At the beginning of 2024, the Google Play Store had 3.4 million apps. According to Appfigures' count, the store's catalog now has "only" 1.8 million apps! That's a hefty 47% reduction, and it's limited to the Play Store because, at the same time, Apple's App Store went from 1.6 to 1.64 million apps.
Google has wiped out half of its store
This slimming diet is therefore the sole work of Google, which has pulled out all the stops to carry out this very major clean-up. Last July, the web giant tightened its quality requirements: from now on, applications with limited functionality or content — such as purely text-based apps, simple PDF viewers, or apps offering a single wallpaper — are banned. Similarly, applications without any real use, often left abandoned, are also removed.
Appfigures notes, however, that the purge began even before last year's new summer rules. This cleanup is welcome: Android users will no longer be drowned in the mass of apps, while serious developers will have a little more chance to get their apps noticed.
Google confirmed to TechCrunch that the tightened rules were a major factor in the cleanup. Added to this were more human reviewers, new requirements for developer accounts, and increased use of AI to detect threats. Last year, the company blocked 2.36 million apps that violated Play Store policy. 158,000 developer accounts were suspended.
Source: TechCrunch
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