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The most popular iPhone apps of all time

Ina Fried, author of Login

Developers before a wall of app icons at Apple's WWDC 2018. Photo: Ina Fried/Axios

App Annie is out with a fresh look at the most popular and profitable iOS apps and games of all time. It's a list that includes Clash of Clans and Candy Crush, as well as a number of apps from Facebook and Google.

Why it matters: The app economy is huge. Consumers spent $42.5 billion in the iOS App store last year.

  • Most downloaded games: Candy Crush Saga, Subway Surfers, Fruit Ninja, Clash of Clans and Honor of Kings.
  • Top-grossing games: Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Monster Strike, Puzzles & Dragons and Honor of Kings.
  • Most downloaded apps: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
  • Top-grossing apps: Netflix, Spotify, Pandora, Tencent Video and Tinder.

Flashback: In 2010, when App Annie began tracking apps, 10% of apps were paid, compared to less than 1% now. And instead of games, the top-grossing apps were things like Documents To Go, Shazam and LogMeIn.

App Annie's report has a look at all the top downloaded and top-grossing apps year by year as well as a number of interesting trends over time. Here are some highlights:

  • The Asia Pacific region accounts for nearly 60% of consumer spend, compared to 27% for the Americas and 14% for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
  • Games account for 31% of downloads, but three-quarters of spending.
  • More than 4.5 million apps have been released over time, three-fourths of which were games. However, the proportion of non-game apps being released is on the rise.

Still Going: App Annie projects that spending in the iOS app store will reach $75.7 billion in 2022, up 80% from 2017.

Go deeper

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Kellyanne Conway's parting power pointers

Kellyanne Conway addresses the 2020 Republican National Convention. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

Kellyanne Conway has seen power exercised as a pollster, campaign manager and senior counselor to President Trump. Now that his term in office has concluded, she shared her thoughts with Axios.

Why it matters: If there's a currency in this town, it's power, so we've asked several former Washington power brokers to share their best advice as a new administration and new Congress settle in.

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Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

GOP holdouts press on with plans to crush Cheney

Screenshot of emails to a member of Congress from individuals who signed an Americans for Limited Government petition against Rep. Liz Cheney. Photo obtained by Axios

Pro-Trump holdouts in the House are forging ahead with an uphill campaign to oust Rep. Liz Cheney as head of the chamber's Republican caucus even though Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told them to back down.

Why it matters: What happens next will be a test of McCarthy's party control and the sincerity of his opposition to the movement. Cheney (R-Wyo.) is seen as a potential leadership rival to the California Republican.

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Lachlan Markay
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Democrats aim to punish House GOP for Capitol riot

Speaker Nancy Pelosi passes through a newly installed metal detector at the House floor entrance Thursday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

House Democrats plan to take advantage of corporate efforts to cut funding for Republicans who opposed certifying the 2020 election results, with a plan to target vulnerable members in the pivotal 2022 midterms for their role in the Jan. 6 violence.

Why it matters: It's unclear whether the Democrats' strategy will manifest itself in ads or earned media in the targeted races or just be a stunt to raise money for themselves. But the Capitol violence will be central to the party's messaging as it seeks to maintain its narrow majorities in Congress.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow