Download Index: Android Beats iTunes But Not In Revenue

App Annie’s new Q1 Market Index shows Google Play beating iTunes in terms of app downloads by a significant 45 percent. However, Apple’s App Store still generates 85 percent more revenue than its Google-owned rival — though the gap is closing.

App Annie said that Google Play download growth was largely driven by emerging markets, while Apple revenue growth came from China and the US.

The top download market for Google Play was the US but the top revenue market was Japan. For iOS the US occupied both positions. 

Currently in the US, Android controls 52.1 percent of the smartphone market to Apple’s 41.3 percent. Globally Android is much more dominant, although most of the data are based on shipments estimates, which are of questionable accuracy.

Nearly 90 percent of mobile internet time is spent with apps, though app users are very fickle and quickly abandon apps after downloading.

About The Author

Greg Sterling

Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog, Screenwerk, about connecting the dots between digital media and real-world consumer behavior. He is also VP of Strategy and Insights for the Local Search Association. Follow him on Twitter or find him at Google+.