How Apple’s App Store Really Works Behind the Scenes

The App Store started small in 2008 with just 500 apps but now holds over 1. 8 million. Most come from outside developers—99. 99% to be exact. Most apps (85%) don’t pay Apple anything, yet the store still generates $1. 3 trillion globally in 2024. In South Korea alone, transactions hit $27 billion. Nearly all the money goes to creators, not Apple. Security is Apple’s big selling point. Before any app goes live, it gets checked for malware, data theft tricks, or harmful content. Reviewers handle around 150, 000 new apps every week. In 2024, they blocked $2 billion in scams and stopped 4. 7 million stolen credit cards from being used. Apple also lets users cancel subscriptions, request refunds, and track purchases easily. South Korea even allows payments outside Apple’s system—a rare exception.For developers, Apple offers tools, training, and access to 850 million shoppers worldwide. It provides over 250, 000 tools to build apps and runs a training center in South Korea that’s trained 600 people, helping them launch 90+ apps. Yet critics argue these benefits come with trade-offs. After the EU’s Digital Markets Act forced Apple to lower fees, most developers didn’t cut prices for users. Only 9% did, while 86% of saved money stayed with developers outside Europe. Apple warns that loosening rules could backfire. Allowing apps from outside the store (sideloading) might let scams slip through. The company says privacy and security could suffer if regulations push users toward riskier options. A recent study even suggested the DMA didn’t deliver cheaper apps as promised. So is the App Store a safe place to browse—or just a walled garden with hidden costs?