A special announcement from MacPaw, this week’s sponsor!

The 2024 Mac Developer Survey from MacPaw is now live!

Conducted by the Setapp team, this annual survey is in its 8th year and has become a trusted benchmark for insights into the evolving Mac developer landscape. This year’s findings reveal significant changes in how developers are approaching app distribution, platform integration, and new hardware opportunities – especially with Apple’s latest innovations.

Key Insights from the 2024 Survey:

Increased Revenue Diversification
52% of developers now earn income from sources outside the Mac App Store, up from 44% in 2023. Only 20% rely exclusively on the Mac App Store for app distribution.

For those who leverage both the Mac App Store and external channels, revenue is distributed fairly evenly. In fact, 52% of their revenue now comes from sources outside the App Store, up from 44% in 2023. This shift highlights the increasing importance of diversifying distribution strategies for Mac developers.

Shift Towards Integrated Experiences
66% of developers are interested in moving away from standalone apps, opting instead to create more integrated, seamless experiences.
AI and personalized experience remain top priorities
The integration of AI continued to gain momentum in 2024. Nearly 60% of Mac developers are either actively working on or have already implemented AI models in their apps. Notably, 40% of developers cited AI as having the most significant impact on their apps in 2024, up from 31% in the previous year.
Developer sentiment on Apple Vision Pro remains mixed
Despite the launch of Apple Vision Pro in March 2024, Mac developers remain cautious about its appeal. Nearly half of those surveyed expressed uncertainty about whether they would start developing apps for the device.

Furthermore, 35% of respondents indicated that they have no plans to create apps for visionOS.

The Setapp team hopes these findings offer a valuable glimpse into the future of Mac development, shedding light on trends that could shape the industry in 2025 and beyond.

You can explore the full report here.