Google’s Play Store lost nearly half its apps

The Verge - Apr 30th, 2025

The Google Play Store has experienced a significant reduction in its app library, shedding 1.8 million apps since the beginning of 2024, according to an analysis by Appfigures reported via TechCrunch. This represents a 47 percent decrease from the 3.4 million apps it started the year with. Google spokesperson Dan Jackson attributes this decline to the company's enhanced focus on delivering high-quality applications and its unwavering commitment to improving user safety. The company has intensified efforts to eliminate spammy and low-quality apps, conducting more thorough app reviews and requiring developers to test their apps more rigorously before release. In 2023, Google began purging apps with limited functionality and content and blocked 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published.

This move signifies a notable shift in Google's strategy, emphasizing a quality-over-quantity approach to its digital marketplace. While the overall number of apps has decreased, Appfigures notes a 7.1 percent increase in global app releases compared to the previous year, indicating a dynamic app development environment. The most affected categories include games, education, and business. This trend highlights Google's commitment to fostering a safer and more reliable app ecosystem, enhancing user trust, and offering developers a platform to build sustainable businesses. Meanwhile, a comparison with Apple's App Store reveals a slight increase in its app count, growing from 1.6 million to 1.64 million, suggesting different strategic focuses between the two tech giants.

Google Play Store Apple App Store Mobile Apps Tech Crunch Appfigures Dan Jackson App Quality User Safety App Purge

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a generally accurate account of the decline in the number of apps on the Google Play Store, supported by reputable sources like Appfigures and TechCrunch. However, it lacks balance by primarily presenting Google's perspective without exploring the potential impact on developers or including dissenting views. The clarity and readability of the article are strong, but it could benefit from more transparency regarding data sources and methods. While the topic is timely and relevant, the story could be more engaging and impactful by incorporating a broader range of perspectives and delving deeper into the controversy surrounding app removals. Overall, the article effectively communicates key points but would benefit from additional context and balance to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports the decline in the number of apps on the Google Play Store, citing a 1.8 million app reduction, which aligns with available data from Appfigures. However, the timeline is slightly misleading, as the decline occurred within 2024, not over two years as implied. The claim about Google's policy changes and app removals is partially supported by sources, though the specific figures for blocked apps are unverified. The story also lacks verification for the category-specific removal data. Overall, while the core facts are mostly accurate, some details lack precise source support.

Balance

The article primarily presents Google's perspective on the app removals, emphasizing the company's commitment to quality and user safety. While it includes a statement from a Google spokesperson, it does not provide viewpoints from app developers or other stakeholders who might be affected by these changes. This creates an imbalance, as the narrative leans towards justifying Google's actions without exploring potential negative impacts or criticisms.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and easy to understand, with a straightforward presentation of facts and figures. However, the timeline is somewhat confusing, as it implies a longer period for the app decline than what is supported by sources. The inclusion of specific data points, such as the number of apps removed by category, adds clarity, but these details need better verification.

Source quality

The article cites Appfigures and TechCrunch, both reputable sources for tech industry data and news. These sources enhance the credibility of the reported figures and trends. However, the story could improve by including additional perspectives or data from a wider range of sources, such as independent analysts or developer communities, to provide a more comprehensive view of the situation.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency regarding its data sources and the methods used to obtain and verify the information. While it mentions Appfigures and Google spokesperson Dan Jackson, it does not detail how Appfigures collected its data or how comprehensive this data is. The story also does not discuss any potential conflicts of interest or biases in the reporting.