The report by App Annie into the top grossing and downloaded IOS apps since the company activated their tracking platform in 2010. The report looked at a number of different areas and highlighted the fact that casual games are among the most popular apps downloaded by iPad and iPhone users at present.
Taken in isolation and it would appear that Apple smartphone users are fans of games that are free to download but offer some form of in-game purchase capacity. Supercell are one of the most consistent game developers and although only Clash of Clans featured in the top ten downloaded games list they featured heavily in the top ten all time revenue generating game list. Candy Crush Saga from King occupied the top two positions of the download and revenue list.
The app download chart saw Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger as well as the Facebook app among the top downloaded apps. Dating and entertainment apps, for example Spotify, are among the most popular revenue generating apps types since the app store launched in 2008. Skype is one of the only apps to feature on both lists with Pandora Radio taking the top spot for all-time revenue.
Games, it would appear, have a more universal and global appeal as Clash of Clans was among the only game or app that had high consistent usage in all major global markets (US, UK, Japan, China) according to the report. Boom Beach, one of Supercell's tent pole games, released in 2014 is the most recent release to be featured in the list. Early smartphone adopters like Facebook and Pandora Radio have seen their switch to the app store in 2008 pay off as each top the app store charts as top downloaded and revenue generating apps respectively. MLB.com At Bat is another early adopter who is getting rewarded for their vision in 2008 as the app holds the number 6 position on the revenue chart. A full list of the top 10 downloaded and revenue generating games and apps respectively is as follows.
Top 10 Games by all-time worldwide download
- Candy Crush Saga
- Fruit Ninja
- Angry Birds
- Subway Surfers
- Despicable Me
- Clash of Clans
- Temple Run
- Angry Birds Rio
- Temple Run 2
- Words With Friends
Top 10 Games by all-time worldwide revenue
- Clash of Clans
- Candy Crush Saga
- Puzzle & Dragons
- Game of War- Fire Age
- Monster Strike
- Hay Day
- Boom Beach
- Slotomania
- Big Fish Casino
- The Simpsons: Tapped Out
Top 10 Apps by all-time worldwide download
- Facebook Messenger
- Youtube
- Skype
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Find My iPhone
- Google Maps
- iTunes U
Top 10 Apps by all-time worldwide download
- Pandora Radio
- Line
- Zoosk
- Pages
- Spotify
- Badoo
- Skype
- MLB.com At Bat
- Grindr
- Line Play