Global App Revenue Climbed 15% Year-Over-Year in Q3 2021

Global mobile app revenue reached $33.6 billion in the third quarter of 2021, representing a 15.1% year-over-year increase. While this growth confirms the mobile market’s continued expansion during the pandemic, the pace of acceleration has moderated compared to the 32% year-over-year growth observed in the same period of 2020. Apple’s App Store generated $21.5 billion in revenue, maintaining its position as the higher-earning marketplace, while Google Play saw faster growth, rising 18.6% to $12.1 billion.

Total first-time app installs declined by 1.9% to 35.7 billion, signaling a normalization of adoption rates as global conditions shift. This downward trend in downloads affected both major platforms, with Google Play installs falling to 27.6 billion and App Store installs dipping to 8.1 billion. TikTok maintained its status as the top-earning and most-downloaded app globally, while the mobile gaming sector saw revenue grow 7.7% to $22.4 billion. PUBG Mobile led the gaming category in both revenue and downloads, followed by titles such as Honor of Kings and Genshin Impact.

The analysis utilizes preliminary Store Intelligence and Pathmatics data to track consumer spending, premium app purchases, and digital advertising trends across Apple and Google marketplaces. These findings exclude local taxes, mobile commerce, and in-app advertising revenue. As the industry moves into the fourth quarter, market dynamics remain influenced by remote work trends, evolving regulatory environments, and shifting mobile gaming policies in key regions.