The History of App Pricing [Chart]

Flurry Analytics has published some charts that show the history of app pricing for iOS and Android.

The charts were created using four years of data for nearly 350,000 that use Flurry Analytics.

Between 2010 and 2012 the percentage of apps using Flurry Analytics that were free varied between 80% and 84%, but by 2013, 90% of apps in use were free. As of April 2013, the average price paid for Android apps (including those where the price was free) was significantly less than for iPhone and iPad apps. Flurry found that the average price of an Android app is only $0.06.


Notably, when examining the apps whose developers tested various pricing models, there is a upwards trend towards remaining at the free pricing tier.

The site concludes that "While consumers may not like in-app advertising, their behavior makes it clear that they are willing to accept it in exchange for free content, just as we have in radio, TV and online for decades. In light of that, it seems that the conversation about whether apps should have ads is largely over. Developers of some specialized apps may be able to monetize through paid downloads, and game apps sometimes generate significant revenue through in-app purchases, but since consumers are unwilling to pay for most apps, and most app developers need to make money somehow, it seems clear that ads in apps are a sure thing for the foreseeable future."

Check out the charts below or hit the link for more details...

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