Data Digest: Q1 2018

The Q1 2018 Data Digest provides a comprehensive overview of the global mobile application economy, analyzing performance metrics across Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The primary objective is to identify the leading apps, games, and publishers while tracking broader industry growth trends. The analysis relies on data from the Store Intelligence platform to offer insights into download volumes, revenue generation, and category performance during the first quarter of 2018.

Global mobile app installs reached 25.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018, representing a 7.6 percent increase. Growth was notably stronger on the App Store, which saw a 13 percent rise in first-time downloads compared to 5.4 percent on Google Play. In terms of revenue, Netflix maintained its position as the highest-grossing non-game app worldwide, while Tencent dominated the gaming sector with Honor of Kings for revenue and PUBG Mobile for total installs.

The competitive landscape remains heavily influenced by a few major players. Facebook continues to lead in overall and non-game app downloads, while Tencent holds the top position for both overall mobile app revenue and mobile game revenue. IAC, the parent company of Tinder, emerged as the leader in non-game app revenue. These findings underscore a market environment where established publishers maintain significant influence over both user acquisition and monetization, even as new titles like PUBG Mobile rapidly capture market share.