Android Continues to See Higher Customer Retention Rates Than iOS

According to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, Android continues to see higher customer retention rates than iOS, showing that Android customers have been more loyal to Google’s mobile operating system.

In 2017, Android saw a 91 percent loyalty rate, compared to 86 percent for iOS. These loyalty rates have remained the same since early 2016. The numbers were measured by the percentage of customers that remained with the respective operating system when they activated a new phone over the prior twelve months.

In a statement, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP said:

“Loyalty for both Android and iOS increased in 2015 and into 2016, when it leveled off for both operating systems. Loyalty is also as high as we’ve ever seen, really from 85-90% at any given point. With only two mobile operating systems at this point, it appears users now pick one, learn it, invest in apps and storage, and stick with it. Now, Apple and Google need to figure out how to sell products and services to these loyal customer bases.”

With Android, customers have a wide selection of different smartphones that iOS customers simply don’t have access to. This especially appeals to those looking to spend less than $800-$1000 on a new device.

When you look at the rate at which people are switching to the opposite operating system, iOS wins out, as more customers are switching from Android to iOS on a regular basis.

[via TechCrunch]

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So Young
So Young
8 years ago

Completely normal. Android = multiple brand, so you don’t have to be loyal to Samsung, switch to LG and still be considered “loyal” to Android. I still think Apple costumers are way more loyal to the brand than any company out there (in cell/computer area)

Aleks Oniszczak
Aleks Oniszczak
Reply to  So Young
8 years ago

True. I would love to see the numbers for Samsung loyalty as well. But I have to say, if I weren’t an iOS developer I might have jumped ship by now. There was a time when iPhones were years ahead of the competition and I just shook my head when someone would consider anything but an iPhone. But now Siri is known as the not-so-smart-assistant, headphone ports were yanked away from people still using them and every time I upgrade, I have to re-buy 128GB of storage at an inflated price because they’re is no microSD. And I could write a book on what drives me nuts about the iPhone X. I predict loyalty will begin to decline with iOS if they keep removing buttons and ports and increasing gimmicks and prices.

Riddlemethis
Riddlemethis
Reply to  Aleks Oniszczak
8 years ago

That’s part of your problem: early adopter thinking. Why you bought the X is baffling especially since your right side of your brain knows what Apple is doing is as absurd.

Aleks Oniszczak
Aleks Oniszczak
Reply to  Riddlemethis
8 years ago

I didn’t. The last iPhone I bought was this year – and it was an iPhone 6s Plus. Turned out it was too bulky for my taste so I went back to the 6s I bought last year. I could have bought a newer phone, but I decided to go with the best one.

FragilityG4
FragilityG4
Reply to  Aleks Oniszczak
8 years ago

The headphone jack and micro sd is not worth your tears ?

Chrome262
Chrome262
Reply to  FragilityG4
8 years ago

who still uses either one. I barely use half of my 64 gig, most of my music is on the cloud anyway (itunes match, cheaper then music service) and I have been bluetooth for the last 3 years. Even so my 8 came with lightning headphones, and the dongle anyway. And USB-c and lack there of other parts is the tread with anything new, not just iPhone.

Aleks Oniszczak
Aleks Oniszczak
Reply to  Chrome262
8 years ago

“who still uses either one. I barely use half of my 64 gig” Ok, so is your point that Apple is making yet another mistake by increasing storage options to 256GB?

Chrome262
Chrome262
Reply to  Aleks Oniszczak
8 years ago

LOL no, they want you to buy apps. I just don’t keep apps around. with more storage gives you the luxury to keep apps around even if you no long use them. And it give you the option for more pictures and movies. With streaming though, it does lowers the need, for some people. I am happy that they went to 32 then 64, because 16 and 8 didn’t cut it. and by the way didn’t mean to come off as snarky as it looked sorry about that.

Aleks Oniszczak
Aleks Oniszczak
Reply to  FragilityG4
8 years ago

I know you love dongles.

FragilityG4
FragilityG4
Reply to  Aleks Oniszczak
8 years ago

Wireless.

Riddlemethis
Riddlemethis
8 years ago

There’s many lower priced smart phones world wide. And they’re all running Android. Brand loyalty doesn’t come into the picture as much as you want to believe. If most of your friends and associates use Android then you likely will too.

FragilityG4
FragilityG4
Reply to  Riddlemethis
8 years ago

You are so right. This is only based on OS and not the actual phone. It would be a completely different story if it was comparing brands rather than OS.

BeaveVillage
BeaveVillage
8 years ago

Not bad considering Apple is a single brand. I see way more iPhones than any other phone out there, people just love ’em.

sully54
sully54
8 years ago

How does it make sense that android has the higher customer loyalty/retention while at the same time more people are also switching to iOS than to android?

aRhyno
aRhyno
Reply to  sully54
8 years ago

I’m guessing iOS has say 1 million users. 10% would be 100k people leaving. If android had say 10 million people. 9% leaving for iOS would be 900k. ( these numbers aren’t accurate but you get my point)

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