AdWhirl: Free Ad-Supported iPhone Apps Can Be Very Lucrative
Mobile advertising company AdWhirl issued a report (PDF) that details the success of some of the top ad-supported iPhone apps. AdWhirl serves 250 million ad impressions monthly to over 10% of the top 50 Apps in the App Store.
According to their data, developers who break into the top 100 Free iPhone Apps can make as much as $400-$5000 a day. These seem to represent "peak" revenues at the height of an app's success but revenue for this application depicted does appear to reach a consistent level over time.
The findings are somewhat contradictory to previously published reports from Pinch Media who believes that the majority of apps would do better as paid applications as usage drops precipitously over time. AdWhirl's examples, however, appear to represent some of the highest earners rather than necessarily a broad cross sample.
Still, it provides some hope for an alternative revenue streams for developers.
According to their data, developers who break into the top 100 Free iPhone Apps can make as much as $400-$5000 a day. These seem to represent "peak" revenues at the height of an app's success but revenue for this application depicted does appear to reach a consistent level over time.
The findings are somewhat contradictory to previously published reports from Pinch Media who believes that the majority of apps would do better as paid applications as usage drops precipitously over time. AdWhirl's examples, however, appear to represent some of the highest earners rather than necessarily a broad cross sample.
Still, it provides some hope for an alternative revenue streams for developers.
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36 months ago
wow. those are some crazy numbers. i've got to start developing in my free time
36 months ago
wow. those are some crazy numbers. i've got to start developing in my free time
was thinking the same thing. if only i had any.
and hey, if this keeps free apps coming, i support ad support.
36 months ago
wow. those are some crazy numbers. i've got to start developing in my free time
And I'm sitting on my paws for what? Ideas, check. Ticket to WWDC, check. App, nope.
36 months ago
sweet 5k a day isn't bad!
That's kind of an absolute maximum: for a totally kickass app for a day or two. I would bet most ad-sponsored apps garner well under $50 per day.
Not that I would turn down someone handing me a $20 bill every day...
36 months ago
This is interesting. I certainly might start releasing free ad-supported versions of my paid apps after a time (once the paid-for version price comes down to $0.99, i.e. the cheapest price point) and have the two on sale concurrently to give customers a choice.
It could be a new way to breathe life into an app that has passed its peak.
It could be a new way to breathe life into an app that has passed its peak.
36 months ago
These stories make writing iphone apps sound like a quick route to riches.. but bear in mind that there's 35,000 + apps out there, and these figures are only for the most successful.
What happens to most iphone apps: it gets released, sells fairly well for a week (while it's near the top of the 'latest released' list), then it fails to make the chart and slowly slides out of sight. Sales fall away to a few copies per day.
If you're lucky, you release something fairly popular, and it gets into the chart.. then your sales 'spike' tends to last a lot longer. If you're more lucky, your app has lasting appeal and it sits there in the chart earning a stable income. If you're super lucky (and you have a great idea of course), it takes off and hits the top of the charts, but there's probably only 100 or so super popular apps so far.. out of 35,000.
What happens to most iphone apps: it gets released, sells fairly well for a week (while it's near the top of the 'latest released' list), then it fails to make the chart and slowly slides out of sight. Sales fall away to a few copies per day.
If you're lucky, you release something fairly popular, and it gets into the chart.. then your sales 'spike' tends to last a lot longer. If you're more lucky, your app has lasting appeal and it sits there in the chart earning a stable income. If you're super lucky (and you have a great idea of course), it takes off and hits the top of the charts, but there's probably only 100 or so super popular apps so far.. out of 35,000.
36 months ago
That's kind of an absolute maximum: for a totally kickass app for a day or two. I would bet most ad-sponsored apps garner well under $50 per day.
Not that I would turn down someone handing me a $20 bill every day...
Yea that would make a lot of sense ... probably less. Lot's of apps don't receive the hoopla that a few get.
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