Mac Apps
Report 2022
Made by Setapp for Mac users and developers.
Learn current trends in the use and choice of Mac apps.
Discovering apps
The primary places where Mac users come across new apps are the App Store and social media.
Selecting an app
Features and security remain the most important factors when users pick a new Mac app.
Purchasing apps
The top factors that sway purchasing decisions of Mac app customers are app price and purpose.
Installation & usage
Number of installed apps Mac users have on their device grew year-on-year — from 31 to 37. The average number of apps used daily is currently 13. Ten of these apps are pre-installed Mac apps.
Picking new apps
We asked users what mattered most to them when choosing a new Mac app.
47%
Features
45%
Security (protection against malware, data breach, etc.)
38%
Price
37%
User experience/interface (interaction with app)
35%
Privacy (handling of personal data)
31%
Design
17%
App developer’s reputation
1%
Other
47%
Features
45%
Security (protection against malware, data breach, etc.)
38%
Price
37%
User experience/interface (interaction with app)
35%
Privacy (handling of personal data)
31%
Design
17%
App developer’s reputation
1%
Other
Trends in app discovery
More than half of Mac users learn about new apps from the App Store. Over 40% of Mac users discover new apps on social media.
How do you learn about Mac apps?
How did you find the last Mac app you paid for? (among those who pay for apps)
Trusted by more than 85% of those who use the particular source.
Mac App Store
52%
31%
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)
43%
28%
YouTube
34%
25%
Recommendation from colleague/professional
28%
21%
Recommendation from friend/relative
38%
21%
Podcast
16%
14%
Forum (Reddit, GitHub, Quora, etc.)
16%
13%
Ads (picture/banner/video)
29%
13%
Article or review in media
19%
12%
Blogger, influencer
13%
11%
Newsletter
10%
9%
From search engines
17%
Mac App Store
52%
31%
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)
43%
28%
YouTube
34%
25%
Recommendation from colleague/professional
28%
21%
Recommendation from friend/relative
38%
21%
Podcast
16%
14%
Mac App Store
52%
31%
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)
43%
28%
YouTube
34%
25%
Recommendation from colleague/professional
28%
21%
Recommendation from friend/relative
38%
21%
Podcast
16%
14%
Inside the report
Annual Mac user
spending on apps
Most used apps among
Mac users
Mac users’ preferred
subscription model
Details on the audience
of this survey
