- TikTok retained its spot as the world’s top grossing app, generating $2.33 billion in revenue during 2024.
- Google One became the highest earning app on Google Play, achieving $1.77 billion in revenue.
- Honor of Kings continued dominance as the top grossing game worldwide, earning $1.86 billion, primarily from the Chinese market.
- China, Japan, and the U.S. collectively accounted for around 70% of global app store revenues.
- Subscription-based apps like Netflix and Spotify avoided significant fees by removing in-app subscription options, causing Apple and Google to lose considerable revenue.
- Mobile gaming continued as the dominant revenue generator across both iOS and Android platforms.
Global App Revenues Surge in 2025: TikTok, Games, and Subscription Shifts
The year 2025 saw mobile applications and games once again dominate the global digital market, with consumer spending soaring across key regions. Apps like TikTok and Google One maintained leading positions in global revenue rankings, highlighting significant trends in user engagement and monetization.
TikTok Continues Revenue Leadership
TikTok secured its position as the top grossing app for the third consecutive year, achieving $2.33 billion in revenue. The popular short-video platform’s in-app monetization through advertising and direct user spending continued to flourish, particularly in major markets like China, the United States, and Indonesia. TikTok’s substantial investments in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, have significantly boosted its market share and revenue.
Google One Leads Android Revenues
Google’s cloud storage and subscription service, Google One, remained the highest revenue-generating app on Google Play, with total revenues reaching $1.77 billion. Its consistent success illustrates the growing demand for digital cloud storage solutions and subscription-based services among Android users.
Mobile Games Dominate Global Revenues
Gaming apps continued to be the most profitable category worldwide. Honor of Kings, the Chinese multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Tencent, maintained its position as the top grossing game globally with earnings of $1.86 billion, exclusively from China. Other games like Monopoly Go ($1.58 billion) and Royal Match ($1.46 billion) showed strong performance, reflecting global gaming preferences and market penetration.
Subscription Apps Bypass Platform Fees
Subscription apps such as Netflix and Spotify have strategically avoided platform fees by disabling in-app subscriptions on Apple and Google platforms. This move reportedly caused the two tech giants to lose approximately $1.8 billion in annual revenue, signaling a notable shift in the app economy.
Regional Markets: China, U.S., Japan Lead Spending
The trio of China, Japan, and the United States remained dominant, collectively responsible for roughly 70% of total app revenues. China’s large user base alone has repeatedly demonstrated its power to elevate certain domestic apps, such as Honor of Kings and Douyin, to the top of global revenue rankings. Meanwhile, Japan maintained the highest spending per capita, with apps like Piccoma and Monster Strike sustaining significant popularity.
Future Implications and Market Trends
Looking ahead, the increasing reliance on subscription-based models and strategic bypassing of platform fees may prompt Apple and Google to reconsider revenue-sharing frameworks. Moreover, the gaming sector’s ongoing expansion highlights continued investment opportunities and underscores the need for developers to innovate user engagement strategies continually.
The sustained growth in global app revenues underscores the robust demand for digital services and entertainment, promising continued evolution in user consumption patterns and platform monetization strategies in the coming years.