Reports that the removal of low-quality apps from Google Play has led to a 47% drop in apps, but other reasons have been pointed out
Google Play, the Android app store, saw a 47% drop in the number of apps between the beginning of 2024 and April 2025, reported technology media TechCrunch. The reason for this is thought to be the elimination of scam, spam and other low-quality apps, but it has also been pointed out that there may be other reasons.
Google Play sees 47% decline in apps since start of last year | TechCrunch
According to app analytics company Appfigures , Google Play had about 3.4 million apps available worldwide in early 2024, but as of the time of writing, the number of apps available had fallen to about 1.8 million. This represents a 47% decline, and many apps have disappeared from Google Play in a short period of time.
The decline in the number of apps available is not a global trend. In fact, the competing iOS app store, the App Store, saw a slight increase in the number of apps available during the same period, from about 1.6 million to about 1.64 million.
TechCrunch said of the decline in the number of apps available on Google Play, 'For Google, the decline in apps may be a relief for Android device owners who have had to sift through scammy, spammy, and other low-quality apps to find the best ones to install. It may also help developers who have had to fight to get their apps noticed.'
The reason for the decline in apps on Google Play is said to be the tightening of app review requirements set by Google Play. While Apple has always conducted strict reviews of apps before they are published, Google has often combined automated checks to speed up the review process, which has resulted in shorter app review periods.
This has the advantage of making it easier to release apps on Google Play, but it also has the disadvantage that the app store is more likely to be flooded with low-quality apps. Therefore, Google announced in July 2024 that it will raise the minimum quality requirements for apps.
The newFunctionality, Content and User Experience policy prohibits apps that 'crash frequently,' 'do not provide the basic, appropriate mobile app experience,' 'lack compelling content,' or 'exhibit other behavior that is inconsistent with a functional and compelling user experience.'
The introduction of this policy prohibited static apps that do not have any specific app functions, such as apps that only contain text or PDF files, and also eliminated apps with little content, such as apps that only provide a single wallpaper. In addition, apps that do almost nothing, which developers would have abandoned during the testing phase, were no longer allowed.
When reached for comment by TechCrunch, Google confirmed that the decline in the number of apps on Google Play was due to new policies, which the company said were also influenced by expanded verification requirements , mandatory pre-release testing, and an increased number of human reviewers for fraudulent apps.
Google tightens Play Store rules, forcing developers to test apps with at least 20 users for at least two weeks before release - GIGAZINE
In addition, Google will invest in AI for threat detection, introduce stronger privacy policies and improve developer tools in 2024. As a result, Google has blocked the publication of 2.36 million policy-violating apps and suspended more than 158,000 developer accounts that attempted to release harmful apps.
The report of a large number of apps disappearing from Google Play also became a hot topic on the social news site Hacker News.
Google Play sees 47% decline in apps since start of last year | Hacker News
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43849383
One of the most popular responses is that the number of apps on Google Play has decreased because Google is forcing individual developers to submit a ' DUNS number ' and switch to an organizational developer account. A DUNS number is a company identification code required to open an organizational developer account.
In the second half of 2023, Google forced individual developers publishing apps on Google Play to either maintain their personal developer accounts and disclose their names and addresses on Google Play, or switch to organizational accounts. For most individual developers, disclosing personal information on Google Play was unacceptable, so many individual developers deleted their accounts at this time. It is possible that many apps have disappeared from Google Play due to the deletion of developer accounts.
Verify your Google Play Console Developer account (for accounts created before September 2023) - Play Console Help
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/14177239
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