Last week, Pingdom parsed the data on iOS and Android apps, revealing an interesting difference. Specifically, roughly 70% of the apps in Apple’s App Store are paid apps, while 64% of the apps in the Android Market are free.
Why the difference? Are there more junk Android apps, since anyone can develop for it? Or does Android foster a different culture, due to its open nature? What do you think the reason is for this difference?
The mobile app divide: Free rules on Android, paid rules on iPhone [Pingdom]
Josh says:
I’m not sure of the differences in the markets, but having purchased tons of Apple and Android apps I will tell you my favorite part about Android apps are that you can get a full refund within 24 hours of purchasing it. No questions asked. Google even emails a link to get the refund upon purchase. I have spent way too much money on Apple apps that didn’t live up to the developer’s hype.
September 6, 2010 — 10:52 pm
Evan Kline says:
I had heard about that, and that alone is almost worth making the switch. Pretty cool stuff.
September 7, 2010 — 9:18 am
Bobby Travis says:
Hnh. I wonder if the specs are taking into account subscription services attached to apps in both stores? Though, I have noticed lately that some of those money grubbin iPhone app publishers charge for the app on top of a subscription.
September 7, 2010 — 12:36 am
Evan Kline says:
I got the impression that the numbers reflected prices in the respective app stores, but I don’t know for sure. My bigger gripe than app + subscription is app + really intrusive ads. I haven’t seen it yet, but have heard gripes about apps that do that. I’d hate to pay for something, and still get ads.
September 7, 2010 — 9:20 am
Tony says:
My guess is that developers know that the iPhone app market is where the money is to be made currently in the mobile app arena. Most iPhone users are affluent, whereas the Android market is more diverse.
September 7, 2010 — 2:18 am
Evan Kline says:
I think you may be on to something there, Tony, although I suspect that will change. It seems like Android is rapidly gaining, and possibly surpassing, iOS. I think it is only a matter of time until developers develop for Android first, and iOS second. Android/iOS may be like Windows/Mac today – one is dominant, while the other is more elegant and has very loyal users.
September 7, 2010 — 9:22 am
Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers says:
How about a side-by-side comparison of comparable apps? I have a dumb phone, so I’m not up to speed, but I’m curious to see how the apples-to-apples (pun intended) comparison would shake out.
Is there something to prevent you from using the 24 hour refund policy on Android apps as a method of stealing from the app developer? In other words, just requesting a refund on every single app you download?
September 7, 2010 — 10:42 am
Josh says:
Hey Kosmo, I’m not sure what you mean by stealing from a developer. The refund is only good for the first time you purchase the app, so if you repurchase it, the money is sunk.
If people had some apps they’d like to see compared, I’d be happy to do something like that.
As I pointed out in the post on Springpad, currently some Android apps are far better, but overall I think they are pretty comparable for the same app. There are some only available on one platform or the other that are far superior to the options on the other system. Oddly the third-party options for Google Reader are way better on the iPhone than on Android, for example.
September 7, 2010 — 11:19 am
Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers says:
What I meant is can I buy 500 different apps, request refunds on all of them – but keep and use them all? Or are the apps zapped from my phone when I get the refund?
September 7, 2010 — 12:24 pm
Josh says:
Oh yeah they’re uninstalled as part of the refund process. Nice try though, I like how you think. In that case they’d all be free, more or less…
September 7, 2010 — 12:41 pm