What are the highest-earning app categories?
Quite a few slaps stung the mobile economy in 2022. After a long period of growth, app store spending decreased by 2% to $167 billion. But just like Will Smith, the mobile economy seems to come back to the awards stage in 2023.
After a year of headwinds, the global app market is back on track with positive year-over-year growth at the onset of 2023. In fact, consumer spending is expected to reach unprecedented heights of $33.9 billion in the first quarter of 2023.
However, not all app categories got the chance to maximize their share of wallets in 2022.?
Games lost the round in 2022, recoup in 2023?
Gaming apps have traditionally been the dominant force in the market. In 2023, this category continues its reign as mobile gamers are splurging $1.63 billion on breakout titles and downloading almost 1.2 billion games per week globally.
Role-playing games, strategy, and match genres drove much consumer spending on games. In particular, Honor of Kings, Genshin Impact, and Candy Crush Saga raced past $2 billion in 2022, which makes them undeniable leaders of the category.
Non-gaming apps persevere through hard times
While games took a hit, non-gaming apps have been more resilient amidst the unexpected turbulence. Spending on non-game apps increased 6% to $58 billion, driven by streaming, dating, short video & video sharing apps and books & audio apps.
?? Social apps make a buck
In 2022, global social app consumer spending surpassed $7 billion. Retrospectively, global spending on social apps tripled over the period of 2019-2022.
As for microtrends, live video streaming and short video apps are the two types of social apps that make the most money. TikTok, Bigo Live, and Twitch have had a very successful year, with the annual revenue and number of users going sky-high.
?? Entertainment apps become even more entertaining
A steady stream of new and original content never fails to attract users. OTT apps and content-based platforms know that like no other app category. In 2022, entertainment apps saw a surge in consumer spending that is soon to approach a quarterly amount of $1 billion.?
Spending on this app category has accelerated so much in the US that in 2022 entertainment apps revenue stood higher than that of any other non-gaming app cohort. Thus, entertainment apps have raked in over $4 billion in the US only. Other markets are still in their early stages of the OTT craze. As for the leaders, Youtube, Disney+, and HBO Max left the competitors trailing behind in 2022.
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?? Users are not ready to break up with dating apps…yet
Dating and social discovery apps show no signs of abating as well. Globally, consumer spending on dating apps has grown 12% year-over-year and 91% compared to the pre-pandemic e-dating craze. Any time soon, the category is about to hit a record-breaking $6 billion.?
The top three dating apps, Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge nabbed the largest revenue in 2022, while Wizz emerged as the most popular social discovery app in 2022.
?? Books and audio kindle the popularity of new-age reading
In 2022, 41% of listeners subscribed to at least one audiobook subscription service, while audiobook sales have been up for the 10th straight year. Consumer spending matched up in 2022 with an overall $1.9 billion. As for genres, consumers were drawn to webtoons, web novels, and audiobooks more than to any other genre.
Audible, Piccoma and Good Novel topped the A-list of high-grossing book applications in 2022.
A positive year ahead?
So far, the global app market has picked up good speed after a year-long period of slow motion. The swell in demand for in-app subscriptions and the birth of hit apps hold great potential for setting up the sector for success this year.
Will the app market dynamics shift in 2023?
Check back with us later. ??
P.S. Orangesoft is a mobile app development company with 11 years in the market and more than 300 projects on the portfolio. We know what it takes to build a successful app and will help to make yours a success too.
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