Global consumer spending in mobile apps hit US$29.3 billion and installs climbed to 36.5 billion across the Apple App Store and Google Play in the third quarter, according to preliminary Sensor Tower Store Intelligence estimates.
The research group says that both of these metrics experienced significantly elevated year-over-year growth, as mobile users spent 32% more than the $22.2 billion generated in quarter three of 2019. Installs grew by 23.3% from 29.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. In comparison, spending increased 24% between quarter three of 2018 and quarter three of 2019, and installs grew by 9 % in that period.
Sensor Tower says that last quarter’s greater than typical growth reflects COVID-19’s continuing impact on consumer spending in apps as well as a persisting lift in their adoption around the globe. Also, although released just a week ago, Apple’s iOS 14 (and iPadOS 14) has already begun to transform how consumers interact with their iPhone and iPad home screens. According to Sensor Tower Store Intelligence estimates, installs of the top 20 home screen customization apps launched to date have collectively reached at least 13.7 million installs globally.
