Netflix yesterday briefly became the number one top-grossing iOS app in the U.S. for the first time, holding at bay the likes of Spotify and Candy Crush Saga for most of Monday.

The app also occupied the coveted top spot on iPhone in India, Mexico, and Colombia yesterday, as noted by app tracking company SensorTower, which offered a timeline leading up to the achievement in a blog post.

netflix-top-grossing-ios-ranking

Image via SensorTower.

The accomplishment comes approximately one year after Netflix introduced the ability for users to pay the monthly subscription fee as an in-app purchase. Over that time, its weekly net revenue has grown from less than $50,000 to nearly $2.9 million. In November, it was the No. 7 grossing iOS app overall in the U.S.

Apple takes a 30 percent cut of all in-app fees, but last month announced it was lowering the amount to 15 percent for subscription-based streaming video apps like Netflix and Hulu. Apple will soon extend the 15 percent rate to all subscription video services that are integrated with the company's upcoming TV app.

Last week, Netflix added the ability to download select programs via its mobile apps for offline viewing.

Top Rated Comments

2010mini Avatar
116 months ago
Wait...... I thought with the "Apple tax" content providers couldn't make money?!? Isn't that Amazon's reasoning?

/sarcasm
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sunny1990 Avatar
116 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MysteryMii215 Avatar
116 months ago
I don't get why HBO doesn't get more involved into streaming? Will get rid of silly competitions like Netflix really fast! Netflix is popular in U.S., but not around the world. HBO it's like Coke..it doesn't have competition, and also has better TV Shows like Westworld and Gotham (the best live action Superhero series ever made!)
1. I guessing the reason why HBO isn't more involved in streaming is because the bulk of their revenue still comes from TV subscriptions.

2. You do realize that Netflix is available in almost every country in the world, right?

3. Gotham is not an HBO show, it airs on Fox.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fulles2000 Avatar
116 months ago
Wait...... I thought with the "Apple tax" content providers couldn't make money?!? Isn't that Amazon's reasoning?

/sarcasm
Nobody said Netflix were making any money. It's Apple that's making the money.

I can't believe that people are subscribing to these services via IAP. Don't people understand that's it's 30% cheaper to sign up using the website?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fulles2000 Avatar
116 months ago
For Netflix it's the same price. I just switched to subscribing thru Apple because it's cheaper for me when I buy iTunes gift cards for around 15-20% off. That makes my Netflix subscription (and Apple Music) 15-20% cheaper than they would be otherwise.
Just checked and it's definitely the same price to me.
I can get it for 6.99/month via the website? Could have fooled me. I pay via IAP and its costs me 9.99 a month, same as any other subscriber, save for those grandfathered in at an older price point. Netflix is one of a handful of companies that absorb the cost rather than pass it on to their users. And I for one welcome this! I like having all my subscriptions via IAP on my iTunes account. Makes it super easy for me to go in and manage them, turn one off, cancel something before a trial ends, etc. Also, I don't have to juggle multiple logins for everything. Additionally, I can use gift cards to pay for the services I use all the time when I receive them. I don't have much else to spend them on otherwise.

Its a convenience I'm willing to pay a couple extra dollars a month for, to the services that pass the cost increase on to the consumer. But increasingly very few of them do. Spotify is about the only one I can think of off the top of my head, and I don't use their service anyhow. I subscribe to Netflix, Hulu and HBO via IAP and none of them cost me more than they would if bought directly from the provider.
OK I stand corrected. I'm not a Netflix subscriber but I assumed it would be like Spotify and other subscription services where they aren't able to absorb the Apple 15/30% IAP fee. Good for Netflix that they are prepared to absorb it.

If I were a Netflix subscriber though I'd still subscribe directly through them. I'd rather Netflix get the entire subscription so they can put that back into generating more of the content that people happy to pay for. Apple aren't adding much value (I guess how much value is different for different people) and Netflix are making less profit if you subscribe via IAP than they would if you subscribe directly through them. Less profit means less money for new content.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
116 months ago
I don't get why HBO doesn't get more involved into streaming? Will get rid of silly competitions like Netflix really fast! Netflix is popular in U.S., but not around the world. HBO it's like Coke..it doesn't have competition, and also has better TV Shows like Westworld and Gotham (the best live action Superhero series ever made!)
"The app also occupied the coveted top spot on iPhone in India, Mexico, and Colombia yesterday..."
Maybe you should read the article.
[doublepost=1481029202][/doublepost]
I have used the new download feature several times now and think it works very well. I am sure this is part of the reason people are flocking to Netflix. They finally addressed the key missing feature. I have had Netflix since before it had streaming, so the in-app purchase is not something I use, but good to know that it is available for others.
Yup, I had Netflix when it was DVD only. Like you, I am digging the download feature. IAP for subscrption services? For the life of me, I can't understand why people would even do it. Paying 15-30% for the privilege of subscribing through the app store is beyond my comprehension. To be fair, there are a lot of things beyond my comprehension. Like the popularity of reality TV.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

ios 26 1 slide to stop

iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

Friday October 31, 2025 1:40 pm PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important. Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped. The new ...
M5 MacBook Pro

Waiting for New Macs? Apple Just Shared Bad News

Friday October 31, 2025 7:32 am PDT by
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year. Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Friday October 31, 2025 8:52 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Ove...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock 1

Leaker Outlines Potential New Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Friday October 31, 2025 8:28 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker. The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Report: Apple to Launch These New Products in 2026

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:34 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch at least 15 new products in 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman outlined what to expect from Apple in 2026 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter. He said the company is heading "into one of its most pivotal years in recent memory," with the rollout of major new Apple Intelligence features, intense regulatory pressure on the App Store,...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

New Version of Siri to 'Lean' on Google Gemini

Sunday November 2, 2025 6:06 am PST by
In his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today provided an update on the status of Apple Intelligence and the plans for it in 2026. Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Likely Launching Soon

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:49 am PST by
A new Apple TV and HomePod mini could launch as soon as this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple retail stores are planning an overnight refresh on the evening of November 11, where changes will be made after closing, such as refreshing displays and placing new products for the following day. The timing of the overnight...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...