Research snapshot · June 2026

The State of
Mac Apps

An independent look at the macOS app economy — how big it really is, what's actually selling, the studios behind the craft, and the best resources for people who build Mac apps.

Compiled from public sources · figures are estimates unless cited · not affiliated with Apple or any studio listed

$1–6B Pure-Mac software / yr third-party, derived estimate details
100M+ Active Macs worldwide installed base src
25.6M Macs shipped 2025 +11% YoY — outpacing PCs src
76% Small-dev earnings growth 2021→2024, fastest cohort src
What's inside

Four ways to read the market

Each section stands alone. Skim the one you care about.

01 · Market & money →

How big the pure-Mac software business actually is, the App-Store-vs-direct channel split, and the real revenue numbers indie developers have disclosed.

02 · What's selling →

The categories with the most durable demand, the top-charting paid utilities, and the apps people recommend again and again.

03 · The studios →

The teams behind the apps — from one big player to a long tail of beloved 1–8 person shops — with links and what makes each recognizable.

04 · Resources →

The GitHub lists, the r/macapps community, and the curated directories worth bookmarking if you build for the Mac.

The one-line takeaway: pure-Mac software is a small but durable, less-saturated niche — most of the paid-software money now flows outside the Mac App Store, and Apple Silicon has tilted the field back toward fast, native apps.
Start reading · Section 01 How big is the Mac software market?