2013 has been a good year for app developers and distributors. With a higher and higher percentage of the population owning a smartphone, apps designed especially for these types of gadgets have been center stage in 2013.
Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top highest revenue generating apps in 2013, based on the figures released earlier this year by Business Intelligence. For both the iPhone Store and its Android counterpart, Google Play, the top grossing apps were games; more specifically the 5 top revenue generating apps for the iOS and 4 out of the top 5 for Android. This might be somewhat explained by the somewhat addictive nature of most smartphone games.
Another curious thing is that all top apps are in-app purchase varieties, meaning that they generate revenue through payments made by players during the game. In fact, downloading some of the following apps is completely free and they only generate revenue when players purchase a bonus or a premium version. According to Distimo, in-app purchases generated over 3 quarters of all profits in the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store. This figure rose to a whopping 90% in Japan.
Curious to see which have been the most popular apps for users in 2013? Let’s take a look at the countdown.
NOTE: The following countdown applies for apps downloaded from the Apple Store. We have also mentioned how these apps, provided that they have a counterpart for the Android operating system, fared on Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play for comparison.
No. 5: Minecraft – Pocket Edition
Developer: Mojang
Mine craft – Pocket Edition, the smartphone and tablet version of the popular Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) game, ranks as the fifth highest revenue generating app in 2013. Available for both iOS and Android, Mine craft scored a little bit higher in the Apple App Store than it did in Google Play.
No. 4: Hay Day
Developer: Super Cell
The easy to use, colorful, and aesthetically appealing app has been a bit hit amongst iOS users this year. Even though Hay Day does have a version for Android, the game didn’t rank in the top revenue generating apps in the Google Play store.
No. 3: Puzzle and Dragons
Developer: Gung Ho Online Entertainment, Inc.
This app combines two things users seem to love: puzzles and the ability to fight dragons. By October of 2013, the game had been downloaded more than 1 million times in North America and a whopping 20 million times in Japan. Puzzle and Dragons also ranked as the highest revenue generating app for Google Play, with a reported revenue of $2 million a day (Bloomberg).
No. 2: Clash of Clans
Developer: SuperCell
iOS users didn’t bother shelling out cash to enjoy one of their favorite games of 2013 – Clash of Clans. While users seemed to enjoy the game and weren’t bothered by the app’s pricing, users did complain that the game could use more stability, according to Applause Analytics.
No. 1: Candy Crush Saga
Developer: King.com Limited
Few online board games have received as much buzz as the insanely popular Candy Crush Saga, which ranks as the highest revenue generating app in the Apple App Store. According to Business Insider, the app generates a daily revenue of over $600,000 per day, which would amount to approximately $230 million in a year. Even though such games have a notoriously short shelf life, Candy Crush Saga seems to have withstood the test of time so far. The game also ranked second in Google Play, making it the overall highest grossing app of the year.
