Google Play Store in-app purchases jump 700 percent in one year

By Joshua Pramis May 18, 2013

google_play — Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’ve been reporting left and right on all the innovations that Google has been introducing the last few days at its annual I/O conference. But yesterday, as Engadget reports, the conglomerate revealed some information that should get any app developer excited and eager to start capitalizing on their next, big app creation.

In the last year, Google’s Play Store has seen tremendous growth in the in-app sales. How big, you ask? According to today’s session, they have grown by a staggering 700 percent. People are finally getting comfortable paying for content inside an app.

Not only have in-app sales grown, but Google Subscriptions, which only launched a year ago, have doubled revenue each of the last four quarters. Even apps that are free to download at first are climbing to the top of the most profitable Android app list, thanks to the income being generated when users opt to subscribe … for a fee.

While both methods of earning money are proving to be profitable, Google reminds developers that in-app purchases are still leading the pack, and suggests that those creating new apps should strongly consider focusing on free apps that allow for in-app purchases. The theory behind that being that you must first get a user to love your game, and then you can more easily convince them to spend money on it. It’s a swap from the traditional up-front purchase model that has driven gaming for the last 30 years.

Another suggestion from Google to developers: focus on tablet apps, if looking to increase user spending. People are 1.7 times more likely to spend money on an tablet app over a smartphone app. In addition, developers are advised to stay current, particularly with all of the new functions Google displayed this week; when apps are up-to-date with the latest and greatest, users are 2.2 times as likely to spend.

It’s clear that Google wants to help developers learn how best to monetize their apps, and why shouldn’t it? Google gets a cut of earnings, so it’s in the company’s favor.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…

Mobile

Don’t listen to billionaires like Elon Musk — app stores are fantastic

App store icon showing three notifications.

It’s time to celebrate the app store. Not just Apple’s App Store, but Google Play too. They are digital toy shops, full of wonders and joy, available to everyone who walks through the virtual door. When you’re inside you feel safe and secure, everything is in place for you to quickly pay for all your new things, so you walk away happy and satisfied.

App stores are the lifeblood of our smartphones, and trust me — you don’t want to know what it would be like without them. But let's imagine it for a moment because there has been a lot of noise over the past few days about app stores being bad places. Don’t listen, because this is only true if you’re a billionaire wanting to become, er, more of a billionaire.
Confidence and convenience

Mobile

App subscription fatigue is quickly ruining my smartphone

App Store displayed on an iPhone 14 Pro against a pink background

When I first got an iPhone in 2008, I remember checking out web apps, which were basically websites that I would keep bookmarked on the home screen. Every time I opened them up, they somehow didn’t look like I just launched mobile Safari. Eventually, Apple launched the App Store in July 2008, mostly eliminating the need for antiquated web apps.

Since the App Store opened up, we've gotten to see innovative new apps and games that took our iPhones to a completely new level — showing us what our devices were capable of. I was excited to see and hear about new apps for a variety of things, from task managers to camera replacement apps to photo editors to journals and so much more. Games were also making use of the iPhone’s accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, so it wasn’t just always about touchscreen controls.

Mobile

One year later, Magic Eraser is still the Google Pixel’s best party trick

Man holding the Google Pixel 7 like a camera.

When Google launched the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, one of the standout features was Magic Eraser. It’s a relatively simple tool in the Photos app that allows you to remove people or objects that you don’t want in the background of an image. It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to check out a Pixel phone to begin with, because this is the kind of thing I wish Apple had done with iOS years ago.

Since coming aboard here at Digital Trends, I’ve had the opportunity to check out Android devices, including the Google Pixel 6a and the new Pixel 7. I’m primarily an iPhone user with my iPhone 14 Pro, but I’ve been testing out Magic Eraser on the Pixel 7 to see if it’s all that it’s cracked up to be, even though the feature originally debuted on the Pixel 6 series. Here’s what I’ve found.
It’s simple to use and works surprisingly great