Apple’s 2024 US App Store Earnings Top $10B, But Is This Cash Cow on the Rocks?
Apple’s App Store in the United States generated over $10 billion in commissions in 2024 alone, highlighting just how powerful and profitable its digital marketplace continues to be. But despite these staggering earnings, the financial foundation of the App Store may be less stable than it appears, as legal and regulatory challenges begin to chip away at Apple’s long-standing grip on app revenue.
According to figures analyzed by Appfigures and cited by TechCrunch, developers using the US App Store pulled in a combined $33.68 billion in gross revenue throughout 2024. After Apple’s cut, developers took home about $23.57 billion in net earnings. This left Apple with an estimated $10.1 billion in commissions—money it earned from processing app and in-app transactions through its proprietary payment system.
Breaking down that number, approximately $6.27 billion came from non-gaming apps, while games contributed another $3.82 billion. This data emphasizes that while gaming is still a massive component of App Store earnings, other types of apps—from streaming services to productivity tools—now play an even larger role in Apple’s commission-based business model.
This $10 billion figure represents a major leap from where Apple stood just a few years ago. In 2020, the company made roughly $4.76 billion from App Store commissions. That number has steadily increased each year: $6.66 billion in 2021, $7.37 billion in 2022, and $8.75 billion in 2023. The doubling of income in only four years illustrates how vital this revenue stream has become to Apple’s broader services segment.
Yet the future of this lucrative model is under threat. A recent court ruling dealt Apple a blow by mandating that it must permit developers to include links to external payment systems within their apps—essentially bypassing Apple’s internal payment infrastructure. The ruling also bars Apple from collecting commissions on these external transactions. In compliance with the decision, Apple adjusted its policies on May 1 to reflect the new rules.
Apple, however, isn’t giving up easily. The company has filed an emergency motion in an attempt to halt the enforcement of these changes. In its filing, Apple argued that the court’s decision unfairly compels the company to offer free access to its ecosystem, including tools and intellectual property that it has developed and maintained. Apple warned that the ruling could result in losses amounting to hundreds of millions—or even billions—of dollars every year.
While the App Store revenue is facing significant turbulence, it’s not the only major stream of income under scrutiny. Apple also collects a substantial annual sum from Google—reportedly around $20 billion—for setting Google Search as the default option in Safari. That agreement is now under fire, following a court decision that found such default settings to be monopolistic. In response, Apple is reportedly exploring AI-based search technologies to reduce its dependence on Google and pivot toward more sustainable alternatives.
The combined pressure from legal rulings and regulatory oversight is putting Apple’s once untouchable services revenue strategy under a microscope. As the company grapples with these mounting challenges, it may be forced to reimagine how it monetizes digital services. Whether Apple can retain its financial edge while adjusting to a more open and competitive app marketplace remains to be seen.
