Who Owns App Store?
App Store is owned by Apple Inc., a publicly traded American technology corporation founded in 1976. Apple trades on NASDAQ under ticker AAPL and is headquartered in Cupertino, California, USA.
Parent Company
Apple Inc.
Founded
2008
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Cupertino, California, USA
Who Owns App Store?
- Parent Company: Apple Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: AAPL
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| App Store | Apple Inc. | Wholly owned |
History of App Store
- Founded: 2008
- Founders: Apple (internal development)
App Store was launched by Apple in 2008 as the digital distribution platform for iPhone applications. The platform was developed to provide a curated marketplace for developers to distribute applications to Apple device users. This strategic launch represented a revolutionary approach to mobile app distribution, creating a centralized, trusted marketplace that could ensure quality, security, and user experience while providing developers with access to millions of potential customers through a single distribution channel.
Throughout the 2010s, App Store expanded to support additional Apple platforms including iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The platform became the primary distribution channel for third-party applications and digital content on Apple devices. This expansion demonstrated Apple's ability to leverage its ecosystem approach across multiple product categories while maintaining consistent user experience and security standards across all platforms, creating a seamless experience for users and developers alike.
App Store has grown to become one of the largest digital marketplaces globally, hosting millions of applications and generating billions in annual revenue. The platform continues to evolve with new features, curation tools, and developer support programs. This remarkable growth showcases the success of Apple's curated marketplace approach and its ability to create a platform that balances developer innovation with user safety and quality standards while maintaining a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving app economy.
App Store has become a significant revenue contributor to Apple's Services division, generating substantial revenue through app sales commissions and in-app purchases. The platform continues to expand its reach and developer ecosystem. This financial success demonstrates the App Store's strategic importance to Apple's business model and its ability to create high-margin services revenue that complements the company's hardware sales while strengthening the overall Apple ecosystem and customer loyalty.
About Apple Inc.
What does Apple own?
Apple owns the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, and Apple Vision Pro hardware product lines, as well as software platforms including iOS, macOS, and watchOS. Apple's services portfolio includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, iCloud, and Apple Pay. Apple also owns Beats Electronics, acquired in 2014 for $3 billion.
Is Apple publicly traded?
Yes. Apple trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol AAPL. The company went public in December 1980. Apple is one of the most widely held stocks globally.
Who founded Apple?
Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Steve Jobs led the company through its most transformative periods, including the launch of the iPhone in 2007. Tim Cook has served as CEO since Jobs' death in October 2011.
Where is Apple headquartered?
Apple is headquartered in Cupertino, California, at its Apple Park campus, which opened in 2017.
Who owns Apple?
Apple has no controlling shareholder. The company is publicly traded with shares distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Vanguard, BlackRock, Berkshire Hathaway, and State Street are among the largest shareholders through index fund and direct holdings.
What is Apple's revenue?
For Q1 fiscal 2026 (ended December 27, 2025), Apple reported revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16% year over year, with net income of $42.1 billion. For fiscal year 2025 (ended September 2025), Apple reported annual revenue of approximately $391 billion.
What is Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is Apple's suite of AI features integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, introduced in 2024. It includes writing tools, image generation, enhanced Siri capabilities, and on-device AI processing using the Neural Engine in Apple's M-series and A-series chips. Apple Intelligence emphasizes on-device processing for privacy, with some features using Apple's Private Cloud Compute for tasks requiring more processing power.
What antitrust cases is Apple facing?
The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple in March 2024, alleging that Apple illegally maintains a smartphone monopoly. The EU's Digital Markets Act requires Apple to allow alternative app stores and payment systems in the EU. Epic Games' antitrust case resulted in a ruling requiring Apple to allow developers to direct users to external payment methods. These cases were ongoing or being implemented as of February 2026.
- Founded: 1976
- Headquarters: Cupertino, California, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: AAPL
Where Is App Store Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Cupertino, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Brands Owned by Apple Inc.
- AirPods - Apple's wireless earbuds and audio products providing seamless connectivity and ...
- Apple Arcade - Apple's gaming subscription service providing access to premium games and exclus...
- Apple Fitness+ - Apple's fitness and workout subscription service providing guided workouts and h...
- Apple Music - American music and video streaming service developed and operated by Apple Inc....
- Apple Pay - Apple's mobile payment and digital wallet service enabling contactless payments ...
- Apple TV - Digital media player and streaming service developed by Apple Inc., offering acc...
- Beats - Audio equipment brand specializing in headphones and speakers, owned by Apple In...
- HomePod - Apple's smart speaker and voice-controlled home device providing audio, smart ho...
- iCloud - Apple's cloud storage and synchronization service providing data backup, file st...
- iPhone - Smartphone product line developed and marketed by Apple Inc....
- MacBook - Line of laptop computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc....
- Siri - Apple's voice assistant and AI-powered intelligent assistant providing voice com...
App Store Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Curated marketplace with quality standards
- +Secure distribution platform for developers
- +Large user base and market reach
- +Developer support and tools
- +Revenue sharing model for developers
- +Integrated payment processing
Considerations
- -30% commission on app sales and in-app purchases
- -Strict app review and curation policies
- -Limited customization and flexibility for developers
- -Dependency on Apple's platform and policies
- -Regulatory scrutiny over app store practices
- -Competition from alternative app distribution platforms
Frequently Asked Questions About App Store
Competitors to App Store
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because App Storeoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Apple Inc. Stock Information
Jobs at Apple Inc.
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