Reason for discrepancy still unclear

The Android Market appears to be continuing on a trend toward free apps, while the opposite scenario holds true on the iOS App Store. The latest numbers gathered by AndroLib and 148Apps.biz suggest the Android portal is dominated by free titles, which account for 64 percent of all content. In contrast, 70 percent of App Store listings require users to pay.

Although the exact reasons for the discrepancy remain unclear, Pingdom suggests developers may be still testing the waters in the Android Market. Google's platform could also be attracting more hobbyists or open-source developers, both more likely to distribute free apps rather than paid titles. Yet another possibility is the division between categories, as iOS devices are more popular for gaming.

A separate report pointed to a similar spread early in the year, when 57 percent of Android apps were free. At that time, the App Store was said to have contained 73 to 80 percent paid apps, which also commanded higher average prices than the Android Market.

By Electronista Staff