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App downloads declined again in 2025, but consumer spending soared to nearly$156B
In 2025, mobile app downloads fell to 106.9 billion, marking a 2.7% decline for the fifth consecutive year. However, consumer spending on apps surged 21.6%, reaching approximately $155.8 billion, driven by the subscription economy. While mobile game spending increased by 10%, non-game apps saw a 33.9% rise, highlighting a shift in revenue patterns among app developers.
Key points
- App downloads declined by 2.7% to 106.9 billion from 109.8 billion in 2024.
- Consumer spending on mobile apps rose by 21.6% to $155.8 billion.
- Mobile games accounted for $72.2 billion (46%), while non-game apps reached $82.6 billion (up 33.9%).
- The growth in subscriptions and in-app purchases contributed to rising revenues despite fewer downloads.
- Mobile games saw a decline of 8.6% in downloads; non-game app downloads slightly increased by 1.1%.
- U.S. mobile app spending rose 18.1% to $55.5 billion despite a 4.2% drop in downloads.
Why it matters
- The trend of declining app downloads contrasts with the growing subscription economy.
- The pandemic-driven spike in app downloads in 2020 (135 billion) is now followed by a significant decline.
- Companies like RevenueCat and Appcharge show the increase in services catering to mobile app monetization.
- This shift indicates a broader change in consumer behavior towards ongoing payments rather than one-time purchases.
Despite declining download numbers, the surge in consumer spending highlights a shift in the app economy where subscriptions and in-app purchases are becoming the primary revenue channels for developers, indicating a potential new norm in digital consumption.