The launch of apps alongside the modern smartphone revolutionized how we use our phones. Statistics show that almost 90% of time spent on smartphones is spent within the infrastructure of an app, with internet browsing through a native browser accounting for most of the remainder.
With the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store offering millions of apps to choose from, consumers basically have endless options. For developers, however, the question of which store to launch on is often challenging.
In this article, we’ll examine the two stores, Google play Store & Apple store, and their corresponding operating systems and see which is preferable to developers looking for a quick and easy way to publish their apps. We’ll also compare the costs of doing so and determine which store is best for business.
Operating System
Clearly, the biggest distinguisher between launching an app on the two stores is the operating system on which the apps will run. The Apple App Store is accessible solely by Apple devices using the iOS system.
In contrast, the Google Play Store is available to any user with a device running the Android ecosystem. Because it is open source, multiple providers use it, including Samsung, Google, Honor, and Nokia. However, only Android devices running Google Play Services can access the store, ruling out brands like Huawei and others that may use stock versions of Android.
App Development
It is commonly accepted that iOS apps are easier to produce than Android apps because all apps built for Apple devices must be programmed using one of the best IoT languages, Swift.
Swift is known for being simpler to code in and requiring less work to make a functional app. This leads to quicker development times, which in turn makes apps cheaper to develop—particularly when they need multiple revisions.
Applications for the Android environment are commonly programmed using Java, Kotlin, or a combination of the two. While these languages are prevalent (particularly Java), they require more significant coding effort, leading to greater costs and launch delays.
Publishing Process
The process for publishing apps on the two stores varies greatly. In this area, Google’s Play Store is the winner when determining which store is more straightforward to publish an app. However, there are some downsides to this.
To publish an app on the Play Store, developers must register as publishers and request access to the Google Play Developer Console. When doing this, the distribution terms must be agreed to, and an annual fee of $25 must be paid. The application will then be approved.
Once approved, access to the Developer Console will be granted, and companies are free to publish as many applications as they wish. The console is incredibly user-friendly, and even developers who are newcomers to the industry can easily find their way around.
After publishing an app through the Developer Console, applications are sent for quality checks undertaken by Google. These ensure the app meets all expectations, doesn’t violate guidelines, and doesn’t contain any hidden malicious content. This approval process takes, on average, between two and seven days. Once approved, an app is made live on the Play Store.
Read Also: Top 10 AI Apps for Android
The process for publishing on Apple’s App Store is more complicated. Developers must register an Apple ID and a Distribution Provisioning Profile to start. A fee of $99 will also be payable. Once paid, completed apps can be uploaded to the iTunes Connect suite for verification.
Along with the app, developers will need to generate and submit a distribution certificate, a push notifications certificate, and a mobile provisioning certificate. Alongside submitting these certificates, developers will need to work through an extensive checklist of requirements and ensure their app complies with each expectation.
Once all groundwork has been completed, the final application can be submitted for final processing and verification. This process takes, on average, seven days and is known in the industry for being particularly brutal.
Any flaws found in the app will result in immediate rejection. The developer will then need to investigate why the rejection has been issued and remedy the flaw before being allowed to resubmit the app for verification. Approved applications are published in the App Store.
Regulation
Regarding regulations surrounding what apps can be published, both stores operate similarly—they comply with the locale in which they are accessed. While the Play Store may feature gambling apps in your country, it may not in another.
Specific regulations that the stores comply with in various regions are constantly updated and available on their respective platforms.
Monetization
When it comes to being paid for your app, both stores use a similar monetization policy. For both, developers are paid 70% of the revenue generated by an app—whether through in-app purchases or advertising.
To ensure the support of smaller developers, both stores also feature a dedicated benefit program to help boost the profits of smaller developers. The first $1 million generated in this program is subject to just 15% in service fees. Any amount higher than this will be charged at the standard 30%.
Final Verdict
The Apple App Store and the Google Play Store offer unique features and the opportunity to get an app on millions of devices internationally. While the Play Store has been rebuked in the media countless times for allowing apps with malicious content on its platform, it is the easier option to publish an app.
While Apple may not have the reach the Play Store does due to a lower market share of iOS users, the store is known for only publishing quality applications. Although the process of doing this is more tedious, appearing on the App Store lends an app a degree of credibility and can help build a brand.
Regardless of which store is used to publish an app, the ultimate goal of any developer is to release a unique offering that helps customers achieve a goal. Whether entertainment, productivity, AI, or simply accessibility to specific content, apps launched on Apple or Android can result in millions of users—provided the app and marketing are done right.