Sports App Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Marketplace (Google Play Store, Apple iOS Store), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.82 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	10.14%
Fastest Growing Segment	Google Play Store
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 10.39 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Sports App Market will grow from USD 5.82 Billion in 2025 to USD 10.39 Billion by 2031 at a 10.14% CAGR. The Global Sports App Market encompasses mobile software solutions designed to facilitate sports-related engagement, ranging from live streaming and score tracking to fitness monitoring and betting platforms. The primary drivers fueling this market's expansion include the ubiquitous adoption of high-speed 5G connectivity and the increasing penetration of smartphones, which allow users seamless, real-time access to interactive content. Furthermore, a shifting consumer preference towards on-demand entertainment and data-driven personalization continues to bolster user acquisition and retention rates across these digital ecosystems.

However, the sector faces a significant challenge in navigating the complex and fragmented regulatory landscape regarding data privacy and licensing, which varies drastically by region and can impede rapid international scaling. The critical reliance on mobile platforms for industry growth is evident in recent betting behaviors. According to the American Gaming Association, in 2024, mobile applications accounted for approximately 95 percent of the total legal sports betting handle within the United States.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of the fantasy sports and online betting sectors serves as a primary catalyst for the market, fundamentally altering how users interact with sports events through mobile interfaces. Operators are increasingly integrating wagering options directly into app ecosystems, creating a unified experience that combines statistical analysis, live tracking, and monetary transaction capabilities. This convergence of viewing and betting significantly enhances user retention and frequency of app usage. The scale of this engagement is evident in recent operator metrics. According to Flutter Entertainment, November 2024, in the 'Q3 2024 Trading Update', the company reported that its average monthly players grew by 16 percent year-over-year to reach 12.9 million, driven largely by the expansion of its U.S. sports betting and iGaming operations. This surge highlights the critical role of betting functionalities in driving active user bases for sports applications.

Simultaneously, the rising consumer demand for real-time live streaming and content is reshaping the delivery infrastructure of sports media, pushing broadcasters to prioritize app-based distribution channels. Modern sports applications are evolving beyond static scoreboards into comprehensive media hubs that offer low-latency streaming, multi-camera angles, and interactive highlights, thereby satisfying the viewer's need for on-the-go access. This shift toward digital consumption was illustrated during major international events. According to NBC Sports, August 2024, in the 'Paris 2024 Olympics Consumption' press release, viewers streamed 23.5 billion minutes of coverage across digital platforms, marking a substantial increase over previous summer games. The broader implication for the app market is a dramatic rise in video engagement on league-specific platforms. According to the National Basketball Association, June 2024, in the 'Global Reach of the 2024 NBA Finals' release, the league generated a record 26 billion video views globally across its social and app platforms during the 2023-24 season, underscoring the dominance of video content in retaining mobile audiences.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The complex and fragmented regulatory landscape regarding data privacy and licensing constitutes a substantial barrier to the Global Sports App Market. As nations enforce distinct compliance frameworks, developers incur high operational costs and face delays that hinder rapid international expansion. This regulatory friction complicates market entry and creates a disadvantage for compliant operators against unregulated entities that bypass these requirements. Consequently, the legitimate market fails to capture the full scope of user demand because strict licensing regimes often limit the features and accessibility of authorized apps compared to their unregulated counterparts.

This disparate environment fuels the persistence of the illicit market which siphons revenue from authorized platforms. When users encounter restrictions on legal apps, they frequently utilize offshore alternatives that operate without such constraints. The economic impact of this capital diversion is measurable and severe. According to the American Gaming Association, in 2025, Americans wagered an estimated $84 billion with illegal sportsbooks which resulted in approximately $1 billion in lost tax revenue. This leakage illustrates how regulatory fragmentation creates a parallel economy that directly restricts the financial growth and sustainability of the regulated sports app sector.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of AI-Powered Personalized Coaching and Training is revolutionizing the Global Sports App Market by shifting the value proposition from passive tracking to active, algorithmic guidance. Developers are leveraging generative AI to analyze user performance data and deliver tailored workout plans, recovery advice, and motivation that mimics human coaching. This capabilities expansion directly addresses user demand for accessible, data-driven improvement strategies without the high cost of professional trainers. The market impact of this shift is significant, with users increasingly expecting intelligent feedback loops. According to Strava, December 2025, in the 'Year in Sport Trend Report', 46 percent of survey respondents stated they would use AI as a smart coach for sports, underscoring the consumer readiness for automated, high-level athletic instruction.

Simultaneously, the Seamless Synchronization with Advanced Wearable Performance Trackers is reshaping app functionality as platforms integrate deeper with hardware to capture complex physiological metrics. Modern sports applications are evolving to ingest and analyze sophisticated data streams such as strain, recovery, and specific modality metrics like weightlifting, moving beyond basic cardio logging. This technical convergence allows apps to serve as holistic health hubs that retain users through comprehensive performance insights. The growing prominence of these diverse activity types is evident in user behavior. According to WHOOP, December 2025, in the 'Year in Review 2025', strength-based activities made up 28.52 percent of all WHOOP-logged workouts, highlighting the necessity for apps to support and synchronize detailed data across a wider spectrum of athletic disciplines.

Segmental Insights

The Google Play Store segment is currently the fastest-growing area within the Global Sports App Market. This rapid expansion is primarily attributed to the dominant global market share of the Android operating system, particularly in emerging regions where affordable devices are widespread. This broad accessibility enables sports applications to reach a diverse and extensive user base. Furthermore, the accessible entry requirements for developers on the platform foster the continuous creation of varied sports content, ranging from fitness tracking to live event streaming, which significantly drives user adoption and sustains market momentum.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global sports app market, driven by widespread high-speed internet connectivity and extensive smartphone adoption. This dominance is largely attributed to the progressive legalization of online sports betting across multiple United States jurisdictions, which has significantly accelerated user engagement. Additionally, the established popularity of major professional organizations, such as the NFL and NBA, fuels consistent demand for fantasy sports and live streaming applications. These elements combine to create a favorable environment for digital sports consumption, ensuring the region remains the primary contributor to global market revenue.

Recent Developments

• In June 2024, DAZN Group signed a multi-year global broadcast partnership with X Games to become a global streaming partner for the premier action sports competitions. Under this agreement, the sports streaming platform secured the rights to distribute live events, archival footage, and additional short-form content to audiences worldwide. The collaboration aimed to increase the global reach of action sports by placing content in front of the paywall, making it accessible to a wider audience through the platform's free tier. This move was intended to build engagement and prepare for the launch of future league-based competitions.
• In May 2024, Strava announced the introduction of several new features to its subscription platform, including an AI-powered tool called "Athlete Intelligence." This development utilized large language models to analyze user training data and provide personalized insights and summaries of their performance. Additionally, the company revealed a "Dark Mode" interface update to reduce eye strain and improve battery efficiency, as well as "Night Heatmaps" to enhance safety by showing well-trafficked routes after dark. These updates were part of a broader strategy to leverage artificial intelligence and improve the user experience for its global community of active people.
• In February 2024, Apple launched a new free application called Apple Sports, designed to provide real-time scores, statistics, and betting odds to users in the US, the UK, and Canada. The app was developed with a focus on speed and simplicity, allowing fans to personalize their experience by following specific leagues and teams. It integrated seamlessly with other company services, such as the TV app, to facilitate direct access to live game streams. The launch represented a significant expansion of the technology giant's footprint in the digital sports market, offering coverage of major leagues including the MLS, NBA, and Premier League.
• In January 2024, Peloton Interactive announced a strategic partnership with the short-form video platform TikTok to create a dedicated fitness hub. This collaboration marked the first time the connected fitness company produced custom content for a third-party channel, aiming to reach a broader audience beyond its proprietary hardware and app ecosystem. The co-branded hub was designed to feature live classes, instructor series, and celebrity collaborations tailored for the social media platform. The initiative focused on expanding brand awareness and engaging a younger demographic by delivering accessible fitness content directly to the partner's vast global user base.

Key Market Players

• NBC Universal
• Warner Media
• PENN Entertainment
• ESPN
• JioCinema
• Sky UK
• SuperSport
• LiveScore
• beIN SPORTS
• DAZN
• Fubo TV

By Marketplace	By Region
Google Play Store Apple iOS Store	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Sports App Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Sports App Market, By Marketplace:

• Google Play Store
• Apple iOS Store

• Sports App Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE