Is the app-gap between Windows Phone versus iTunes and Google Play really that wide?

On a regular basis, we discuss the various application ecosystems between the current top three platforms. There is no disagreement that iOS and Android devices have access to a rich well of applications with which many tasks can be accomplished or games conquered.

Windows Phone has seen its portfolio of applications grow rapidly, especially since the launch of Windows Phone 8. Still, the arguments from many, fans of Windows Phone and non-fans alike, is that the app catalog still needs more.

Those that reside in the Android realm of things will point out that Windows Phone’s claims of having a number of the same popular apps are false. But are they? We decided to take a look at the top paid and top free apps in each of the three platforms. For purposes of actually completing this article in this decade we did not delve into any sub-categories, we just picked the “top free” or “top paid” from the front page of each app portal.

Some things to consider, if you look at the top applications found in Google Play, a large number are applications that are not germane to iOS or Windows Phone by the very virtue that the two latter operating systems do not have the ability to use widgets or ROM managers. When that factor is taken into consideration, the first or second party application choices reveal quite a bit between the three platforms.

For purposes of a real “apples-to-android-to-windows phone” comparison, we opted to no count the applications that are “Android only.” The tricky part is whether to count a first-party application like Instagram against third-party solutions like Instance for Windows Phone. As it happens, since the fully featured Instance is a paid app it is a tenuous comparison to its iOS and Android counterparts which are free, but the overall solution is present, so it really becomes an individual choice.

Then there are applications that are different but perform the same function, like custom camera applications. One example is the Camera+ app for the iPhone. The developer, tap tap tap, does not make applications for anything but the iPhone. However, there are similar applications to be found for Android and Windows Phone, such as ProShot for the latter, and Camera ZOOM FX for the former.

Another factor to consider is the functionality of the applications that are available across all platforms. Skype is available across iOS, Android and Windows Phone, but the Windows Phone app is lacking in functionality, like video messaging. There are differences in functionality between other first-party apps too, like Twitter. Twitter is the only major social network to build an app for Windows Phone (Facebook is built by Microsoft, Google+ does not have one and LinkedIn is business). Even then, the app is not the same across the three platforms.

We are not going to develop a complicated formula to make these comparisons. Based on how the list of popular applications are arranged at the time of this writing, we will simply note applications that are common across the platforms and then cite the stand-out apps that each can boast about. We did not dig overly deep into each well of apps either, only the top 50 to 100 overall.

With that, let us turn the page and look at the top free applications to be found on Windows Phone, Android and iOS.

It should not surprise anyone that there are in fact, very few gaps between the three platforms in the top free applications category. Where gaps do exist is in the area of games. With that, all the high-profile social and network applications are present across all three platforms (with the notable exception of Google+ on Windows Phone).

If you use any of these applications, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Skype, Viber, Tumblr, Fandago, Kik Messenger, GroupMe, WhatsApp, Netflix, Pandora, Slacker TuneIn Radio, Rdio, Spotify, Shazam, eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Audible, Kindle, Evernote, The Weather Channel, WeatherBug, and YouTube, you will find them in iTunes, Google Play, and the Windows Phone store. That is not even close to a complete list either.

Those are first or second-party apps (Microsoft – Facebook, YouTube). There are a number of first-party applications obviously that iOS and Android enjoy which only have a third-party solution for Windows Phone. Here are some of the better rated solutions from the Windows Phone Store



As we discussed earlier in the article, many paid application, particularly in Google Play, are applications that will only work on Android because of the nature of the operating system. SwiftKey is one example, custom keyboards are not allowed (or needed if you like them) on iOS and Windows Phone. The other gaps in paid apps are more apparent between all three platforms since a lot of them involve OS specific tools or games.

Most of the popular paid apps are games. Games like Minecraft are simply not available for Windows Phone. Interaction applications like Tapatalk are also not available. Other popular paid apps like, Survivalcraft, Draw Something, Need for Speed, Plants vs. Zombies, Where’s my Water, and Cut the Rope are available to entertain you no matter your preference.

That said, a couple of the paid or subscription dependent apps for iOS and Android are native to Windows Phone, most notably Microsoft Office. Love it or hate it, Office is still the standard for document and spreadsheet productivity.



When you consider that most of the applications utilized by smartphone users, the only glaring gap in applications is the lack of Google+ for Windows Phone. Sure, some of the other applications available are not native, but some of us wonder if the real impediment for people that are considering Windows Phone is the user experience and notifications. Those two items, on the face of it, would seem to make a more meaningful argument of one platform versus another.

When it comes to hardware, Windows Phone as an operating system, was designed so that it runs very smooth with established, current (if not cutting edge) components. Currently, there are no 1080p displays around for Windows Phone, but that is rumored to be changing relatively soon, but for anyone that has seen the display of a Windows Phone 8X by HTC or Nokia Lumia 920, those 720p panels look mighty fine.

Those that have been thinking about Windows Phone should not be thwarted, it is no secret that Microsoft is preparing some major updates to the operating system which will be released later this year. Just as the upcoming updates to Android and iOS will attract users, so will the enhancements coming to Windows Phone. The best part is that Windows Phone hardware is priced very aggressively, so it is an accessible option for budget minded folks that are interested in trying something new.

How about it? Have you been feeling iOS fatigue or Android apathy? Have you already made the switch to Windows Phone? Are you going to stick with it?