IPhone App

How Profitable Is An IPhone App? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 5th, 2024

How Profitable Is An IPhone App? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start an iPhone app?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are iPhone apps actually profitable?”

Especially considering:

You could start a iPhone app with as low as $100
Based on our data, iPhone apps generate an average of $2.86M per year

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a iPhone app.

Let’s dive in!

Is an iPhone app profitable?

Yes, an iPhone app is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $2.86M per year with an estimated gross margin of 22%, you could expect to recover your investment within 9 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your iPhone app.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your iPhone app is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is an iPhone app worth it?

If you’re wondering if a iPhone app is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With iPhone apps, you have the potential to earn $2.86M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a iPhone app to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful iPhone apps case studies.

Examples Of Profitable IPhone Apps

Here are a few examples of profitable iPhone apps, and a few more details about them:

1. OnlinePianist ($840K/year)

Nimrod, CEO & co-founder of OnlinePianist, came up with the idea after experiencing a personal crisis and deciding to pursue his dreams. He wanted to play his favorite songs on the piano and found that traditional video tutorials were limited, leading him to create an interactive app with animation and additional features. Through creative marketing strategies, such as releasing video tutorials on YouTube before the official release of popular songs, OnlinePianist was able to attract highly targeted traffic and retain customers.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K

How I Built An $840K/Year Piano Tutorial App

OnlinePianist is a profitable business generating $70k in monthly revenue, with 6 million global downloads and customers in more than 20 countries, offering the largest catalog of piano tutorials outside of YouTube with 3,000+ tutorials, and has plans to expand its capabilities to listen to what the user plays on their piano or keyboard and build a paid marketing strategy.

Read this case study

Read by 4,704 founders

2. MoveWell ($12K/year)

Joel Runyon came up with the idea for MoveWell after injuring himself during an ultra-marathon. He realized that he performed well during physical therapy sessions, but struggled to keep up with exercises in between. This led him to create an app that would serve as a mobility coach, providing affordable routines to help users move better and prevent injuries.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $12K/year

How I Built An iPhone Fitness App To $1,000 MRR

Joel Runyon built an iPhone fitness app called MoveWell that currently brings in about $1,200-$1,800 per month, and is looking to expand the business by adding coaches, more content, and branded partnerships.

Read this case study

Read by 6,102 founders

3. Meister ($12M/year)

Michael Hollauf, one of the founders of Meister, came up with the idea for their apps MindMeister and MeisterTask after realizing the limitations of existing collaborative tools like Google Docs and MindManager. Combining the collaborative features of Google Docs with the brainstorming capabilities of MindManager, they created MindMeister, the biggest online mind mapping app with over 11 million users. They bootstrapped the company initially, but later received a small angel investment of $600K to accelerate development.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $12M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K

How Our Team Collaboration Apps Generate $600K/Month

Meister Labs, creators of MindMeister and MeisterTask, have close to $10 million ARR with their Freemium subscription business model, providing software tools for small to medium-sized businesses from all verticals and private users as well, which include 11 million MindMeister and 3 million MeisterTask users.

Read this case study

Read by 7,000 founders

Learn more about starting an iPhone app:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start an iPhone app?
-> Pros and cons of an iPhone app

Need inspiration?

-> Other iPhone app success stories
-> Marketing ideas for an iPhone app
-> Iphone app names

Other resources

-> Iphone app tips

How much can you make with an iPhone app?

With a iPhone app, you can make an average of $2.86M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $100. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 9 months.

How much does a iPhone app make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a iPhone app ranges around $59.6K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $238K.

To know if your iPhone app achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your iPhone app.

How much do iPhone apps owners make?

The income of an iPhone app owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established iPhone app is about $59.6K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as an iPhone app owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

IPhone App Profit Margins

Generally speaking, an iPhone app can expect profit margin of around 22%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of an iPhone app, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, iPhone app owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, iPhone app owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Iphone app owner salary

The salary of an iPhone app owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established iPhone app, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $13.1K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a iPhone app may be a promising business to start - but the success of your iPhone app mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable iPhone app.

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Building An IPhone App: Everything You Need To Know

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