Just under half (46%) of cell phone and tablet users who have downloaded apps say they have paid for an app at some point, according to a survey conducted July 25-Aug. 26, 2011 by the Pew Internet & American Life project. That number is statistically equivalent to the 47% who reported doing so in May 2010. However, the number of people who have downloaded an application has grown, so only 16% of all U.S. adults have ever paid for an app — this compares with 13% who said so in May 2010. This is a small but statistically significant increase.

Among those who have paid for apps, half (52%) report that the most they have spent on an app is $5 or less. However, 17% report having paid more than $20 for a single app. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.