- Home
- Industries
- Mobile apps & games
Industry · Mobile apps & games
How mobile apps & games businesses make money
The 1M.chat dataset has 105 mobile apps & games businesses. 37 of them have a revenue figure the founder reported in an interview. Their median is $17K a month, and 19% were at $1M a year or more when interviewed, with a median team of 1 employee. The growth channels founders credited most often were organic social media (58%), paid ads (42%), SEO & organic search (31%).
Revenue at interview
| Under $1K/mo | 8 | |
| $1K–$10K/mo | 7 | |
| $10K–$50K/mo | 13 | |
| $50K–$83K/mo | 2 | |
| $1M+ a year | 6 | |
| $1M+ a month | 1 |
Growth channels credited
| Organic social media | 58% | |
| Paid ads | 42% | |
| SEO & organic search | 31% | |
| Communities (Reddit, forums, Slack groups) | 31% | |
| Partnerships & affiliates | 31% |
Share of 26 businesses with channel information; founders often name several.
Business models in this group
| Subscriptions (SaaS & memberships) | 60 | |
| Selling physical products | 13 | |
| Ads, sponsorships & affiliate | 9 | |
| Marketplace commissions | 2 | |
| Usage-based fees | 1 |
Case studies
Read how they did it
- Subscrible: a mobile game catalog app with few or no ads at $85K a monthSubscrible offers gamers an ad-free mobile game catalog app and helps game developers grow revenue.$85K/mofounder-reported 2024
- Dilly Dally Games: a free online dominoes game that earns $16K a monthFree online Mexican Train Dominoes game for casual players, especially women aged 65+$16K/mofounder-reported 2023
Examples
Highest founder-reported revenues in this group
| Business | What it sells | Revenue / month | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| IntchMobile apps & games | Professional networking app | $1Mfounder interview 2025 | United States |
| BACHMobile apps & games | app for planning and booking bachelor and bachelorette parties | $700Kfounder interview 2021 | United States |
| BabelBarkMobile apps & games | Pet care platform connecting owners with pet service providers | $425Kfounder interview 2019 | United States |
| SmartGuideMobile apps & games | digital audio tour guide app and platform | $282Kfounder interview 2022 | Czechia |
| SoundbrennerMobile apps & games | Wearable music tools and practice mobile app | $280Kfounder interview | Hong Kong |
| SproutyMobile apps & games | AI parenting companion mobile app | $280Kfounder interview 2026 | Cyprus |
| SubscribleMobile apps & games | Ad-free mobile gaming catalog app | $85K/mofounder interview 2024 | Cyprus |
| RootdMobile apps & games | mobile app for anxiety and panic attack relief | $83.3Kfounder interview | Canada |
| OnlinePianistMobile apps & games | Piano tutorial app with song catalog | $70Kfounder interview 2021 | Israel |
| Bloomy LabMobile apps & games | Mental health, productivity and real estate apps | $40Kfounder interview | Ukraine |
| MindTastik Medita...Mobile apps & games | meditation and wellbeing mobile app | $35Kfounder interview 2022 | Romania |
| Pep AIMobile apps & games | Mobile app for tracking peptide protocols | $30Kfounder interview 2026 | United States |
| Monapp Calabs ltdMobile apps & games | Android tracking and monitoring app | $25Kfounder interview 2022 | Cyprus |
| MuverMobile apps & games | mobile app for gig workers to multi-app | $25Kfounder interview 2022 | United States |
| SavewiseMobile apps & games | Rewards app for maximizing points, miles, and cash back | $25Kfounder interview 2025 | United States |
| Dilly Dally GamesMobile apps & games | free casual dominoes game on web and mobile | $16K/mofounder interview 2023 | United States |
| Minimalist PhoneMobile apps & games | Android app to reduce screen time | $20Kfounder interview 2022 | Germany |
| LeMI AppsMobile apps & games | SMS marketing auto reply apps | $19Kfounder interview 2022 | Israel |
| FollowBuddyMobile apps & games | Instagram unfollower tracking app | $17Kfounder interview 2026 | Canada |
| Salem SoftwareMobile apps & games | Spanish-language Bible mobile app and content | $10Kfounder interview 2019 | United States |
Revenue as the founder reported it in a Starter Story interview, at the interview date; not current revenue. “What it sells” is a 1M.chat summary. How this data is built
Questions
How much do mobile apps & games businesses typically make?
Among 37 mobile apps & games businesses with founder-reported revenue, the median was $17K a month at the time of the interview. The sample is founders who chose to be interviewed, so it leans toward businesses that were already working; treat it as a range of real outcomes, not an average for everyone who tries.
How many mobile apps & games businesses reached $1M a year?
7 of 37 (19%) reported at least $83K a month, the run-rate for $1M a year.
How did mobile apps & games businesses find customers?
Of 26 with growth-channel information, founders most often credited organic social media (58%), paid ads (42%), SEO & organic search (31%), communities (Reddit, forums, Slack groups) (31%), partnerships & affiliates (31%). Channels are grouped by 1M.chat from what founders said worked.
Related
Partner services
Setting one up yourself?
Sleek
Register an Australian company
ASIC registration, company secretary and address handled in one place. Use code AF774200 at sign-up for a partner offer.
See detailsSleek
Register a Hong Kong company
Incorporation, company secretary, registered address and annual filings in one place. Use code AF748473 at sign-up for a partner offer.
See detailsBizCover
Compare small business insurance (Australia)
Online quotes for public liability, professional indemnity and business insurance packs for Australian small businesses.
See detailsThese are partner links: 1M.chat may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what the case studies say. Disclosure