What is the Difference Between Google Android Market and Apple Market (App Store)?

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The Google Android Market and Apple Market, also known as the App Store, are the two major marketplaces for mobile applications. They differ in several aspects:

  1. Market Share: Android has a larger global market share, with 70.29% as of 2023, while iOS has 28.8%. In the US, iOS has a 57.93% market share, while Android has a 41.64% market share.
  2. Platform Availability: Android is an open-source platform owned by Google and can be adapted and used by many smartphone manufacturers, which contributes to its global market share. On the other hand, iOS is developed for Apple products only.
  3. User Demographics: iPhone users tend to have a higher average salary than Android users, with a 43.7% difference. Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to be iPhone users.
  4. User Experience: 47% of former Android users say that iPhone provides a better user experience, while 29% of former iPhone users say that Android is more affordable.

In summary, the Google Android Market and Apple Market differ in market share, platform availability, user demographics, and user experience. Android has a larger global market share and is available on a wider range of devices, while iOS has a higher market share in the US and is exclusive to Apple products.

Comparative Table: Google Android Market vs Apple Market (App Store)

Here is a table comparing the differences between Google Android Market (Google Play Store) and Apple Market (App Store):

Feature Google Play Store Apple App Store
Developer Various, mostly Google and Open Handset Alliance Apple Inc.
Initial Release September 23, 2008 July 29, 2007
Latest Stable Release and Updates Android 12 iOS 15.3.1 and iPadOS 15.3.1
Customizability Highly customizable Less customizable
App Submission Fee $25 one-time fee $99/year fee
Revenue Share 30% of the funds users pay 30% of the funds users pay
Backlinks Correlation between store rankings and the number of backlinks to app store page Backlinks have no impact on rankings
App Search Layout Generic search results contain app icon, title, category, and rating Search results contain app title, subtitle, screenshots, video, and rating
Short Description and Subtitle Short description below the screenshots with a limit of 80 characters; subtitle below the app title with a limit of 30 characters App subtitle below the app title with a limit of 30 characters; short description has a limit of 80 characters
Video Videos are available on Google Play Store Videos are available on Apple App Store

Please note that most popular apps are available for both platforms. However, there are differences in the way the app stores operate, such as the submission process, revenue share, and ASO (App Store Optimization) strategies.