The number of new apps released on Apple's App Store in the first half of the year alone is approaching the total for the entire previous year, resulting in a flood of apps created with AI-powered vibration coding.
App development is accelerating thanks to '
AI 'Vibecoded' Apps Are Flooding Apple's App Store - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/technology/apple-app-store-vibecoding.html
App Store added nearly as many new apps in H1 2026 as in all of 2025 - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/20/report-app-store-added-nearly-as-many-new-apps-in-h1-2026-as-in-all-of-2025/
According to data from Appfigures, a reporting platform for mobile app developers, global app releases in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March) increased by 60% year-over-year for both iOS and Android, with iOS showing an even more significant increase of 80%. Furthermore, as of April 2026, the total number of app releases for both iOS and Android combined for the first four months of 2026 increased by 104% year-over-year, with iOS alone showing an 89% increase.
The total number of apps distributed on the App Store and Google Play increased by 60% year-on-year; is AI driving the global app boom? - GIGAZINE
Furthermore, according to estimates released on July 20, 2026, by app analytics company Sensor Tower , the number of new apps released on the App Store in 2025 increased by 30% year-on-year to approximately 600,000, and it was reported that the number of new apps in the first half of 2026 alone increased to approximately 560,000, nearly matching the total for the entire year of 2025.
The surge in the number of new app releases is largely attributed to 'vibecoding,' a software development method that makes app development more accessible even for those with limited programming experience. Vibecoding involves a workflow where, instead of writing code line by line, an AI assistant guides users through a more conversational process to generate, refine, and debug applications. In some cases, users can even build their own websites and apps simply by communicating their ideas to an AI tool, without any programming knowledge or coding experience whatsoever.
On the other hand, the acceleration and expansion of app development through vibe coding raises concerns that it may lead to an increase in low-quality apps. In fact, according to Sensor Tower, the number of downloads from the App Store is stagnating, with the number of downloads in 2025 projected to be 35.4 billion, a 3% increase year-on-year, and the number of downloads in the first half of 2026 projected to be 17.6 billion, a 2% increase year-on-year.
Apple takes a 30% commission on in-app purchases such as subscriptions and a 15% commission on purchases from small developers, but no commission is incurred if the app is not downloaded. However, every time an app is released or updated on the App Store, it needs to be reviewed, which may be a burden on Apple in terms of resources and effort. Also, according to mobile advertising analyst Eric Shufert, apps developed with vibecoding often do not offer complex in-app purchases and instead display ads, and since Apple does not earn a commission from in-app ad revenue, it is thought that these apps are less likely to benefit from the app boom.
Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian said, 'We are delighted to see a new generation of developers using the latest tools to develop and release apps faster than ever before. Download count is just one indicator of the value of the App Store. Apple consistently reviews 90% of app submissions within 48 hours, and all apps meet the high standards of quality, privacy, and security that users trust.' He added that the increase in the number of apps is welcome and there are no security concerns.
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in AI, Smartphone, Posted by log1e_dh