A study by IIM Ahmedabad’s Professor Viswanath Pingali revealed that Apple’s App Store ecosystem in India generated ₹44,447 crore ($5.31 billion) in 2024. Remarkably, over 94% of this revenue went directly to developers, highlighting Apple’s evolving support for India’s growing tech talent.
The bulk of the earnings — ₹38,906 crore — came from the sale of physical goods and services, followed by ₹3,014 crore from in-app advertising and ₹2,527 crore from digital goods and services.
Expanding Global Footprint
Indian developers are not just succeeding domestically but also making a strong mark globally. According to the study, 80% of App Store earnings by Indian developers now come from outside India. Downloads of India-made apps have doubled over the last five years, surpassing 755 million globally. Success stories like Fluid Touch’s Noteshelf and Raja Vijayaraman’s Lumy underline the international appeal of Indian-built apps, supported by initiatives like Apple’s Developer Center in Bengaluru.
Domestic Growth: A Strong Surge
On the home front, App Store downloads within India have tripled, while developer earnings have surged fivefold over the past five years. Rapid expansion in sectors such as food delivery, travel, gaming, quick commerce, and the gig economy has been a major contributor to this impressive domestic growth.
Apple CEO Tim Cook praised the App Store’s impact, calling it an “economic miracle” for Indian developers.
Focus on Security and Trust
Beyond enabling economic growth, Apple continues to prioritize security and quality. Between 2020 and 2023, Apple claims to have prevented over $7 billion in fraudulent transactions and rejected more than 1.7 million apps that failed to meet its quality standards. This reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a trusted environment for both users and developers.
With soaring earnings, rising global demand, and a strong focus on security, Apple’s App Store ecosystem is opening new frontiers for Indian developers like never before.
