Answer · data from 746,534 iOS apps
How many apps make money?
Very few. Of the 746,534 iOS App Store apps we analyzed (data: July 7, 2026), only 7.4% show any revenue signal at all. Just 3.2% clear an estimated $1,000/month, 1.1% clear $10,000/month, and 0.28% clear $100,000/month.
Figures are labeled estimates generated by GetAppNiche's proprietary multi-signal model. Data snapshot: July 7, 2026; dataset updated daily. Check any specific app free — no account — with the app revenue checker.
The ladder
What percentage of apps clear each revenue level
| Estimated monthly revenue | Apps clearing it | % of all 746,534 apps |
|---|---|---|
| Any revenue signal (>$0) | 55,429 | 7.4% |
| ≥ $100/month | 55,428 | 7.4% |
| ≥ $500/month | 33,669 | 4.5% |
| ≥ $1,000/month | 24,252 | 3.2% |
| ≥ $10,000/month | 8,294 | 1.1% |
| ≥ $100,000/month | 2,062 | 0.28% |
Source: GetAppNiche analysis of 746,534 iOS App Store apps, July 7, 2026 snapshot. The "any revenue" and "≥$100" rows nearly match because the estimation model's floor is ≈$107/month — an app either shows enough public signal to register revenue, or it registers none.
Same figures as the table, drawn to scale — the drop from 7.4% to 0.28% is the whole story. The $1,000/mo bar is highlighted. Labeled proprietary-model estimates, July 7 2026 snapshot.
By price model
Odds of reaching $1,000/month by monetization model
The single biggest odds-mover in the dataset isn't the idea — it's how the app charges. Freemium apps reach an estimated $1,000/month at 7.6× the rate of free apps without in-app purchases.
| Price model | Apps analyzed | % clearing est. $1,000/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium (free + in-app purchases) | 89,069 | 13.76% |
| Paid (upfront price) | 47,815 | 2.12% |
| Free (no in-app purchases detected) | 609,650 | 1.80% |
Source: GetAppNiche analysis of 746,534 iOS App Store apps, July 7, 2026 snapshot. Estimates, not audited figures.
Freemium clears the bar at 7.6× the rate of a plain free app — the single biggest odds-mover in the dataset. Dashed line is the all-apps 3.2% rate. Estimates, July 7 2026 snapshot.
You've seen the odds by model. See the free / freemium / paid split for every App Store category — which niches lean which way, before you pick one.
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And the apps that do make money?
Among the 55,429 apps with any revenue signal, the median is an estimated $643/month and the top 10% make an estimated $21,214+/month. The mean — about $32,287/month, roughly 50× the median — is dragged up by a handful of giants, which is why "average app revenue" headlines mislead. For the amounts side of the question, including the category-by-category breakdown, see how much an app actually makes.
What this means
Three takeaways for founders
- Monetization model matters more than the idea. Freemium apps clear $1,000/month at 13.76% vs 1.80% for free apps without in-app purchases — a 7.6× gap that exists before your idea's quality even enters the picture. Ship with in-app purchases or a subscription from day one.
- The odds are low, but they're knowable. 3.2% overall is not a coin flip you have to take blind — the odds shift dramatically with price model and niche, and you can measure what incumbents in your niche are estimated to earn before you write a line of code.
- Research the niche before building. Start with finding profitable iOS app niches, then narrow to markets where the competition is beatable — see the best low-competition app niches for 2026.
FAQ
How many apps make money — quick answers
What percentage of apps make money?
About 7.4%. Of 746,534 iOS App Store apps we analyzed (data snapshot: July 7, 2026), 55,429 show any revenue signal at all — meaning roughly 93% of apps make approximately $0. The bar rises fast from there: 4.5% clear an estimated $500/month and 3.2% clear an estimated $1,000/month.
What percentage of apps make $1,000 a month?
3.2% — 24,252 of the 746,534 iOS apps we track clear an estimated $1,000/month. The odds depend heavily on monetization model: 13.76% of freemium apps (free with in-app purchases) reach that bar, versus 2.12% of paid apps and just 1.80% of free apps without in-app purchases.
Do paid or free apps make more money?
Neither — freemium wins. Free apps with in-app purchases clear an estimated $1,000/month at a 13.76% rate, versus 2.12% for paid-upfront apps and 1.80% for free apps with no in-app purchases. That makes a freemium app roughly 7.6× more likely to reach $1,000/month than a plain free app, based on 746,534 iOS apps analyzed in July 2026.
How many apps make $10,000 a month?
8,294 of the 746,534 iOS apps we analyzed — about 1.1% — clear an estimated $10,000/month. Only 2,062 apps (0.28%, roughly 1 in 360) clear an estimated $100,000/month.
Are these numbers exact?
No — Apple doesn't publish per-app revenue, so no third party has exact figures. These are labeled estimates generated by GetAppNiche's proprietary multi-signal model across 746,534 iOS apps, data snapshot July 7, 2026, with the dataset updated daily. Treat every figure as directional.