Edit

Benefits of distributing your apps via Microsoft Store

  • Article

Microsoft Store is the one-stop destination for Windows users to discover and install apps of all kinds, from games and entertainment to productivity and education. Microsoft Store is also the best place for developers to distribute their apps and reach a diverse audience of over a billion Windows 11 and Windows 10 users.

With the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft Store has been redesigned and improved to offer a better experience for both users and developers. Some of the new features and improvements of Microsoft Store on Windows 11 are:

  1. Support for traditional desktop apps, such as MSI, EXE, and MSIX, without requiring any code changes or repackaging.
  2. A pop-up Store that allows users to access the Store from any app or website, and install apps without leaving their current context.
  3. Flexible revenue sharing options that let developers choose their own commerce platform and keep 100% of the revenue for non-gaming apps, or use Microsoft’s commerce platform and pay a competitive fee of 15% for apps and 12% for games.
  4. Expanded reach to Enterprise customers over Microsoft Intune, a cloud-based service that help enterprise admins secure and manage apps and devices.

In this article, you will see why distributing your apps via Microsoft Store is a good choice for developers of any app type and size. It will explain the benefits and advantages of Microsoft Store for developers in terms of reach and visibility, trust and security, revenue and commerce, and compatibility and flexibility.

Benefits and advantages of Microsoft Store for developers

Reach and visibility

Distributing your apps via Microsoft Store provides a large and diverse audience of Windows users, who can easily discover and install your work. Microsoft Store has over 1 billion users and it is available in over 200 markets and 100 languages. By publishing your apps to the Store, you can leverage this audience and grow your user base and brand awareness. Microsoft Store also offers various promotion and marketing opportunities for developers to increase the visibility and discoverability of their apps. For example, you can:

  1. Boost your app installs with Ad campaigns that target your ideal customers. Store Ads lets you choose from premium placements in high visibility assets such as Spotlight and Search, where users can easily find and download your app.
  2. Optimize your app listing with keywords, screenshots, videos, and ratings and reviews.
  3. Participate in curated collections, seasonal events, and editorial features on the Store homepage.
  4. Improve your brand recognition with Microsoft Store Badge, a smart and convenient way to link your app in Microsoft Store from social media, websites, email campaigns, or any other online platforms to drive traffic and conversions.

Trust and security

Distributing your apps via Microsoft Store helps ensure they are safe and reliable for users, and so helps you benefit from the increased user confidence and satisfaction. Microsoft Store applies quality and policy checks to all apps before they are published and provides an automatic update mechanism. This means that users can trust that the apps they download from the Store are free of malware, viruses, and other harmful or unwanted software. By distributing your apps via Microsoft Store, you can also avoid the risks and costs of malware and piracy, which can damage your reputation and revenue. Microsoft Store uses digital signatures, encryption, and sandboxing to protect your apps from tampering and unauthorized copying. Microsoft Store also provides you with analytics and insights on your app performance and usage, so you can monitor and improve your app quality and user satisfaction.

Revenue and commerce

Microsoft Store offers developers a flexible and transparent revenue sharing model (including in-app purchases, subscriptions, ads, and tips) that lets you choose your own commerce platform and keep 100% of the revenue for non-gaming apps, or use Microsoft’s commerce platform and pay a competitive fee of 12% for games and 15% for apps. This means that you can maximize your profit and control your business model, while benefiting from the convenience and security of Microsoft’s commerce platform. Microsoft Store also provides you with tools and services to manage your app pricing, promotions, and payments, and to comply with local tax and legal requirements. You can also use the Microsoft Partner Center to manage your app catalog, submissions, and distribution options, and to access your app analytics and earnings reports.

Compatibility and flexibility

Microsoft Store allows you to bring your existing apps to the Store without changing your code or installer, and to use your preferred tools and frameworks. A wide range of app types and technologies that are supported by the Store. This means that you can leverage your existing investments and skills, and reach more users with minimal effort and cost. You can also use the Microsoft Store to distribute your apps to different audiences and devices, and to provide a guided purchase experience for your customers. If you want to learn more about the different app types and technologies that you can use with Microsoft Store, and how to get started with them, you can check out Publish Your App in the Microsoft Store section.

Summary

Distributing your apps via Microsoft Store is a good choice for developers of any app type and size. Microsoft Store helps you reach and engage a large and diverse audience of Windows users, who can trust and enjoy your apps. Microsoft Store also offers you various ways to make money from your apps, and lets you choose your own commerce platform and revenue sharing model. Microsoft Store also supports a wide range of app types and technologies, and allows you to bring your traditional desktop apps to the Store without changing your code or installer. Microsoft Store also provides you with flexibility and choice in how you distribute your apps to different audiences and devices.

If you are ready to publish your apps to Microsoft Store and join the Microsoft developer community, you can start by creating a developer account. You can also find more resources and support for developing and distributing your apps here.