutiny around its App Store policies deepens. The company recently disclosed it prevented over $2 billion in suspicious transactions and blocked nearly 2 million apps from being listed in 2024. These enforcement efforts run parallel to growing criticism from regulators, especially regarding the platform’s restrictions on alternative payment paths and links that guide users outside Apple’s ecosystem.
Even with ongoing controversy, the App Store continues to anchor a substantial portion of Apple’s broader influence in the tech economy. The infrastructure it supports plays a central role not only in revenue generation, but in shaping how modern services—from e-commerce to transportation—interact with consumers across the mobile landscape.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Google Brings Lens Integration to YouTube Shorts in Beta Rollout
