X’s Android Decline Hurts Subscription Revenue
Elon Musk’s X is facing challenges on Android devices, even as App Store downloads grow. In July 2025, installs on Google Play dropped by 44% year-over-year worldwide. However, iOS downloads rose by 15% in the same period. Overall, total mobile downloads decreased by 26% year-over-year, a slight improvement from June’s 35% decline.
Android decline vs iOS growth
The steep fall in Android downloads continues to pull down the platform’s overall performance. Meanwhile, iOS shows stronger momentum with steady increases in new installs. The Android app is widely regarded as unstable, with frequent bugs and crashes reducing user confidence. This contrast highlights the platform’s uneven growth across operating systems.
Competition and shifting user choices
It is unclear where potential Android users are turning. Bluesky has recorded slowing growth, pulling in only 119,000 downloads in July. In contrast, Meta’s Threads has been steadily catching up to X in mobile daily active users. Therefore, some Android users may be shifting to Threads instead of installing X.
Revenue performance and new challenges
Alongside slowing installs, X is struggling with subscription revenue. In July, net revenue reached $16.9 million, down from $18.8 million in March. Although slightly higher than June’s $16.8 million, the numbers indicate weak growth momentum. The decline in Android demand contributes to these challenges. Furthermore, X is losing paying subscribers to Grok, whose stand-alone app now attracts users who once relied on X for AI perks.
