BYD TechThe short answer
Launch first where your users are. Worldwide, Android runs about 69 percent of phones and iOS about 31 percent, according to StatCounter’s September 2026 figures, but the split varies hugely by country: iOS leads in Japan, while Android has over 90 percent in India. Your specific audience matters more than global numbers. With a cross-platform framework such as React Native, launching on both from one codebase is often the simplest answer.
Key points
- Look at where your users are, not global averages.
- Android leads worldwide; iOS leads in some countries.
- Business and consumer audiences can differ sharply.
- Cross-platform frameworks make launching on both practical.
- A web app can serve everyone while you test demand.
The numbers vary by place
| Region (September 2026) | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | About 69 percent | About 31 percent |
| India | About 94 percent | About 6 percent |
| Japan | About 39 percent | About 61 percent |
Figures are StatCounter’s mobile operating system share, which measures web usage, so treat them as indicators. Check your own countries, and better still, ask your early users what they carry.
What else to weigh
| Factor | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Audience | Which phones do your target customers actually use? |
| Business model | Where are your users more likely to buy or subscribe in your market? |
| Work devices | Does the client company issue phones of one kind? |
| Features | Do you need something only one platform does well, such as a specific wearable? |
| Store process | Google Play requires new personal accounts to run a closed test first; Apple reviews every release |
Why many launch on both
With React Native or Flutter, one codebase produces both apps, and most of the extra effort for the second platform is testing and store setup rather than new code. That removes the need to choose for many products, and avoids turning away half your early users. See React Native vs Flutter.
If you are still testing demand, a web app or PWA can reach every device first. See Web app vs mobile app and PWA vs native app.
Next steps
- Check your analytics or ask early users which phones they use.
- Decide whether a web version comes first.
- Plan store accounts in your company’s name for whichever platforms you choose.
Our mobile app development work is cross-platform React Native, shipped to the App Store and Google Play under your own developer accounts.
Sources
Checked when this guide was written.
