TL;DR
Apple says its services unit had a strong year: the company reported $550 billion in cumulative App Store payouts to developers and growth across Apple Pay, Apple Music and Apple TV. Apple cited rising weekly App Store users, more merchant sales through Apple Pay, and higher engagement with Apple TV and Music.
What happened
In a company blog post attributed to senior vice president Eddy Cue, Apple outlined a broad set of service milestones for 2025. The App Store averaged 850 million weekly users, up from 813 million in 2024, and Apple said it has paid developers a cumulative $550 billion since the store launched in 2008. Apple also reported more than $100 billion in merchant sales processed through Apple Pay and a 36% increase in monthly engagement for Apple TV. Apple Music posted record listenership and subscriber gains, while Apple TV set new viewership highs, helped by recent series and sports streaming deals. The company highlighted product features and partnerships — such as the karaoke-like Sing feature, collaborations with automaker and bank partners, and Shazam’s recognition volume — as contributors to its services performance. The post also noted that App Store fees (typically 30%, reduced to 15% for smaller developers) remain under regulatory scrutiny internationally.
Why it matters
- The $550 billion payout figure underscores the App Store’s scale as a revenue channel for third-party developers.
- Rising engagement across Apple Music and Apple TV signals growing competition in streaming and content licensing.
- Large Apple Pay merchant sales show continued traction for Apple in payments infrastructure.
- App Store commission structure and the company’s market role remain focal points for global regulators and legal challenges.
Key facts
- Apple reported 850 million average weekly App Store users in 2025, up from 813 million in 2024.
- Apple says it has paid developers $550 billion in total since the App Store’s 2008 launch.
- Apple Pay processed more than $100 billion in merchant sales in 2025, per Apple.
- Monthly Apple TV engagement increased by 36% year over year.
- Apple Music reached record highs for listenership and new subscriber growth in 2025.
- The App Store’s standard commission is around 30%; eligible small businesses pay 15%.
- Apple highlighted Shazam exceeding 1 billion recognitions per month.
- Apple TV cited recent hits and sports deals — including Major League Soccer and Formula 1 — among drivers of its growth.
- Apple Studios’ film 'F1' was described as the studio’s highest-grossing film and the top-grossing film of actor Brad Pitt’s career, according to the company.
What to watch next
- How international regulatory reviews of App Store fees will influence Apple’s commission policies — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Apple Music’s listener and subscriber gains continue and how they affect competition with rivals like Spotify — not confirmed in the source.
- Future trends in App Store payouts to developers and whether the pace of growth sustains — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- App Store: Apple’s digital marketplace for iOS and iPadOS apps where developers distribute apps and in-app purchases are processed.
- Apple Pay: A mobile and digital wallet service that enables users to make payments in stores, in apps, and on the web using Apple devices.
- Apple Music: Apple’s music streaming service offering on-demand listening, curated playlists and radio-style programming.
- Commission: A percentage fee charged by a platform on transactions or in-app purchases; Apple typically charges around 30% but offers reduced rates for qualifying smaller developers.
- Shazam: A music recognition app and service that identifies songs and audio snippets for users.
Reader FAQ
Has Apple confirmed how much it has paid developers?
Yes. Apple said it has paid developers $550 billion in total since the App Store launched in 2008.
What are App Store fees?
Apple generally charges a 30% commission on in-app transactions, with a reduced 15% rate for developers who qualify as small businesses.
Did Apple say why its services grew?
Apple credited product features, content and partnerships — for example the Sing feature, partnerships with companies like GM and Chase, and higher Shazam recognition — as factors in services growth.
Is Apple Music now bigger than Spotify?
Not confirmed in the source.
Apple services had a “record-breaking year,” according to a blog post by senior vice president Eddy Cue. In 2025, Apple had 850 million average weekly App Store users (up from…
Sources
- Developers have made $550 billion on Apple’s App Store since 2008
- 2025 marked a record-breaking year for Apple services
- Apple Reveals 'Record-Breaking' Year For Apple TV And …
- Apple Just Revealed How Big Its Services Empire Has …
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