Findings highlight need for policies that support ecosystem’s stability
WASHINGTON (Oct. 7, 2025) — The app ecosystem is thriving and attitudes of app-business leaders are very optimistic, according to a report released today by the Developers Alliance.
The report, which was based on a survey of 1,250 U.S. app-business leaders, found that 90% of leaders believe the app ecosystem is strong, 93% are confident about their business’s growth, and 94% say the current ecosystem makes it easy to create and launch apps.
“Today’s app ecosystem empowers small app-based businesses like mine to grow, innovate, and compete with much larger companies,” said Sean Higgins, co-founder and CEO of BetterYou, an AI-enabled app that helps its users build healthy habits. “The app-store system levels the playing field, providing developers with the tools they need to enter the market and reach millions of users. Preserving and strengthening the app ecosystem is crucial to supporting U.S. tech innovation and the broader U.S. tech sector.”
According to the report, 96% percent of app leaders using Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store think the platforms’ tools help them succeed, and 93% say app stores help them find customers. Ninety-three percent of app-business leaders say they’re satisfied with the app stores available, and 50% say publishing apps on more stores would raise their costs — suggesting that lawmakers should strive to craft policies that support the current system.
“America’s tech sector is leading the charge when it comes to innovation and developer success,” said Pepperdine University professor Abraham Song, who authored the report’s foreword. “It’s more important than ever for app leaders to advocate for balanced policies that strengthen the current ecosystem rather than undermine it.”
The report found that app-business leaders are overwhelmingly in favor of balanced, sensible policy proposals. Eighty-four percent of app-business leaders say a national data privacy law would be preferable to numerous state laws, and 72% believe overly restrictive AI regulations would make it harder to develop AI-based products.
###
The Developers Alliance advocates on behalf of developers, the companies they lead, and the industries that depend on them. We help policymakers and stakeholders understand the specific needs of the developer workforce and advocate for policies that responsibly advance the broader tech sector.
