Business Insider: Data shows that iOS app revenue per download is 5 times higher than Android apps

Although Android app downloads have surpassed iOS app downloads, iOS still offers developers five times the return rate of Android, which means that Apple's market segmentation strategy is to pay higher returns to app developers.

Data compiled by technology blog Business Insider shows that for every $1 in revenue that iOS app developers earn from downloads, their Android apps can only earn $0.19. However, the gap between Android apps and iOS apps in in-game payments and advertising revenue has narrowed. For every $1 in in-game payments and advertising revenue that iOS apps earn, Android apps earn $0.43 and $0.77, respectively.

Data collected by Business Insider from a number of companies, including app analytics firms Flurry and App Annie, shows that while Android may be winning the battle for market share, Apple is winning the battle for user engagement, meaning Apple users are using their devices more often and are more willing to pay for content.

Nanigans, a Facebook advertising software company, released a report last month that the return on advertising on Apple's iOS platform is nearly 1,800% of that on the Android platform. In fact, the return on advertising for advertisers on the Android platform is negative, at only -10%. Dan Slagen, senior vice president of Nanigans, said at the time, "The audience spends more money on iPhones because it's worth it for them to do so. Usually, we don't expect to get one-time consumers, we hope to invest in the future... So we pay in advance and hope for better results in the future."

It is often reported that studies show that Apple users spend more time on their devices and are more willing to pay for content. A survey by web analytics company Chitika earlier this year found that seven out of eight tablets connected to the Internet are iPads. Data from Flurry shows that iPhone users spend an average of $0.19 per app downloaded, higher than the $0.06 spent by Android users.

Apple doesn’t just dominate the app market. The Apple iTunes store also accounts for 67% of digital TV purchases worldwide, 65% of digital movies, and 63% of the digital music market.