The fast adoption of Android devices seems to push the app download rate close the Apple’s App Store, at least in the first quarter of 2013. The App Store has maintained its lead in monetization, as it generated 2.6-fold the app revenue of Google Play, but couldn’t repeat the 4x recorded in the holiday quarter of 2012, according to App Annie’s most recent data.
App Annie isn’t an exception: Google Play’s growth rate is reinforced by multiple reports coming from all corners. The Android app store has recorded a higher growth rate then the App Store in terms of both down download an monetization.
“While the iOS App Store and Google Play both had solid gains in app downloads last quarter, Google Play had a higher percentage growth rate as well as a greater gain in absolute downloads. As of Q1 2013, Google Play’s app downloads were close to 90% of iOS App Store downloads.”
“From Q4 2012 to Q1 2013, iOS App Store quarterly revenue grew by roughly one-quarter. Meanwhile, Google Play app revenue grew by roughly 90%. While Google Play had the higher growth rate, the iOS App Store gained more in absolute revenue and earned about 2.6x that of Google Play in Q1.”
As the App Annie index points out, the U.S. remained the top-ranking country, seconded by Japan. What is noteworthy, though, is China’s growth, which started to gain momentum in the App Store as the leading contributor to “the increase of iOS downloads” during the past quarter. In terms of revenue, the U.S. kept its leading position as the driving force behind iOS app monetization, while Japan and South Korea continued to drive revenue for Google Play.
