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Google Play Cuts App Count by 47% as Quality Standards Tighten

Enhanced app reviews, stricter policies, and new EU regulations drive a massive reduction in low-quality apps while boosting new releases.

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While the total number of apps has dropped, new app releases are actually up 7% this year.
Google says good riddance to bad apps.

Overview

  • Google Play's app count dropped from 3.4 million to 1.8 million between early 2024 and April 2025, a 47% reduction.
  • The decline follows Google's July 2024 introduction of stricter quality standards, targeting low-functionality apps and expanding human reviews.
  • Google blocked 2.36 million policy-violating apps and banned over 158,000 developer accounts as part of enhanced enforcement efforts.
  • New app releases on Google Play increased by 7% year-over-year, reflecting a shift toward higher-quality offerings despite the overall reduction.
  • The EU's trader status rule, effective February 2025, requiring developer identity disclosures, may have contributed to some app removals.