TL;DR
Price from what similar apps charge, match the fee to how often people use your app, and lean toward a small monthly subscription for ongoing value. Remember you keep 85 percent on the small-business program, so set a fair price and let downloads guide it.
Pricing is where a good app becomes real income or a stalled listing. Set it too high and few download; too low and you leave money on the table. The reliable method is simple: start from what comparable apps actually charge, match the model to how often people use your app, and adjust based on real downloads rather than chasing the biggest number you can imagine.
Start from what similar apps charge
Base your price on what real apps in your category charge, not on what you wish you could get. Look at a handful of the closest apps and note their subscription and one-time prices. That range anchors your number. Guessing is how apps end up priced wrong in both directions.
Match the model to how people use it
Your app is rarely identical to the others, so choose the model honestly. Factor in how often people open it and how much ongoing value it delivers.
- Ongoing value: an app people use weekly fits a monthly subscription.
- One-time value: a tool used briefly may suit a single purchase.
- Freemium: give a core free, charge for the features power users want.
- The store cut: you keep 85 percent on the small-business program.
Lean toward a small subscription
For most apps with ongoing value, a small monthly subscription earns better than a one-time fee, because the value keeps coming and so does the revenue. Set it at a price that feels easy to say yes to. Just do not price it so high that people never start the trial in the first place.
Adjust based on real downloads
Your first price is a hypothesis. If the app gets lots of installs but few subscribers, the price or the value gap may be off; if people subscribe readily, you may have room to test higher. Use a tool like RevenueCat to watch the numbers and adjust in small steps. Let real behavior, not hope, set the final price.
Common questions
How do I set the right price for my app?
Start from what comparable apps in your category charge, then match the model to how often people use yours. Lean toward a small subscription for ongoing value. Adjust based on real downloads rather than chasing the top number.
Should I charge a subscription or a one-time fee?
A subscription usually earns more for apps with ongoing value, since revenue keeps coming as the value does. A one-time fee can suit a tool used briefly. Match the model to how often people open the app.
What if my app gets installs but few subscribers?
That usually means the price or the free-to-paid value gap is off. Test a lower price or move more value behind the paywall in small steps. Installs without subscribers is a signal to adjust.
How much of my app revenue do I keep?
On Apple's and Google's small-business program, if you earn under a million dollars a year you keep 85 percent instead of 70 percent. Enroll as soon as your account is set up. That lower fee makes fair pricing easier.
Is it better to price low for downloads or high for revenue?
A fair price that fits the value usually wins, because steady subscribers beat a high price nobody pays. Pricing too high just means silence. Use real download and subscriber data to find the balance.
Should I just match the cheapest competitor?
Not blindly. Undercutting to the bottom leaves money on the table if your app is more focused. Price against what similar apps charge and the value you offer, staying competitive without racing to the lowest number.
Keep going
Price from real comparisons and earn without the guesswork.
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