Apple App Store users spend twice as much on subscriptions compared to Google Play Store users. Are they better off? More generous? Or are App Store subscriptions just easier to use?

According to recently released data from Sensor Tower, app subscriptions grew more than 4% in 2021, to $18.3 billion globally and $8.6 billion in the U.S. And while Google Play subscriptions grew faster, App Store users overall account for more than two-thirds of all subscription spending. Other data shows that App Store users are more likely to pay for software overall, but what’s driving this subscription trend?

“A research paper published in the National Bureau of Economic Research found that owning an iPhone is a strong indicator that people have a high income,” technology strategist Sundus Shahid Bari told Lifewire via email. “Apple doesn’t sell tech products, they sell a status that depends on their tech products.”

More and more apps are adding subscription options. You might find that a previously paid app is now free to download, and you sign up for a subscription after trying it out. Another typical case is that developers realize that the low prices charged by app stores do not allow for sustainable business. A music FX app on the desktop might cost $100-150, while in the iOS App Store it can be difficult to get away with $10, especially when the App Store model does not allow for charges for app upgrades.