Technology

Understanding Daily Download Requirements to Achieve Top Spot in the App Store

Ranking in Apple’s top 25 in the iTunes store is a crucial milestone for mobile app developers. The top 25 is arguably the most significant app discovery mechanism for iOS users, and getting there can make all the difference between success and obscurity.

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How Many Downloads Does It Take to Rank in the Top 25?

Mobile app store analytics firm Distimo has recently published some intriguing data that sheds light on this question. The numbers are specific to the U.S. store and provide a snapshot of what it takes to rank in the top 25 for free iPhone apps and paid iPhone apps.

Free Apps

For free iPhone apps, it currently takes approximately 38,400 daily downloads to rank in the top 25.
Breaking down this number by category, we find that games are the most competitive, requiring 25,300 daily downloads to rank in the gaming top 25.

Paid Apps

For paid iPhone apps, it currently takes approximately 3,530 daily downloads to rank in the top 25.
Again, games lead the pack, with 2,280 daily downloads required to rank in the gaming top 25 for paid apps.

Other competitive categories for free apps include entertainment (6,700 daily downloads), social networking (5,800), lifestyle (3,900), and music (3,900). Interestingly, photography apps rank just behind games and entertainment apps when it comes to paid apps, requiring 270 daily downloads to rank in the top 25.

A Note on Data Reliability

These numbers represent a snapshot of Distimo’s findings at the time of compilation. The popularity of mobile apps can change rapidly, and these figures may not reflect current market conditions. Additionally, one source with experience in building mobile apps suggests that Distimo’s numbers might be too low and may only represent data from a small number of apps.

Gaming Subcategories

Given the immense popularity of games on iOS, Distimo has taken a closer look at the various gaming subcategories. Arcade and action games lead the pack:

Arcade games: 14,100 daily downloads
Action games: 12,300 daily downloads
Puzzle games: 9,500 daily downloads
Strategy games: 8,200 daily downloads

What’s Behind These Numbers?

Distimo has released this detailed set of numbers for the first time. It’s worth noting that in December 2011, Distimo reported that it still took about 45,000 daily downloads to rank in the top 25 of most popular free apps. Since then, Apple has been working hard to shut down scams and bots that automatically downloaded apps and allowed developers to rank in Apple’s charts without having a real user base.

A More Level Playing Field for Legitimate Developers

Judging from Distimo’s latest data, these efforts are starting to pay off, making life easier for legitimate developers. With the rise of mobile app stores, getting your app noticed has become increasingly challenging. These numbers provide valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of iOS app development.

Conclusion

Ranking in Apple’s top 25 is a crucial milestone for mobile app developers. Understanding how many downloads it takes to achieve this feat can help developers create effective marketing strategies and improve their chances of success. While these numbers are specific to the U.S. store and may change over time, they provide a valuable snapshot of the current market conditions.

By understanding what it takes to rank in the top 25, mobile app developers can make informed decisions about their marketing efforts and improve their chances of achieving this coveted goal.