Top free, top paid, top grossing: what each chart measures

Why an app can be first in grossing and nowhere in free, and which chart to watch for what.

Top free

Ranks free apps by recent install velocity, not total installs. A new app with a strong launch week can beat a giant with a billion installs.

Top paid

The same for apps with an upfront price. In most countries it is a short, slow list: few people pay before installing.

Top grossing

Ranks by revenue, in-app purchases and subscriptions included. It is dominated by games and by subscription services and is the best public proxy for who earns money in a market.

Reading them together

• High in free, absent in grossing: growing audience, monetisation not proven.
• High in grossing, middling in free: a mature product with loyal paying users.
• Climbing in both: the ones to watch.