---
title: "Apple become China’s largest Western software seller, thanks to booming App Store"
locale: "en"
language: "en-HK"
published: "2017-04-19T04:01:45.000Z"
updated: "2026-03-18T07:53:21.692Z"
canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/apple-become-chinas-largest-western-software-seller-thanks-to-booming-app-store"
---

# Apple become China’s largest Western software seller, thanks to booming App Store

Geographic appstore estimates spanning multiple companies and platforms suggest that Apple's App Store, buoyed by growth beyond just games, is the top individual seller by company in China, but not by platform. In a report by AppAnnie, China is suspected to have exceeded the U.S. to become the largest market for the iOS App Store,

## In brief

Apple’s App Store was estimated to lead China’s market by company. The 2017 analysis projected $16 billion in purchases by 2020 if Apple maintained its share, while combined Android stores were forecast to generate about $20 billion.

Geographic [appstore](<http://mobileappsdevelopmenthongkong.com>) estimates spanning multiple companies and platforms suggest that Apple’s App Store, buoyed by growth beyond just games, is the top individual seller by company in China, but not by platform.  

  

In a report by [AppAnnie](<http://webmobileapplicationdevelopment.com>), China is suspected to have exceeded the U.S. to become the largest market for the [iOS](<http://hkmobileapps.com>) App Store, pulling down between $5 billion and $6 billion in revenue. Should Apple not grow its share, and merely maintain, given existing smartphone market expansion trends, this puts Apple on a track to garner $16 billion in purchases by 2020.

Ben Schachter from Macquarie Research, looking at the report, claims that revenue from all[ Android stores](<http://androidappdevelopmenthk.com>) combined will exceed that of the iOS app store in 2020, pulling down around $20 billion. However, Schachter believes that Apple will still hold the largest share when measured by company going forward.

Historically, the China market has been dominated by entertainment, but this trend has started to shift. Unexpected growth has come from [productivity apps](<http://mobileappdevelopmenthk.com>), buoyed by the proliferation of 4G in nascent markets.

Other markets pursued by Apple aren’t expected to grow quite as quickly as China has, however. As cited by both App Annie and Schachter, India’s app store will climb to only $2.1 billion in total, across all companies and platforms.

Any gain in the China market will help to expand Apple’s Services business, and fulfill CEO Tim Cook’s prognostication that it alone will be the size of a Fortune 100 company before the end of 2017. In a previous analysis, Schachter said that the[ App Store model](<http://hkmobileapps.com>) is “one of the best business models ever created.”

http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/04/13/apple-now-chinas-largest-western-software-seller-thanks-to-booming-app-store

## Frequently asked questions

### Had China become the largest iOS App Store market?

The AppAnnie report cited in the article suggested China may have overtaken the U.S., with revenue of between $5 billion and $6 billion.

### What did the article forecast for iOS and Android stores in 2020?

If Apple maintained its share, existing smartphone market expansion trends were projected to bring purchases to $16 billion by 2020. Ben Schachter forecast that combined Android store revenue would reach about $20 billion, while Apple would retain the largest share by company.

### Which app categories were contributing to growth beyond entertainment?

Productivity apps were showing unexpected growth. The article attributed this to the spread of 4G in emerging markets.

### How could growth in China support Apple’s Services business?

Growth in China would help expand Apple’s Services business. The article linked this to Tim Cook’s prediction that the business alone would reach the size of a Fortune 100 company before the end of 2017.