It is very unlikely that developers create apps just because they have free time or they are nice people.
When starting a business, entrepreneurs think about the revenues they can make and what they should do to reach their financial targets.
The mobile market is undoubtedly attractive in terms of possible income. According to Statista, global mobile app revenues amounted to over 467,083.68 US dollars in 2023.
In 2024, apps are projected to generate 522,727.51 US dollars, and by 2027, this number is expected to increase to 673,778.05 US dollars.
In one of our previous blog posts, we talked about the Top 13 Ways to Monetize an App While the industry revenues are soaring, some developers are struggling to find the right approach to monetize their mobile apps.
In this blog post, we will look closer into the app revenue models and describe how to make money with apps.
#Pro Tip: If you’re unsatisfied with simply having a solid monetization structure and are always striving for improvement, you may want to schedule a demo to learn more about our solutions for optimizing app store results.
What is the App revenue model?
A revenue model is a framework for generating revenues. A revenue model defines the sources that generate income. It also identifies what value will be offered by the product, how much it will be worth, and who will pay for this value.
In simple words, when we talk about app revenue models we implicate the ways and the sources through which the mobile app will make money.
The app revenue model is an integral part of a business concept (or business plan) – the document that should be created before going into the development stage.
The app revenue model will also be of top interest to investors if you decide to raise additional funding for your product or sell it.
8 types of app revenue models
There are different types of app revenue models, and developers can utilize several of them within one app to maximize their income.
1. In-app advertising
According to data provided by Statista, ad spending in the In-App Advertising market worldwide is forecasted to reach US $352.70bn in 2024.
The market is expected to demonstrate an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 8.65%, leading to a projected market volume of US$534.10bn by 2029.
Integrating in-app advertising into the app revenue model means that the developer will get paid for serving ads within the app.
To do that, a developer has to partner with an ad monetization platform and integrate their SDK (Software Development Kit) which is a piece of code that should be properly added to your app code.
Usually, this is not a complicated process as ad monetization companies provide detailed documentation and support in case of questions.
To gain substantial revenues from in-app advertising, the app needs to have a significant number of active users who engage with the app regularly. So, before cooperating with any ad network it would be good to work towards increasing the user base.
Some of the most popular app revenue model solutions:
Banner ads are the most common advertising format. They look similar to what we see while browsing on our desktops but on mobile, they look much smaller so the users don’t pay too much attention to them. However, they can be animated which usually distracts users’ attention and irritates them. Usually, banner ads are placed on top or at the bottom of an app page.
Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that hover over the app page. They can be static or involve rich media. These ad formats have one of the highest eCPM rates and if placed properly will not annoy users. At the same, they will not be unnoticed by users. When an interstitial pops up, a user will need to interact with the ad unit either closing it or tapping on it. There are certain guidelines about where to place these types of ads. You can read more about best practices and interstitial ad examples in our previous blog post.
Video ads can also take up the whole screen. It is a short video about the product that usually includes a link to another website or a download link if an app is advertised.
Rewarded videos are booming now, especially within mobile games. A rewarded video is a video ad that a user is asked to watch in exchange for some benefits such as extra coins, additional lives, new accessories, more time to spend within an app, etc. This is a great way to motivate users to spend more time in your app. These ads are not obtrusive as a user decides on his own whether to watch an ad or not.
Native ads appear as a native part of an app. They blend into the app’s design and content and can be perceived as a part of the app. Sponsored posts on social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) are a good example of native ads. Native ads are also used by news platforms.
A good thing about in-app advertising as a revenue source is that the app remains free for users. On the other hand, it is important to keep the balance and not to annoy the users too much.
2. In-app purchases
In-app purchases allow users to buy some features, content or services within an app. They are quite a wide notion and include several types of revenue sources that can be utilized by developers.
- Purchasing consumables and non-consumables: Consumables are items that can be purchased and used only once, for example, an additional life in the game, virtual money, accessories, etc. Once depleted, they cannot be used again.
Non-consumables are premium features that don’t expire and can be used multiple times. An example can be an additional filter in a photo app.
- Freemium model: Freemium apps are free to download and have two types of features: Basic ones that are free to use, and premium ones that the user needs to pay for. The goal is to give a user the possibility to try out and enjoy all the premium features hoping he/she will further pay for upgrading. Such apps usually provide a free trial period. While the target is to get as many users as possible to pay, it is important to set the right balance when choosing what is free and what users will have to pay for.
- Subscriptions: Subscriptions are often used by cloud storage platforms, audio and video streaming services, news resources, and magazines. When subscribed, a user will be charged a certain amount of money on a regular basis – monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc. It is also common to provide a trial period before getting users to subscribe.
Some apps are based on non-renewing subscriptions and provide access to content or services for a limited period. This model is often used by seasonal sports apps that provide a season pass to streaming content.
If an app developer offers in-app purchases, users should be informed about it. This information is displayed within the app listing in the app stores.
3. Data monetization
Selling users’ data might not sound very nice and ethical at the very beginning but this is, in fact, a legal way of making money. In the end, you are not sharing any personal information – all the data is impersonated.
If your app collects some information that can be valuable to research institutions, marketers, product owners, or other third parties, you can consider data monetization as a revenue source.
Typically, this can be information about users’ devices, network type, location, IP address, etc.
Of course, users need to be aware that their data can be passed to third parties, so it is important to openly provide this information in documentation such as Privacy Policy and Terms of Services.
4. Donations
In one of our previous blog posts, we talked about crowdfunding platforms if you have an idea for an app as a way to get initial funding for your app.
You will not be able to generate revenues from Kickstarter or similar platforms but it can become an option to get some extra income.
5. Affiliate marketing and lead generation
If you come to a point when you have a substantial base of engaged users, you may consider using affiliate marketing and lead generation models.
Affiliate marketing is about having ads for another product in your app and earning a commission each time your users tap on an ad and convert it to a sale or lead. To make it work, you’ll need to have the same target audience with an app that you are advertising.
Lead generation is about capturing the contact information of people who will tap on an ad and agree to provide their contact details.
There are lots of affiliate marketing networks and you are free to join as many of them as you wish to maximize your revenues. But like with ads, it is not very easy to forecast your income as users’ behavior is often unpredictable.
6. SMS and email marketing
If you want to promote your app’s seasonal sales or explain your B2B product in more detail, SMS and Email marketing can help you with that.
These tools will not become your main sources of revenue but they can help you boost your app and generate more sales.
While emails allow being very descriptive and use lots of images and text, SMS is short and straight to the point.
7. Sponsorships
Having a sponsor is not a common way to monetize your app but it is not that new.
Back in 2012, the sandwich chain Subway sponsored PrePlay, a predictive gaming app, during the Super Bowl XLVI, trying to engage with football fans and grow its brand awareness. Marriot sponsored the launch of the Gayot.com mobile app that showed restaurant reviews written by professionals.
In such a way, Marriott was promoting its Rewards Chase Card to business travelers.
The way you integrate a sponsor into your app depends on the product and the goals of the partner. Some simple options include placing the sponsor’s logo in different parts of the screen, providing special offers from the sponsor, showing sponsors’ ads, etc.
8. Paid apps
The majority of the apps in application stores are free to download.
However, there is an option to offer paid apps that require paying money to download an app. After the payment, a user gets an app with all the features available that can be used from multiple devices.
With the paid app model, the revenue is strictly connected to new users downloading an app. To have stable revenues over time, developers need to spend much effort to grow a new user base.
Even with free apps, it is possible to generate revenues. It might take some time to find out which revenue source works best for your app. Most developers mix several approaches and try to create a balanced model that would work well for both users and app creators.
Studying the various monetization techniques available can help you determine the best approach for your particular mobile application.
Choosing one or more appropriate strategies will allow you to keep increasing your app’s income while still providing users with an outstanding experience.
