Selling
Who buys apps? The five kinds of companies and buyers that buy mobile apps
Short answer
Companies that buy apps fall into five groups: direct buyers like me, app holding companies and studios, investors on marketplaces such as Flippa and Acquire.com, clients of brokers like Empire Flippers, and occasionally strategic acquirers in your niche. For established apps worth $10K or more, direct buyers and holding companies are usually the fastest, most private route; marketplaces bring more bidders but charge fees and make your app public.
Disclosure: I’m a direct buyer, one of the groups below. Fees and criteria link to each company’s own pages, checked September 2026.
Thinking of selling? Send me the store link and rough numbers; I usually reply within a few hours, with no fees for you. Send me your app
“Who would even buy my app?” is usually the first question founders ask me. The honest answer: more people than you think, but they buy for different reasons, pay differently, and move at very different speeds.
1. Independent (direct) app buyers
Independent buyers are individuals or small teams who build and run apps themselves and buy apps they know how to grow. You talk to the person who decides, there’s no listing, and there are no fees for you. Deals usually start around $10K, can reach seven figures, and can close in weeks.
Best for: founders who want a private, fast, simple sale. How to compare: put the offer next to what you’d net elsewhere after fees.
2. App holding companies and studios
App holding companies run portfolios of apps and acquire regularly, often in utilities, productivity, health or games. They usually have clear criteria (minimum revenue, category, platform) and a repeatable process. Roundups such as RevenueCat’s list of app acquirers are a good starting point for finding them.
Best for: established apps that match their categories. Watch for: criteria and minimums; some only buy above a certain monthly profit.
3. Marketplace buyers (Flippa, Acquire.com, Microns)
Marketplace buyers are individual investors, first-time buyers and some professionals browsing public listings. A marketplace gives you the widest pool of potential buyers, along with fees, a public listing and a lot of screening.
Best for: sellers who are fine with a public listing and a longer process. Watch for: seller fees of roughly 6–10% plus listing costs (see Flippa, Empire Flippers and Acquire.com fees), public listings, and many non-serious inquiries. Compare the options in Flippa alternatives.
4. Broker clients (Empire Flippers, FE International)
Brokers vet your app and present it to their buyer lists, often experienced investors and funds.
Best for: large, complex online businesses where a managed auction pays for itself. Watch for: commissions of up to 15% (Empire Flippers charges 15% up to $700K with a $10,000 minimum, checked September 2026), plus minimum deal sizes and weeks of vetting.
5. Strategic acquirers
A strategic acquirer is a company that wants your app for its users, technology or niche: a competitor, a company adjacent to your category, or a larger publisher. They can pay the most, but they rarely buy small apps and the process is slow and unpredictable.
Best for: apps with unique technology, a strong brand, or a user base a specific company needs. Watch for: long timelines and deals that fall apart late.
How do I sell my app to a company?
To sell your app to a company, find companies whose portfolio or product your app fits, send a short pitch with your key numbers, and share details only under NDA. In practice:
- Shortlist the right companies. Holding companies and studios often publish what they buy (category, platform, minimum revenue). Strategic buyers are companies whose users or product overlap with yours.
- Send a short pitch. Your App Store or Google Play link, 12 months of revenue and profit, where users come from, and one line on why the app fits them. Say what you want: a full sale, and roughly when.
- Sign an NDA before sharing details. Dashboards, code and contracts come after, not in the first email.
- Close safely. A written agreement, payment through escrow, and the official App Store or Google Play transfer.
The full process is in how to sell an app. Big platforms such as Apple or Google almost never buy individual indie apps; see the FAQ below.
Which buyer fits your app?
The right buyer depends mostly on your app’s size, track record and how private you want the sale to be.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| $10K+, 6+ months of steady revenue, want it done privately and quickly | Direct buyers and holding companies |
| Under $10K, very new, or no revenue yet | Small-project marketplaces (Microns, TrustMRR) |
| Seven figures, complex business | Broker or M&A advisor |
| Unique tech or audience a company needs | Approach strategic buyers directly |
For a side-by-side of the routes, see where to sell my app.
What will every serious buyer ask for?
Every serious buyer will ask for your store link and 12 months of revenue and profit first, then traffic and risk details.
- The App Store (or Google Play) link.
- Monthly revenue and profit for the last 12 months.
- Downloads and where they come from: search, ads, referrals.
- For subscription apps: subscribers, renewals and churn.
- Anything that could break: old SDKs, policy warnings, dependence on you.
Full list: app due diligence checklist.
Which app buyers on older lists are gone or renamed?
Several names still appear on popular "who buys apps" lists but no longer buy apps, or now go by another name. As of September 2026:
- Apps Buyout: its site now redirects to Appvestor, which offers revenue-share funding for user acquisition rather than buying apps.
- AppFlip: renamed App Peak in April 2025 (appflip.co redirects to apppeak.com). It’s a broker that sells apps for founders, not a buyer.
- webuyapps.com and SellYourApp (sellyourapp.com): the sites don’t load.
Before you contact any buyer from a list, check that the site is live and that they still buy apps. How to check a buyer: how do I vet an app buyer.
How do I fit in?
I’m an independent buyer. I mainly buy iOS apps, and I’m open to Android apps when the fit is right. I don’t buy games, SaaS, or web-only products. I buy directly from founders, in deals from $10K to $1M+, for apps that have been live for at least 6 months with steady revenue. There are no fees for the seller, payment goes through escrow, and the app moves via the official platform transfer. Brand-new or pre-revenue apps usually aren’t a fit. Send me your app and I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right buyer, or who might be. I usually reply within a few hours.
Frequently asked questions
What companies buy apps?
App holding companies and studios that run portfolios, independent buyers, investors on marketplaces like Flippa and Acquire.com, broker clients, and occasionally strategic acquirers in your niche.
Will Apple or Google buy my app?
Almost never. Big platforms buy companies for talent or technology, not individual apps. For a typical indie app, direct buyers, holding companies and marketplaces are the realistic options.
How do I find a buyer for my app?
Contact direct buyers and app holding companies, or list on a marketplace. Prepare your App Store link and 12 months of revenue and profit first; serious buyers ask for them immediately.
Do app buyers buy Android apps and games?
Some do, but many specialize in one platform or genre, so check their criteria. I mainly buy iOS apps, and I’m open to Android apps when the fit is right. I don’t buy games, SaaS, or web-only products.