The Article Tells The Story of:
- Apple silently earned over $10 billion in U.S. App Store commissions last year—doubling since 2020.
- Appfigures exposed major gaps between Apple’s claimed and actual App Store revenues.
- A court just forced Apple to stop charging 27% on outside purchases—devs are breaking free.
- Apple warns of ‘grave harm,’ but developers are finally reclaiming control.
Apple Earned $10 Billion in Commissions in 2024
Apple earned more than $10.1 billion in commissions from the U.S. App Store last year. This data comes from Appfigures, a company that tracks app revenue and market trends.
Back in 2020, Apple made around $4.76 billion from App Store commissions in the U.S. In just four years, this number has more than doubled. In 2024, developers earned $33.68 billion in gross revenue from apps and games using Apple’s payment system. After Apple took its cut, developers kept $23.57 billion.
These numbers show how big the App Store has become for Apple. It’s not just a service—it’s a major source of income.
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Appfigures and Apple Report Different Revenue Totals
Apple reported global App Store billings of $104 billion for 2022. But Appfigures estimated $61.5 billion for the same year. By 2024, Appfigures said global App Store revenue had grown to $91.3 billion. Apple reportedly took $27.39 billion in commissions globally last year.
Why are the numbers so different?
Apple’s report includes more than just App Store sales. Apple adds up all purchases connected to apps, even if the transaction didn’t happen in the App Store. For example, if someone subscribes to Hulu on the web but watches it mostly on an iPhone, Apple counts a portion of that revenue as “facilitated” by the App Store.
Apple uses data from outside sources to estimate how much of a user’s activity happens on Apple devices. That’s how it credits part of the revenue to the App Store, even if the payment happened elsewhere.
Legal Pressure Is Changing Apple’s App Store Rules
Apple has faced growing legal pressure over how it controls app payments.
In 2021, Apple lost a case against Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. A U.S. court told Apple to allow developers to link to outside payment methods. Apple responded by creating a process for developers to apply for permission to add links. But Apple still charged a 27% commission on these purchases.
Apple also required developers to follow strict design rules for those external links. The company even used warning screens, telling users that paying outside the App Store could be risky.
Last week, a judge ruled that Apple broke the rules of the original 2021 order. The court said Apple created unfair barriers and was wrong to keep collecting fees on outside payments.
Now, Apple must allow developers to use external payment links without charging a commission or adding obstacles. Some developers have already made changes. Spotify, Amazon Kindle, and Patreon now offer web payment options. Even a small app like Delta, a game emulator, is using Patreon memberships to support its business.
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Apple Pushes Back, Developers Push Forward
Apple is fighting back. It has appealed the court’s ruling. In its filing, Apple claimed the new rules would cause “grave irreparable harm.” Apple says it will lose a large amount of money and that the new restrictions are unfair.
But many developers disagree. They say Apple should have lowered commissions for everyone a long time ago. Some believe the company used its control of the App Store to limit competition.
Appfigures also broke down the U.S. App Store revenue further. In 2024, Apple made around $6.28 billion from regular apps and $3.83 billion from games. These figures show why Apple wants to protect this income stream.
What This Means for the Future
Apple’s App Store has become a cash machine. But that success comes with new challenges. Legal rulings are forcing Apple to give up some control. Developers now have more ways to collect payments outside the App Store—and they’re taking advantage of it.
The fight isn’t over. Apple is appealing the court’s decision. But the message is clear: developers want more control, and they’re starting to get it.
As Apple continues to earn billions from commissions, the pressure to change its policies will only grow.
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