• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechThe Mobile Executive

Apple’s App Store Continues to Soar and Set Records

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 5, 2017, 1:15 PM ET
Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook discusses the App Store during an Apple media event in San Francisco
Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook discusses the App Store during an Apple media event in San Francisco, California, U.S. September 7, 2016. Reuters/Beck Diefenbach - RTX2OJ35Photograph by Beck Diefenbach — Reuters

Apple’s App Store had a successful 2016—and a big boost in revenue compared to 2015, the company revealed on Thursday.

The digital marketplace generated $20 billion in collective revenue for all of its developers in 2016, up 40% compared to 2015, Apple (AAPL) announced on Thursday. While the company didn’t say how much revenue it had generated from the App Store, Apple did say that it has paid out more than $60 billion to developers since the App Store’s opening in 2008. A third of that was generated in 2016 alone.

The holiday season proved important to the App Store’s record-breaking success. According to Apple, consumers made $3 billion in purchases from the App Store in December.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Apple’s App Store hosts more than 2.2 million free and paid apps that can run on the iPhone, iPad, and the company’s other devices. When developers offer their apps through the marketplace, they can choose to sell them or make them available for free. Apple generally takes 30% of revenue generated on free apps, leaving the remaining 70% to developers. In-app purchases offered through both free-to-download and paid apps also carry the same revenue-sharing agreement. In some cases, Apple has different deals in place with major developers and those who offer subscriptions to their programs. So Apple might make less than 30% on some apps.

Apple says its marketplace is growing rapidly, and the number of apps it’s offering was up 20% year over year in 2016. The company also touted its app subscription billings, which were up 74% year over year to $2.7 billion last year.

The announcement comes just a few months after Apple reported fast growth in its Services business, which includes the App Store, as well as its Apple Music streaming service, among other apps. In the company’s fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 24, Apple’s Services business grew 24% year over year to $6.3 billion in quarterly revenue. Apple has said that it believes its Services business will continue to grow rapidly in the coming year.

For more about Apple’s App Store, watch:

Already, the App Store appears to be playing its part in contributing to a growing Services business in 2017. According to Apple, New Year’s Day was the App Store’s busiest day ever with nearly $240 million in app purchases.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Five panelists seated; two women and five men.
AIBrainstorm AI
The race to deploy an AI workforce faces one important trust gap: What happens when an agent goes rogue?
By Amanda GerutDecember 11, 2025
2 hours ago
Stephanie Zhan, Partner Sequoia Capital speaking on stage at Fortune Brainstorm AI San Francisco 2025.
AIEye on AI
Highlights from Fortune Brainstorm AI San Francisco
By Jeremy KahnDecember 11, 2025
3 hours ago
Sam Altman
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
‘We’re not just going to want to be fed AI slop for 16 hours a day’: Analyst sees Disney/OpenAI deal as a dividing line in entertainment history
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 11, 2025
3 hours ago
InnovationBrainstorm AI
Backflips are easy, stairs are hard: Robots still struggle with simple human movements, experts say
By Nicholas GordonDecember 11, 2025
3 hours ago
Iger
AIDisney
‘Creativity is the new productivity’: Bob Iger on why Disney chose to be ‘aggressive,’ adding OpenAI as a $1 billion partner
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 11, 2025
5 hours ago
OpenAI CEO of Applications Fidji Simo
AIOpenAI
OpenAI aims to silence concerns it is falling behind in the AI race with release of new model GPT-5.2
By Jeremy KahnDecember 11, 2025
6 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
At 18, doctors gave him three hours to live. He played video games from his hospital bed—and now, he’s built a $10 million-a-year video game studio
By Preston ForeDecember 10, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
‘Be careful what you wish for’: Top economist warns any additional interest rate cuts after today would signal the economy is slipping into danger
By Eva RoytburgDecember 10, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Baby boomers have now 'gobbled up' nearly one-third of America's wealth share, and they're leaving Gen Z and millennials behind
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 8, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Exclusive: U.S. businesses are getting throttled by the drop in tourism from Canada: ‘I can count the number of Canadian visitors on one hand’
By Dave SmithDecember 10, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Netflix–Paramount bidding wars are pushing Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav toward billionaire status—he has one rule for success: ‘Never be outworked’
By Preston ForeDecember 10, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Uncategorized
Transforming customer support through intelligent AI operations
By Lauren ChomiukNovember 26, 2025
15 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.