MacPaw, a leading macOS and iOS software maker, has released its new report, “iOS Market Insights for EU.”
The study, conducted by MacPaw’s alternative app marketplace Setapp Mobile, surveyed over 1,200 iOS users across various European Union countries, including France, Germany, and Spain.
The report reveals significant user dissatisfaction with current app discovery and management on iOS devices, with 25% of users struggling to even evaluate an app’s value before downloading it, says Mykola Savin, director of Product Management at MacPaw. However, the research highlights a significant opportunity: 80% of surveyed users expressed interest in trying a third-party app store. This sentiment is mirrored by developers, with 60% indicating a willingness to list their apps on platforms outside the official App Store, according to Savin.
According to the folks at MacPaw key findings from the report are:
Current users are looking to do more with their app experiences
- With thousands of new apps introduced to the App Store daily, users are overwhelmed and underserved by the current options available.
- Nearly 40% of users are frustrated by restricted free features in apps, essentially requiring in-app purchases for full functionality. A nearly equal number (38%) report uncertainty around app security and data privacy.
- Unclear information is hindering the user experience. About 20% of users find current app descriptions lacking in clarity, making it hard to understand an app’s purpose and benefits. Additionally, nearly 20% report that excessive search results make it difficult to find specific apps.
Despite low awareness, users are open to alternatives
- There is a clear appetite for alternative app stores among EU users, with 80% expressing interest in exploring new options. However, only 43% of those surveyed were even aware of Apple’s policy of allowing third-party app stores.
- App quality tops the list for users considering alternative marketplaces (54%), with positive user reviews (38%) and lower cost for paid apps (37%) also standing out as priorities. 35% of users also ranked secure payments as a crucial feature for apps outside the official App Store.
