Apple announced that its customers have downloaded over 50 billion apps from its App Store, five years after the iPhone and iPad maker triggered the "app boom."
To commemorate the milestone, Cupertino, California-based Apple gifted a $10,000 App Store Gift Card to Brandon Ashmore, who downloaded the 50 billionth app. Brandon Ashmore from Mentor, Ohio downloaded the free word game Say the Same Thing developed by Space Inch LLC to win the prize.
Apple also celebrated the historic mark by updating its website's homepage showing a "Thanks" on an iPad. The 50 billion figure only includes unique downloads, and excludes re-downloads or updates of applications.
"Apple would like to thank our incredible customers and developers for topping 50 billion apps downloaded," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers. We're absolutely floored to cross this milestone in less than five years."
Apple had launched the App Store in July 2008 with just 500 applications. However, now, the App Store boasts of more than 850,000 apps in 155 countries, with 350,000 native apps for iPad. Apple says its customers are downloading more than 800 apps per second at a rate of over two billion apps per month.
Google at its I/O conference had announced that its Google Play Store for Android devices recently crossed 48 billion downloads.
Apple's App Store had crossed 25 billion downloaded in March 2012. Chunli Fu of Qingdao, China, who had downloaded the 25 billionth app 'Where's My Water?' was also gifted a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card.
The plans for the contest "50 Billion Apps Countdown Promotion", was launched early this month, by adding a countdown timer on its website. Rules to the contest were simple. If a person downloads an app, they get directly into the contest. But for people who do not want to download an app can also enter into the contest by filling a form.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Technology News
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.