Deals
Apps I’ve bought from indie developers
I don’t only write about buying apps. Here are a few I bought from the indie developers who built them. I keep names and store links private, because that’s the promise I make to every seller. What I can share is what the apps were, roughly what I paid, how they made money, and why their founders sold.
A device finder app (iOS), bought in 2023 for about $100K
A utility that helps people find their lost devices: simple to explain, useful the moment you need it. Most of its revenue came from subscriptions, and AdMob ads earned a bit more on top. The developer who built it wanted to put their time and money into a new project, and selling the app is how they funded it.
A wallpaper app for Android, about $20K–$40K
A wallpaper app with a cute, playful style, on Google Play. iOS is my main focus, but I’m open to Android apps when the fit is right, and this one was. Like the others, subscriptions brought in most of the money and AdMob added to it. Its developer sold it to move on to their next idea.
A PDF generator app (iOS), about $20K–$40K
A tool for creating PDFs, exactly the kind of everyday utility I like to buy. Subscriptions carried the revenue, with AdMob income alongside. The founder used the sale to start something new.
What these deals had in common
- A range of sizes. From about $20K to about $100K, which is why I talk about deals from $10K to $1M+: the size of the app doesn’t change how I buy it.
- Indie developers on the other side. No company, no acquisition team: one person who built the app and knew it inside out.
- Subscriptions first, ads second. Recurring revenue with AdMob on top is a mix I understand well, from both selling a subscription app and selling an ad-supported app.
- A clear reason to sell. Each founder wanted to put the money into a new project. Selling a working app turned the work they had already done into funding for the next one.
Why no names or exact prices?
Most founders don’t want their users, competitors, or employer to know they sold. I sign NDAs on request and keep every deal private by default, so this page gives rounded prices and categories, never the app itself. If you’re thinking about selling, read how to sell an app confidentially, or see who I am and what I look for.
Selling an app like these?
I mainly buy iOS apps that have been live for 6+ months with steady revenue, in deals from $10K to $1M+. You can estimate what your app is worth first, or just get in touch.