Average Daily Number of Applications Submitted to iTunes Appstore See an 88% Drop in the Last 1 Year.

The iTunes App Store has witnessed a substantial decline in the influx of new submissions over the past year. According to Stocklytics.com, the average daily number of applications submitted to the platform has plummeted by 88%.

Stocklytics Financial expert Edith Reads commented on the data:

The introduction of stringent app review processes and updated guidelines may have contributed to a sense of apprehension among developers, dissuading them from submitting new applications.

Stocklytics Finacial Analyst, Edith Reads

Developer’s Shift to Quality Over Quantity

The drop in app submissions also indicates a change in how developers approach their work. 

Edith continued, “ Developers are focusing on quality improvement of their current offerings putting more emphasis on user satisfaction and aiming for long lasting success rather than quick growth. Additionally the rise of competing platforms, like Google Play Store and Amazon App Store has given these inventors options to connect with their desired users reducing the dominance previously enjoyed by the iTunes App Store.”

Despite the massive global audience of alternative app stores, the biggest barrier to entry is the belief that publishing in them doesn’t have enough return on investment for the effort. This narrative is now changing among different developers.

Apple Splits iTunes for Windows

The decline comes amidst broader changes in Apple’s ecosystem, including the official split of iTunes for Windows into multiple apps. This mirrors the transition that occurred on macOS Catalina in late 2019. 

With separate apps for music (Apple Music), videos (Apple TV), and device management (Apple Devices), Windows users now have a more tailored experience like their Mac counterparts.

The transition to individual apps has been a gradual process, with Apple releasing preview versions of these apps as early as October 2023. Now available on the Microsoft Store, these apps offer users a streamlined approach to media consumption and device management, relegating iTunes to a narrower scope focused primarily on podcasts and audiobooks.

Apple recently revealed updates to the App Store and other consumer services following a European Union competition law. Concurrently, developers are adjusting their strategies to ensure compliance while maximizing visibility and reach. This could entail matching app features with platform standards, optimizing metadata for search engines, and leveraging promotional opportunities within app stores.