Apple Amps Up Promotion for 50 Billion App Milestone - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Amps Up Promotion for 50 Billion App Milestone

Apple today increased its promotion for the upcoming milestone of 50 billion downloads from the App Store, an event the company is marking with a contest in which the person who downloads the 50 billionth app will receives a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card while the next 50 downloaders will receive $500 gift cards each.

apple_50_billion_solar_walk
The milestone is now being promoted as the main feature on Apple's front page, with an animated counter being accompanied by a rotating series of iPad mini app photos with associated facts to put the "50 billion" number in perspective:

- "With 50 billion steps, you could walk around the earth more than 800 times." [Solar Walk]

- "With 50 billion bricks, you could build 12 Great Walls of China." [ProCamera HD]

- "Counting to 50 billion would take you 1600 years." [Intro to Math, by Montessorium]

Apple announced the contest one week ago, and the counter stood at slightly over 49.2 billion downloads at the time. With the counter now registering a little over 49.6 billion downloads, it should take just under another week to reach the milestone.

(Thanks, Ben!)

Popular Stories

Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

50 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27 - Out Now!

Monday September 14, 2026 10:48 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 27 this week, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features to explore, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. Which iPhones Support Every iOS 27 Feature? This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though,...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...

Top Rated Comments

MasterHowl Avatar
174 months ago
I would literally cry with happiness if I won a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card. I'd never have to spend another penny on music again!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LagunaSol Avatar
174 months ago
Pfft, Android hit 50 billion pirated app downloads like 6 months ago. ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGrip Avatar
174 months ago
Billions and Billions Served!

You can always tell what is the absolute finest quality by how many items get sold.

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest hamburger? McDonalds sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest computer OS? Windows sells billions, so it must be the best!

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!


That is the only way that this campaign makes any sense whatsoever. Apple has brilliant marketing! /s
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TouchMint.com Avatar
174 months ago
Cant wait for one of my apps to be downloaded as the 50 billionth app. =) What a promo that would be!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xkmxkmxlmx Avatar
174 months ago
You can always tell what is the absolute finest quality by how many items get sold.

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest hamburger? McDonalds sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest computer OS? Windows sells billions, so it must be the best!

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!


That is the only way that this campaign makes any sense whatsoever. Apple has brilliant marketing! /s

Or you know, they are just pinting out a milestone. I don't think they mention anywhere how "quality" the apps are. Just that the store is hitting a big milestone for them. What is the big deal?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
174 months ago
I would almost bet 10K that the app named as the 50 billionth will not be a Google app. Or a Samsung one.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)