Google Play Store is an integral part of the Android OS. It is the default source for Android users to find and download apps and games. The platform is home to over 1.8 million apps, which is a massive figure. Interestingly, the current figure is much lower than at the start of 2024, when it was 3.4 million apps. This decline seems to be due to stricter review policies, causing many low-quality apps to disappear from the Play Store.
Google Play Store sees 47% drop in apps since early 2024
According to a new analysis from Appfigures (via TechCrunch), the number of apps on the Google Play Store dropped by 47% since the start of 2024. This drastic drop in just over a year suggests Google has removed fake or low-quality apps that do not meet its privacy and security standards. This is a win for developers as poor quality apps that add no value do not get approval and are being removed.
Google has cracked down with stricter app quality policies in July 2024. It now bans apps that only open a PDF, display a wallpaper, or offer no real features. The company had a relaxed policy before, with an automated review process. As a result, we have seen many low-quality apps flood the Play Store, which is why the company has now decided to change this.
Google confirmed to TechCrunch that the stricter verification procedures, required app testing for new developer accounts, and expanded human reviews are the reasons for the decline in the number of apps on the Play Store. On top of that, there’s AI-powered threat detection and more privacy rules. Thanks to all these steps, Google has successfully blocked 2.36 million apps before they were launched.
It also banned more than 158,000 developer accounts that had tried to publish harmful apps. Shedding nearly half of the apps will surely help improve the overall quality of apps coming in. It is worth noting that the decline is not a part of a larger global trend. For instance, Apple’s App Store now hosts 1.64 million apps, up from 1.6 million. So it’s a problem specific to the Play Store, and Google is finally doing something about it.
