--- title: "App Annie: Combined Android App Store Revenue Could Surpass the App Store in 2017" locale: "en" language: "en-HK" published: "2017-04-05T13:42:02+08:00" updated: "2026-03-17T23:04:37.589Z" canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/app-annie-combined-android-app-store-revenue-could-surpass-the-app-store-in-2017-187" --- # App Annie: Combined Android App Store Revenue Could Surpass the App Store in 2017 App Annie forecasts that Google Play and third-party Android app stores will together generate US$41 billion in 2017, exceeding the App Store’s projected US$40 billion. The App Store is still expected to remain the highest-revenue individual store through 2021. ## In brief Combined Android app store revenue could exceed the App Store’s in 2017, according to App Annie’s forecast. Google Play and third-party Android stores are projected to generate US$41 billion together, compared with US$40 billion for the App Store, which is expected to retain its individual-store lead through 2021. [Mobile app]() analytics and marketing firm App Annie published its 2016–2021 [global app store]() forecast report this Wednesday (3/29), stating that Apple’s [App Store]() remains the world’s highest-revenue individual app store and will retain its leading position through 2021. However, this year, the combined revenue of [Google Play]() and third-party [Android]() app stores could surpass that of the App Store. According to App Annie’s research and statistics, the global app store market remains a rapidly growing sector. Worldwide revenue is projected to rise from US$61.8 billion in 2016 to US$82.2 billion this year, reaching US$139.1 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%. This represents only part of the mobile app economy: the report does not account for business opportunities from in-app advertising and [mobile commerce](). In fact, Android’s share of the [mobile operating system market]() remains far ahead of [iOS](). According to Statista’s research, Android held an 81.7% share of the global market in the fourth quarter of last year, compared with 17.9% for iOS. Yet the App Store has consistently been the highest-revenue app store, generating US$34 billion last year, exceeding Google Play’s US$17 billion and the US$10 billion generated by third-party Android app stores. However, App Annie predicts that revenue from Google Play and third-party Android app stores will grow to US$21 billion and US$20 billion respectively this year. Their combined revenue will exceed the US$40 billion the App Store is expected to generate this year (below; source: App Annie). Even in 2021, the App Store is expected to retain its lead as an individual store with US$60 billion in revenue, ahead of Google Play’s US$42 billion and the US$36 billion generated by third-party Android app stores. Outside observers have suggested that this is because the [markets]() where Android is most popular are mostly countries with relatively low user incomes. Android users in these countries may not have credit cards or may be less inclined to pay for apps. This can also influence [developers]()’ [app development strategies](): they may offer paid apps on the App Store and apps that are free to download but contain advertising on Google Play. http://www.ithome.com.tw/news/113167 ## Frequently asked questions ### Was Android app store revenue expected to surpass the App Store in 2017? App Annie projected that Google Play and third-party Android app stores would generate US$21 billion and US$20 billion respectively in 2017. Their combined US$41 billion would exceed the App Store’s projected US$40 billion. ### Which individual app store was expected to lead in revenue in 2021? App Annie expected the App Store to remain the highest-revenue individual store, generating US$60 billion in 2021. The forecast put Google Play at US$42 billion and third-party Android app stores at US$36 billion. ### How much growth did App Annie forecast for the global app store market? The report projected global app store revenue to rise from US$61.8 billion in 2016 to US$139.1 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate of 18%. It excluded business opportunities from in-app advertising and mobile commerce. ### Why did Android’s larger market share not translate into higher app store revenue? Outside observers suggested that Android was most popular in countries with relatively low user incomes, where users might lack credit cards or be less inclined to pay for apps. This could lead developers to offer paid apps on the App Store and free, advertising-supported apps on Google Play.