How Much Have You Spent on the App Store? Here's How to Find Out

Most people have no idea how much they've spent on the App Store. When you're buying apps for a few pounds here and there, or paying monthly subscriptions that barely register, the total feels like it should be modest. Then you add it all up and the number is genuinely shocking.

If you've owned an iPhone for a decade or more, your lifetime App Store spending could easily run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Curious to find out your number? Here's exactly how to do it.

The Spending Total Most People Don't Know

The App Store has been around since 2008, and the average smartphone user has been steadily spending on apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases ever since. Industry research suggests that the typical iOS user spends a meaningful amount each month on app-related charges -- and that figure has been rising year on year as more apps move to subscription models.

The shift from one-off app purchases to recurring subscriptions has been particularly significant. A paid app might cost you a few pounds once. A subscription to that same app could cost you that amount every single month, adding up to far more over time. Multiply that across several subscriptions and the numbers grow quickly.

And then there are in-app purchases -- the coins, gems, power-ups, and premium features that are designed to be bought on impulse. Individually small, collectively substantial.

How to Calculate Your Total with iSpent

Apple doesn't provide a "total spent" figure anywhere in its interface. To get that number, you need to export your purchase history and add it up yourself. The fastest way to do this is with iSpent, a Chrome extension built for exactly this purpose.

Here's How

1. Install iSpent from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com in Chrome and sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Load your full history by scrolling down and clicking "Load More" repeatedly until all your purchases are visible. If you've been an Apple customer for years, this might take a minute.
4. Click the iSpent icon in your toolbar and choose Excel export.
5. Open the spreadsheet and use a SUM formula on the amount column.

That final number is your total lifetime App Store spending. Take a deep breath before you look.

Breaking Down Your Spending

The total is interesting, but the breakdown is where things get really useful. With your purchase history in a spreadsheet, you can slice the data in several ways:

By App

Sort or filter by app name to see how much you've spent on each individual app. This is particularly eye-opening for subscription apps -- that "cheap" monthly subscription might have cost you far more than you'd expect over a few years.

By Month or Year

Group your spending by date to see how your habits have changed over time. Many people find that their spending has crept upwards as they've accumulated more subscriptions. You might also spot seasonal patterns, like spending more during the holidays.

By Type

Separate your one-off app purchases from subscriptions and in-app purchases. This helps you understand where your money is going. For many people, subscriptions now account for the majority of their App Store spending, even if they don't feel like the biggest expense on a per-transaction basis.

The iSpent PDF Report

If you want a quick, visual summary rather than a raw spreadsheet, iSpent also offers a PDF export. This gives you a clean, formatted report of your entire purchase history that you can:

• Save for your records -- useful for tax purposes or expense tracking
• Share with a partner or accountant -- a clear summary that doesn't require spreadsheet skills to read
• Print out -- sometimes seeing your spending on paper makes it feel more real
• Compare over time -- export a new report every few months to track whether your spending is going up or down

Tips for Reducing Your App Store Spending

Once you know your number, you'll probably want to bring it down. Here are some practical strategies:

Audit Your Subscriptions

Go to Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Cancel anything you haven't used in the last 30 days. If you're not sure whether you use it, you probably don't.

Look for Free Alternatives

Many premium apps have perfectly capable free alternatives. Before paying for an app, spend five minutes searching for a free option that does the same thing.

Avoid Impulse In-App Purchases

Enable Screen Time restrictions to require a password for every purchase. That small friction is often enough to stop impulse buying.

Use Family Sharing

If your household has multiple Apple users, Family Sharing lets up to six people share app purchases and subscriptions. One Apple Music family plan is far cheaper than several individual ones.

Wait for Sales

App prices do drop, especially around major holidays. If an app isn't urgent, add it to a wish list and check back later.

Set a Monthly Budget

Decide on a fixed amount you're willing to spend on apps each month. When you've hit it, stop until next month. It sounds simple, but having a number in mind makes a real difference.

Find Out Your Number