Tinder, one of the most popular dating apps has emerged as the top-grossing, non-game app in the first quarter of 2019, displacing Netflix from the top spot for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2016. The change in position comes after Netflix’s decision to no longer allow new users to sign up and subscribe to its service through its iOS application. Now, new users have to sign up through Netflix’s website before they can use the app on mobile devices, including both iOS and Android. According to a study by the intelligence firm Sensor Tower, Tinder grossed $260.7 million from Google Play Store and Apple App Store, while Netflix revenues dropped 15 per cent since last quarter to reach $216.3 million. The decision to not pay ‘Apple Tax’ by Netflix is considered to be the reason behind this dip.
Tinder saw a change in its position with the growth in emerging markets, including India where it is the top-grossing app on Play Store. The platform has even managed to awe the users with its subscription-driven service, Tinder Gold. The app doesn’t share country specific numbers but claims to have more than three million Gold subscribers globally, with 1.7 million coming in 2018 alone.
The other top-earning apps include Tencent Video, iQIYI, YouTube, Pandora, Kwai, LINE, LINE Manga, and Youku. The top-downloaded, non-gaming apps include — WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, SHAREit, YouTube, LIKE Video, Netflix and Snapchat. TikTok has managed to hold on to the third position by growing its users by 70 per cent. It added 188 million new users in the first quarter, majority coming from India.
