Apple said its services business delivered a “record-breaking year,” according to a blog post by senior vice president Eddy Cue. This was all thanks to growth across the App Store, Apple Pay, Apple Music, and Apple TV during 2025.
Apple reported an average of 850 million weekly App Store users in 2025, up from 813 million in 2024. Apple Pay merchant sales surpassed $100 billion over the year.
The company also disclosed updated figures on App Store developer payouts. Since launching in 2008, Apple has paid developers a total of $550 billion. This shows significant growth compared with earlier disclosures, including $260 billion reported as of 2021 and $200 billion in 2020.
The App Store typically takes a 30% commission on in-app purchases, while developers earning under $1 million annually qualify for a reduced 15% rate. This business model continues to face regulatory scrutiny, with courts in several countries examining potential monopolistic practices.
Apple said Apple Music recorded its strongest year ever for both listenership and new subscriber growth, despite Spotify’s long-standing lead in the global music streaming market.
Apple TV also reached new milestones. The service exceeded all previous viewership records in December 2025. Growth was supported by new releases such as “Pluribus” and “The Studio,” alongside ongoing hits including “Severance.”
Apple TV expanded its reach through major streaming partnerships with Major League Soccer and Formula 1. Apple Studios’ film F1 became its highest-grossing release to date and also marked the highest-grossing film of actor Brad Pitt’s career.
Apple attributed part of its services growth to new features and partnerships. The company pointed to its karaoke-style Sing feature, collaborations with companies such as General Motors and Chase, and continued expansion of its services ecosystem. Apple also said Shazam now generates more than one billion recognitions per month, potentially driving additional traffic to Apple Music.
Apple Music’s growth also comes amid challenges facing Spotify. Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek drew criticism after his investment firm led a €600 million investment in European defense technology company Helsing, which develops AI-powered military software and strike drones. In response, artists including Xiu Xiu, Sylvan Esso, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and Deerhoof removed their music from Spotify.
Spotify has also faced other controversies in recent years, including criticism over COVID-19 misinformation linked to Joe Rogan’s podcast and ongoing debates around artist compensation.
Apple Music’s gains may also reflect product preferences among some listeners, as well as pricing strategies. Apple continues to offer a three-month free Apple Music trial with the purchase of many new Apple devices, which may appeal to users amid economic uncertainty.
Apple did not provide updated subscriber totals for Apple Music or Apple TV, but said overall engagement across its services reached record levels in 2025.
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