August 4, 2026, 8:57 am | Read time: 2 minutes
The Apple App Store is seeing a surge in new applications. According to data from the analytics firm Sensor Tower, growth has recently accelerated significantly. One reason is the so-called Vibe Coding. AI tools assist in creating program code, allowing individuals with limited programming experience to develop and submit their own apps. This presents new challenges for Apple and users in terms of organization, quality, and review.
Vibe Coding Eases App Development
In Vibe Coding, developers describe the functions an application should have. AI tools like Codex from OpenAI or Claude Code from Anthropic then generate large portions of the code.
This significantly lowers the barrier to entry for app development. Applications can be built and submitted to Apple more quickly, even with limited programming knowledge.
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Number of New Apps Rises Sharply
As reported by The New York Times referencing Sensor Tower data, around 600,000 new apps were published in 2025. This represents a 30 percent increase compared to the previous year.
In the first six months of 2026, approximately 560,000 additional applications were added. This was roughly double the number from the same period the previous year.
The growth demonstrates the significant impact of new tools on the App Store. The number of offerings is increasing faster than before.
Downloads and Review Under Pressure
Demand is growing much slower than supply. The number of downloads increased by only three percent to 35.4 billion in 2025. In the first half of 2026, the increase was two percent.
As a result, many of the newly available apps reach only a few users. At the same time, it becomes more challenging to find useful applications among similar or hastily created offerings.
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Apple’s review process is also under increased pressure. Apps and updates are checked by humans before publication. According to the company, 90 percent of submissions are processed within 48 hours.
However, some developers report longer wait times. With each additional app, the effort to reliably identify subpar offerings or problematic content increases.
For Apple, the strong growth is not automatically an economic advantage. While the company typically receives 15 or 30 percent from app purchases and subscriptions, many quickly created apps rely on advertising or attract only a few users.