Monetization
The two primary methods for monetization with apps are via one-time app purchases and subscriptions or ads. With free apps dominating both markets, ads are essentially the sole provider as far as revenue goes. With paid downloads and subscriptions, revenue comes in either as a one-time purchase or monthly schedule. Deciding on the method by which you want to monetize your app can help lead you to the right decision. Let's say, for example, that your app will focus on providing meditations. It would make the most sense to have subscribers pay a monthly fee for access, as this is an ongoing need. In contrast, if your app is a word game, free ads could be best simply because the amount of us can't be as easily predicted or expected. Ultimately, it's going to be an individual decision based on the purpose or intent of the app in question.
There is also going to be more competition with the Android platform. Each month roughly 100,000 apps are launched on the Android platform, whereas only 30,000 are released via Apple's app store. So even if you have a unique and innovative app concept, your visibility will be significantly increased just by opting for a launch with iOS. This means that more users will see the app, there will be more opportunities to download it, and a greater chance of revenue as a result.
Target Audience
When it comes to Apple users versus Android users, a few distinct differences will make an enormous impact on your app's initial launch. As of 2025, Android dominates the market with a whopping 70% of users across the globe. This means that iOS users make up less than 30%. Interestingly enough, though, Apple blew Android out of the water in terms of app sales last year. They accounted for 63% of the total revenue from apps in 2021, even with such a small market share regarding overall users.
This tells us that iOS users aren't afraid to spend money on apps. Some possible reasoning for this is the prevalence of iOS users in affluent areas like the United States and a younger demographic of users overall. IOS users are far more likely to hit the purchase button when in the app store than users in the Google Play store. Plus, as we know, younger people tend to spend with less restraint than those a bit older, so it's safe to say this adds up.
When looking at a world map of mobile phone usage, the vast majority of Eastern countries use Android. In contrast, about half of the Western countries, including the United States and Canada, use iOS. If your target audience is located on the Western side of the world, iOS will most certainly be your best bet. Otherwise, Android is going to have the most considerable amount of reach globally.
Budget and Timelines
Simply put, it takes less money to launch an app on iOS and in a shorter time frame on average. Publishing on Android takes almost 40% more time than it does for iOS. Apple has some pretty rigid stipulations for their apps, but because they're so strict, it can be easier to fit your app into their guidelines. A more transparent process can make for a quicker delivery. The downside to this is that they are more likely to reject the app if it doesn't fit their requirements to a tee. In the long run, this can add time to the project's official launch.
As far as cost goes, we've established that the time for developing Android apps is longer, which equates to more labor. Even if you have the most talented app developers in the world, the process will naturally take more time due to the factors involved with Android app building. There will be more coding and fragmentation, and the emulators are just slower. The process is inevitably longer, and you'll have to spend more money to pay the experts.
