The average amount spent in apps per active iPhone in the US grew to $138 in 2020, an increase of 38% year-over-year according to Sensor Tower Store Intelligence data. This includes spending on in-app purchases & premium apps, but excludes commerce apps such as Amazon, rideshare services like Uber, or other apps where purchases were not directly processed by the App Store.
This increase in consumer spending per active iPhone mirrored global trends, which saw consumers spending more overall last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Per-device spending in mobile games saw explosive growth in 2020, leaping from $53.80 in 2019 to $76.80. This represents Y/Y growth of 43%, more than 20 points higher than the 22% Y/Y growth seen in 2019 when in-game spending climbed from $44.
An analysis of Sensor Tower Game Intelligence data revealed US iPhone users spent the most in Puzzle games per device, averaging $15.50 on the category, which included titles such as Candy Crush Saga & Gardenscapes. The Casino category saw the next highest user spending, averaging $13.10, followed by Strategy, which saw a surge in revenue last year & saw an average of $12.30 per iPhone in user spending.
The report said mobile gaming saw a “significant boost” in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers sought at-home activities & new ways to socialize with friends. This was reflected by the spike experienced by the Open World Adventure category, which often featured a multiplayer option, & Social Party games.
Image credit: SensorTower
