Global consumer spending in top 100 subscription apps rose 34% in 2020: Sensor Tower

According to Sensor Tower, the cohort of 100 top earners on the Google Play Store recorded $2.7 billion last year, up by 42% from $1.9 billion in 2019.

worldwide consumer spending in the top 100 non-game subscription-based apps increases (Pixabay)

Even as the Covid-19 pandemic forced millions of users to stay indoors, digital platforms saw an exponential surge in usage and spending in 2020. A new Sensor Tower report corroborates the trend as it reveals global consumer spending in the top 100 non-game subscription-based apps grew 34% year-over-year. The spending surged to $13 billion in 2020, up from $9.7 billion in 2019.

According to the report, the top 100 earning non-game subscription apps accounted for 11.7% of the total $111 billion consumers spend on in-app purchases. In the fourth quarter of 2020, 86 of the top 100 earning non-games provided subscriptions, slightly down from 89 in the same quarter previous year.

The report further revealed that Apple's App Store continued to see a higher share of spending than Google's equivalent Play Store. The top 100 subscription apps on Apple's app store registered $10.3 billion in 2020, recording a 32% surge from $7.8 billion in 2019. The top 100 subscription apps on the Google app store saw $2.7 billion in 2020. The growth rate on Google was much higher at 42%, though. In 2019, Google's Play Store generated $1.9 billion.

Apps post a record growth in consumer spending in 2020 (Sensor Tower)

Apps post a record growth in consumer spending in 2020 (Sensor Tower)

Sensor Tower also notes the significant surge in subscription app spending on Google. It said that spending on the platform was high both globally and in the US. It noted that YouTube led Google's suite of products as it generated $991.7 million in gross revenue globally. In the US alone, it generated $562 million.

“It was also the top-earning subscription app on the App Store, whereas Google One was the top-grossing app on Google's marketplace with more than $445 million generated globally and $255.7 million in the US,” the report added.

The top apps in terms of US consumer spending are YouTube, Disney+, Tinder, Pandora, Google One, Twitch, Bumble, HBO Max, Hulu, and ESPN. On Google Play Store, Google One, Disney+ and Pandora were the top three apps. On Apple's, YouTube, Tinder and Disney+ led the top three charts.