India’s app market is booming — but global platforms are capturing most of the gains
techcrunch.com Apr 23, 2026

India’s app market is booming — but global platforms are capturing most of the gains

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

India's mobile app market generated record revenue, with in-app purchases crossing $300 million in Q1, up 33% year-over-year. Non-gaming apps drove growth, generating over $200 million in revenue, rising 44% year-over-year. Global platforms captured most of the spending, with Google One and YouTube among top earners. Domestic players led in video streaming, with JioHotstar and SonyLIV ranking highly, as annual in-app purchase revenue rose.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · India's low revenue per download highlights a significant monetization gap, with the country generating about $0.03 in revenue per download.
  • · The dominance of video streaming apps in revenue rankings underscores their outsized monetization power.