Apple’s services had a “record year,” according to a blog post by senior vice president Eddy Cue;
In 2025, Apple had 850 million average weekly App Store users (from 813 million in 2024), over $100 billion in Apple Pay merchant sales and a 36% increase in monthly Apple TV engagement.
Apple Music also had its best year ever for listenership and new subscriber growth, which is impressive amid Spotify’s long dominance of the market.
Apple has less frequently disclosed data about App Store payments in recent years, but the company shared that it has now paid $550 billion to developers since its launch in 2008. This shows significant growth, as Apple last reported that by 2021, it had paid $260 billion to developers, up from the $200 billion it reported in 2020.
The App Store generally takes a 30% commission on in-app purchases, though it offers small businesses (developers making under $1 million a year) a reduced fee of 15%. This part of Apple’s business has been the target of strict regulatory scrutiny, with international courts investigating it for monopolistic practices.
Apple Music and Apple TV are growing
Apple’s entertainment products are also making strides. Apple TV surpassed all previous viewership records in December 2025, the company says, and Apple Music hit record highs in viewership and new subscribers.
Apple TV’s growth comes alongside the debut of new hits like “Pluribus” and “The Studio,” as well as ongoing hits like “Severance.” Apple TV also inked major streaming deals with Major League Soccer and Formula 1. “F1,” Apple TV’s movie about the sport, became Apple Studios’ highest-grossing movie to date, as well as the highest-grossing movie of star Brad Pitt’s career.
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Apple credits the karaoke-like “Sing” feature, partnerships with companies like GM and Chase and other new developments for its growth. He notes that Shazam was generating over 1 billion recognitions per month, which could have fed growth into its Music service.
But it’s also possible that Apple benefited from the controversy surrounding Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s business ventures.
Ek’s investment firm led a €600 million investment in European defense technology company Helsing, which makes military software and artificial intelligence they hit drones. Artists such as Xiu Xiu, Sylvan Esso, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Deerhoof and others removed their catalogs from Spotify in protest.
Spotify has faced other controversies in recent years, from its misinformation platform about COVID-19 via Joe Rogan’s podcast (formerly a Spotify exclusive) to artist payment metrics.
On the other hand, Apple Music could grow because it’s simply building a product that better suits certain listeners (I wrote about my decision to switch from Spotify to Apple Music as it was increasingly suffocated by algorithmic recommendations).
It could also be a financial decision amid uncertain economic times – Apple Music is attracting new subscribers with its three-month free offer, which comes with the purchase of most new Apple devices.
