As of September 2026, there are approximately 2,634,936 mobile apps on the Apple App Store and 2,579,752 on Google Play, according to the third-party tracker 42matters. These are the most current documented figures for how many mobile apps are available across the two major stores, though Apple and Google do not publish an official live count.
How many mobile apps are there right now?
The two specific third-party counts from 42matters on September 18-19, 2026, place the Apple App Store at 2,634,936 apps and Google Play at 2,579,752 apps. These are catalog measurements from an independent tracker, not official totals published by Apple or Google. No live counter exists on any Apple or Google page in the retrieved material, so these figures represent the best available snapshot of the current app ecosystem.
Why the exact number is hard to pin down
No official live count is published by Apple or Google, so the exact number of mobile apps changes daily as new apps are submitted, approved, and removed for policy violations or developer abandonment. Counts also vary by tracker because each service uses different methods to crawl and catalog the stores. One tracker may report a different total than another on the same day, and the number shifts by thousands each week as apps enter and leave the market.
Apple App Store vs Google Play: the numbers side by side
The Apple App Store (2,634,936 apps) and Google Play (2,579,752 apps) are close in size, with Apple holding a slight edge. Both figures are third-party catalog measurements, not official store-published totals.
What these numbers actually mean
These totals represent a snapshot of a dynamic ecosystem where a small fraction of apps drive most downloads and revenue. The average smartphone user has between 60 and 90 apps installed on their device. The average app retention rate stands at around 32% after 30 days. Regional differences also exist: an app popular in one country may be unavailable or irrelevant in another. The total count includes everything from major social platforms to niche mobile game lists, meaning the raw number alone doesn't indicate quality or usefulness. For market research or content creation, these figures show the scale of the app economy but should be understood as a point-in-time measurement of catalog size, not active usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do the app store totals change?
The numbers change daily as apps are added and removed. Trackers like 42matters update their counts periodically, but no live feed exists, so the most recent third-party snapshot is the best available reference.
Which app store has more apps overall?
Based on the September 2026 data, the Apple App Store has slightly more apps (2,634,936) than Google Play (2,579,752). Historically, Google Play has had a larger total, but the gap has narrowed and reversed in recent years.
Do these numbers include apps that are no longer updated?
Yes, the catalog counts include all apps still listed in the store, even those that have not received updates for years. Stores may remove abandoned or non-compliant apps over time, but many inactive apps remain in the total.
Related reading: What Is An App? and How To Play Roblox On Phone.
