Skip to main content

Apple’s App Store is now home to an estimated 500,000 downloads

app-store-500000
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple was first to the market with its mobile revolution-launching iPhone and App Store, but a report from last month noted that Google‘s own app offering on the Android Market will surpass Apple’s as early as July, at least in terms of the raw number of downloadable apps. The App Store is no slouch, however. 148apps, Chillingo and Chomp collaborated on an App Store stats infographic which, among other things, reveals that the digital delivery platform has reached the milestone of 500,000 apps available for download. Not bad for something that launched in 2008.

The infographic is rather huge and all-encompassing. The 500,000 figure is a highlight, but there’s quite a bit more to be gleaned as well. Did you know, for example, that 37 percent of the available apps are free to download? Or that $3.64 is the average price paid per app? It should come as no surprise that Angry Birds is the most popular app of all time, with a whopping 275 days spent in the App Store’s #1 spot. The number two all-time seller, Moron Test, lags behind significantly, with only 38 days spent at the top of the charts.

A timeline charts out key App Store milestones. Apple launched the service on July 10, 2008 with 500 apps, a number that grew to 10,000 by November 29 of that same year. By November 2009, the number had grown to 100,000, and then 300,000 by October 2010. Apple revealed in January of this year that the app offering had climbed to 350,000, and it’s been a quick run since then to the current 500,000 figure. The total cost of these apps together — and remember, an estimated 37 percent are free! — falls below the million dollar marker, with the infographic putting the number at $891,982.24. Don’t confuse that with the total value of these apps which, to Apple, is somewhere in the neighborhood of priceless.

Editors' Recommendations

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
Apple just released iOS 17.4. Here’s how it’s going to change your iPhone
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro showing the screens.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you have an iPhone, you'll want to check it right now for a big update. The iOS 17.4 update is officially rolling out right now and it includes some fairly significant new features.

Read more
How to use external storage with an iPhone or iPad
External Devices with iOS

While cloud storage has made things a bit less troublesome, most people will eventually max out the available space on their iPad or iPhone. From games and apps to music and more, there are thousands of files vying for your SSD — and even if you pick up a model with a 1TB SSD, there's a good chance that years of use will consume every last byte of space you had available.

Read more
No, the Journal app on your iPhone isn’t spying on you
Apple Journal app on an iPhone 15 Pro.

If you've spent any time on Facebook, TikTok, or any other social media site over the last couple of days, there's a chance you've seen people claiming that your iPhone is spying on you — specifically, with a feature called "Journaling Suggestions."

One post I stumbled across on Facebook made it sound rather frightening, warning me that the feature shares my FULL NAME and EXACTLY where I'm located to anyone nearby. The post told me to go and toggle the setting off immediately because it was "Very scary stuff!!"

Read more