Tiktok, together with its counterpart Douyin, has hit a remarkable milestone by becoming the first non-gaming app to generate $6,000 million in annual in-app purchase revenues. This significant achievement was revealed in a recent report by Sensor Tower.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, Tiktok also reached a record $1.9 billion in gross income from in-app purchases, surpassing any other app in this segment. What’s interesting is that, among non-gaming apps, only YouTube and Google One subscriptions managed to outdo Tiktok’s quarterly performance throughout the year.
It’s worth noting that Tiktok’s income in 2024 was double that of any other app or gaming market. To put this into perspective, the second-largest income generator, Monopoly Go, reached $2.6 billion. Moreover, Tiktok’s growth has been exponential, registering a significant year-on-year increase from the $4.4 billion obtained in 2023.
Despite its dominance in revenue, Tiktok didn’t lead in downloads in the fourth quarter of 2024, ranking second behind Instagram. WhatsApp, Facebook, and Temu completed the top five most downloaded apps during that period.
The report highlights that comparing Tiktok to other apps isn’t exactly apples to apples, given that its figures include Douyin, its Chinese version. Although both apps belong to Bytedance, they cater to different audiences: Douyin adapts to the Chinese audience with stricter regulatory controls and an orientation towards e-commerce, while Tiktok is designed for an international audience and focused on short-form videos.
Tiktok’s Availability in the US
In the US, Tiktok has navigated regulatory obstacles after President Donald Trump delayed a planned ban due to national security concerns. The app became available again in app stores after an executive order extended the decision for 75 days, with the possibility of an additional extension.
Tiktok’s business model continues to retain 50% as a commission, which reinforces the app’s impact on the digital economy and solidifies its position as one of the most influential apps globally.
In 2023, Tiktok had already achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first non-gaming app to exceed $10,000 million in total consumer spending, demonstrating its sustained growth and ability to generate large-scale income. This latest achievement further underscores Tiktok’s staying power in the digital landscape.