2025 Google Play Store Insights: A Deep Dive into App Categories and Trends

Introduction

Google Play Store Statistics: Google Play serves as an online marketplace where numerous applications are accessible across various categories. These applications facilitate digital services. Much like traditional stores where everything can be purchased in one location, Google Play consolidates a multitude of services in a single platform.

The two principal platforms for obtaining applications are the App Store for iOS and the Play Store for Android, both of which are vital for acquiring applications on mobile devices. Today, these applications cater to a wide array of needs, ranging from learning the alphabet to engaging in games focused on home building and decoration.

Let’s explore the latest Google Play Store Statistics that illustrate how Google Play is utilized globally.

Editor’s Selection

• As of June 2023, the Google Play Store featured 2,597,819 applications, encompassing both paid and complimentary apps. This reflects a minor decline from March 2023, which had 2,673,292 applications.
• In November 2023, the Google Play website attracted 2.29 billion visitors globally, a reduction from 2.41 billion in October, indicating a 4.79% drop in traffic.
• During 2023, approximately 3,739 new applications were introduced each day on Google Play.
• The total download tally for 2022 reached 110 billion, surpassing that of the iOS App Store.
• In 2023, user expenditure on Google Play amounted to $96 billion, compared to $60 billion for the App Store.
• According to Google Play Store Statistics, over the past 5 years, expenditures on Google Play have consistently exceeded those on iOS.
• By March 2023, 97% of applications on Google Play were available for free download. Male users constituted the majority of Google Play users at 51%, while 49% were female.
• Google Play has eliminated over 700,000 outdated applications. In Q3 of 2022, approximately 490,000 gaming applications were accessible. By 2023, the platform boasted 1.149 million application publishers across diverse categories.
• In 2023, 87.12% of applications on Google Play belonged to various categories, while 12.88% were games, resulting in 3,099,626 apps in other classifications and 458,261 games.
• In December 2023, the rapidly expanding app categories on Google Play included News & Magazines (79.46%), Weather (11.1%), Dating (8.19%), Parenting (3.28%), and Shopping (2.64%). Meanwhile, categories experiencing the most significant declines included Art & Design (-13.71%), Communication (-13.86%), Business (-19.07%), Libraries & Demo (-35.02%), and Comics (-63.12%).
• In 2023, the app download conversion rate on Google Play in the U.S. was 31.3%.

What is Google Play Store?

The Google Play Store operates as an online marketplace where Android users can browse for, download, and install various applications. It provides an extensive selection of apps for entertainment, productivity, gaming, and more. Users can effortlessly locate and download applications via web browsers or directly on their Android devices.

The design of the Play Store is user-friendly, enabling individuals to discover and download applications based on their needs or preferences, whether for professional tasks, leisure, or other purposes. Its accessibility and diversity make it an essential tool for Android users everywhere.

General Google Play Store Statistics

• In 2023, consumers spent $47 billion on applications and games through Google Play.
• Google Play Store Statistics indicated that over 113 billion applications and games were downloaded from the store last year.
• Currently, 2.61 billion apps and games are available for download on Google Play.
• The highest-grossing app of 2023 was Google One, a cloud storage service.
• Instagram emerged as the most downloaded app, achieving 521 million downloads.
• In 2022, Google Play recorded 110 billion app downloads, outpacing the iOS App Store.
• As of March 2023, approximately 2,136,954 apps on Google Play had no ratings, while only 126,953 apps earned ratings of 4.5 stars or higher.
• As of October 2023, 96.95% of apps on Google Play were free, while 94.95% of apps on iOS were complimentary. iOS had 5.05% paid applications, whereas Google Play had 3.05% paid applications.
• In the final quarter of 2022, Google Play recorded 27.5 billion app downloads globally, compared to merely 8.1 billion on the iOS App Store.
• In October 2023, the most prevalent price range for apps on Google Play was under $1, with 38,039 apps falling within this category.

(Source: statista.com)

• In November 2023, the Google Play website attracted 2.29 billion visitors, down from 2.41 billion in October, reflecting a 4.79% decrease in traffic.
• Overall, applications on Google Play accumulated over 32.7 billion ratings. In 2022, roughly 3,739 new apps were introduced to the platform daily.
• By 2025, about 85% of Americans were aware of Google Play, although only 20% utilized it, and merely 15% were regular users. Approximately 23% of users considered the platform to be popular.
• Regarding mobile traffic, 95.01% (2 billion) originated from mobile devices, with only 4.99% (1 million) coming from desktops.
• In Q4 of 2023, Google Play experienced 27.5 billion app downloads, whereas the App Store only saw 8.1 billion.
• According to Google Play Store Statistics, applications on Google Play have received in total over 32.7 billion ratings. The platform operates in more than 190 nations and had exceeded 140 billion downloads in 2022 across all categories.
• On average, over 2.5 billion individuals use Google Play monthly. The platform offers over 2 million apps and games, generating a total of $120 billion for developers.
• In 2024, the volume of apps launched on Google Play increased by 28%.
• In February 2023, approximately 2,796 apps were released daily, resulting in nearly 12,987 new apps added every month.

Google Play Store Statistics User Engagement Metrics

• User engagement metrics serve as vital indicators that assist app developers in comprehending how users interact with their applications and the level of their involvement.
• By monitoring these figures, developers can determine if their app is effective in retaining user interest and activity.
• These metrics provide essential insights into user preferences, behaviors, and app usage frequency.
• Armed with this information, developers can make informed decisions to enhance the app and maintain user satisfaction.
• By 2024, individuals are expected to spend an average of 4.37 hours daily on their smartphones. This underscores the significance of smartphones and applications in our daily lives.
• The amount of time users dedicate to their phones may vary across countries. In some regions, individuals utilize their devices for as much as six hours each day.
• Mobile applications play a crucial role for many people globally, encompassing social media, shopping, entertainment, and more.

and interaction.

(Source: statista.com)

• App retention metrics are vital for comprehending the duration of user engagement with an application. Here’s a recap of app retention statistics categorized by type as of Q3 2023:

#1. News and Magazines: These applications retain over 9% of users after a span of 30 days.

#2. Educational Applications: These applications retain less than 2% of users after 30 days.

#3. Entertainment Applications: These applications retain about 3% of users after 30 days.

#4. Shopping Applications: These applications retain 4% of users one month post installation.

• Overall, app retention rates are low, with over 90% of users abandoning an application prior to reaching 30 days. However, widely-used applications and games tend to exhibit higher retention rates as they provide captivating content and regular updates.
• For Android applications, the average retention rate was 21.1% on the initial day, but it plummeted to 2.1% by the 30th day.
• On iOS, the first-day retention rate stood at 23.9%, dropping to 3.7% by day 30.
• This underscores the challenges faced by developers in keeping users engaged, highlighting the necessity for crafting enticing content that motivates users to return.
• Android devices are significantly more favored for app downloads compared to other platforms. Here are several key aspects regarding Android’s appeal:

#1. Global Reach: Android is the most widely used operating system globally, boasting over three billion active users across 190 nations.

#2. Market Dominance: Android possesses over 90% of the market share in countries like India, Brazil, Iran, Indonesia, and Turkey.

#3. Application Downloads: Android users download over 2.8 million applications daily, more than double the download figures for iPhones.

#4. Google Play Store: The Google Play Store is the largest application marketplace, offering nearly 2.6 million applications for download.

Statistics on Free Android Applications in Google Play Store

(Source: statista.com)

• According to Google Play Store Insights, in March 2024, nearly 97% of the Android applications were free, with the remaining 3% requiring payment.
• Consequently, throughout this period, the count of free applications on the Google Play Store consistently surpassed that of paid applications.

Total Applications Available and Downloaded on Google Play Store Statistics

(Source: bigohtech.com)

(Source: bigohtech.com)

Distribution of Android OS Version Among Users Statistics

(Source: hyscaler.com)

As of February 2024, here’s how Android OS versions are distributed among users worldwide:

• Android 13 holds the title of the most prevalent, constituting 29.16% of the market.
• Android 12 is next, accounting for 17.17% of users.
• Android 11 follows, with 16.64% of users.
• Android 14: In the United States, Android 14 has gained more popularity than earlier versions, comprising over 37.2% of all Android devices.

(Source: prioridata.com)

Device compatibility plays a critical role in the effectiveness of an application. Here’s how it influences app performance:

• User Experience: Conducting compatibility tests ensures an application operates seamlessly across diverse devices, which is crucial for delivering a unified experience for users.
• Usability Challenges: Identifying and addressing usability concerns early enhances the application’s performance and minimizes development expenses.
• Performance Evaluation: Adequately conducted compatibility testing boosts app utilization by confirming it operates across various devices and browsers.
• Developers encounter hurdles as there are numerous operating systems, interfaces, and system prerequisites, all of which can influence how an application performs across distinct platforms.
• Optimization: Compatibility assessment is vital for ensuring the application is scalable, user-friendly, and stable across multiple devices and systems.
• In summary, guaranteeing an application’s optimal performance on varied devices and operating systems is essential for its triumph. This not only shapes the application’s functionality but also influences user perception, potentially affecting retention and revenue.

Leading Application Categories in Google Play Store

• Youcan evaluate how effective an app category is by examining the number of Android users who have it installed. Based on Google Play Store Statistics, these are the app categories with the highest share of Android users with installations:

(Source: bigohtech.com)

• It’s vital to mention that certain categories, particularly the leading ones, may encompass apps that are typically pre-installed on various Android devices, like communication applications.
• That being said, this compilation illustrates the types of applications most Android users have downloaded, such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, Netflix, TikTok, Spotify, and Tinder.
• Nonetheless, just because an application is present on a device does not imply that individuals utilize it frequently. We will delve into this concept further when analyzing mobile app usage statistics.

Google App Store and Google Play Expenditure Statistics

(Source: appinventiv.com)

Challenges with Competition – Developers and Regulators

• The Google Play Store has been scrutinized by global and EU entities for an extended period due to competitive issues.
• Concerns emerged in the early 2010s, claiming that Google’s preloaded applications like Search and Chrome, alongside constraints imposed on Android OS, were detrimental to fair competition.
• This led to a penalty exceeding $5 billion from the EU in 2018. Recently, discussions about Google’s dominance in the Android marketplace have resurfaced, in connection to the Digital Market Act (DMA) in Europe and a U.S. lawsuit regarding the fees levied on developers.
• As of 2024, Google Play Store imposes a 30% service charge on applications and in-app purchases, mirroring Apple’s App Store and Amazon’s Appstore.
• Nonetheless, nations such as South Korea and India have lowered fees by approximately 4% due to regional regulations.
• In 2023, South Korea became the first nation to compel Google to permit developers to utilize alternative payment systems, and India enacted similar legislation in January 2023.

(Source: appinventiv.com)

• In the chart above, we can observe the users of the Google Play Store on a global scale.
• Google is also encountering challenges in the United States. In December 2023, Google consented to a $700 million settlement with 53 U.S. state attorney generals concerning a lawsuit from 2021.
• According to Google Play Store Statistics, the lawsuit accused Google of restricting consumer options and causing individuals to incur higher costs for digital goods.
• This settlement was also intended to compensate consumers who had overpaid.
• Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice was contemplating the possibility of dismantling Google in 2024 to mitigate concerns about its monopoly in the search and app distribution sectors.
• Despite these legal challenges, the Google Play Store continues to be one of the two leading app distribution platforms globally. It records millions of app downloads, particularly in nations like India and Brazil.
• Although Android apps on Google Play generate less revenue than those on iOS, they still provide developers with substantial visibility.
• Recently, South Korea and India have enacted regulations to curtail Google’s sway over developers, and the U.S. has initiated multiple lawsuits alleging Google’s unfair business practices.

Conclusion

Google Play serves as the primary platform on all Android devices for downloading applications.

You can discover nearly everything you require on this online platform. Similar to the App Store, Google Play provides a multitude of applications at no cost, and we utilize many of them on a daily basis. Considering the existing Google Play Store Statistics, this service is set to maintain its dominance in the future, particularly regarding app downloads.

Famous applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram (where we spend countless hours browsing through reels) are all sourced from these marketplaces. These applications have become a crucial element of our everyday lives.

Saisuman Revankar

Saisuman is a skilled content creator with a strong passion for mobile technology, new gadgets, law, and science. She composes articles for various websites and newsletters, performing extensive research for healthcare professionals. Fluent in five languages, her affinity for reading and languages steered her towards a writing profession.

Holding a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration on Human Resources, Saisuman has experience in HR and has collaborated with an international French enterprise. During her leisure time, she enjoys traveling and singing classical music.

At Coolest Gadgets, Saisuman evaluates gadgets and interprets their statistics, simplifying complex data for her audience.

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