Comparison
Acquire.com alternative: selling your app to a direct buyer instead
Short answer
Acquire.com (called MicroAcquire until 2023) charges sellers an 8% closing fee plus $25 a month under $250K, and its January 2026 report puts the average time on market at 81 days. Selling your app directly to a buyer like me costs $0 in fees. I usually reply within a few hours and the deal closes in about 14 days, everything included. On a $50,000 sale, that’s roughly $45,925 net on Acquire.com vs $50,000 direct. Acquire.com mainly suits SaaS, which I don’t buy; for an iOS app, selling directly keeps the full price in your pocket.
Disclosure: I’m the direct buyer in this comparison. Acquire.com’s figures come from its own seller pricing page and multiples report, 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
Acquire.com vs selling directly: how do they compare?
Acquire.com is a curated marketplace: you list your business, buyers on the platform contact you, and you negotiate with the ones you choose. Selling directly means one buyer, one offer, no listing.
| Seller fee | Speed | Who sees your numbers | Who you deal with | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selling directly to me | $0: no listing fee, no commission | Usually a reply within a few hours; about 14 days to a closed deal | Only I see your numbers; NDA on request | One named buyer, start to finish |
| Acquire.com | 6–8% closing fee + $25–$100 a month while listed | 81 days on market on average (January 2026 report) | Buyers on the marketplace you share it with | Several buyers; you run the process |
Acquire.com: seller pricing and January 2026 multiples report, checked September 2026.
What does Acquire.com charge app sellers?
A closing fee on the sale price plus a monthly fee, both set by your asking price. You only pay the closing fee if the business sells, and Acquire.com covers the escrow cost.
| Asking price | Closing fee | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $250K | 8% | $25 |
| $250K–$1M | 7% | $50 |
| Above $1M | 6% | $100 |
Source: acquire.com/seller-pricing, checked September 2026.
The closing fee is lower than Flippa’s 10% and far below Empire Flippers’ $10,000 minimum. See them side by side in Flippa, Empire Flippers and Acquire.com fees.
What would you net on a $25K, $50K and $100K sale?
| Route | $25,000 sale | $50,000 sale | $100,000 sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling directly to me | $25,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| Acquire.com (8% + 3 months at $25) | $22,925 | $45,925 | $91,925 |
Three months of listing fees approximates the reported 81-day average. Acquire.com covers escrow; with me, the escrow split is agreed up front. Before escrow and tax. The same app won’t necessarily sell for the same price on every route, so compare what you’d net, not headline prices. Try your own number in the app sale fee calculator.
How long does it take to sell on Acquire.com?
Acquire.com’s own January 2026 report gives an average of 81 days on market. That’s before closing, and there’s no guarantee of a sale. A direct sale skips the listing stage: you usually get a reply within a few hours, an offer if the app fits, and a closed deal in about 14 days.
The marketplace also leans toward SaaS: its free valuation tool is for SaaS, and its multiples report covers SaaS rather than mobile apps. For app-specific numbers, see how much is my app worth.
What does a direct sale look like instead?
You send the store link and your monthly numbers (average of the last 3 months). I review the app myself and, if it fits, make a direct offer after checking what buyers verify. Payment goes through escrow, and the app moves through Apple’s official App Store transfer.
- No fees: no closing fee, no monthly fee.
- Private: no listing and no teaser. Only I see your numbers, and I sign an NDA on request.
- No buyer screening: you don’t have to sort serious buyers from browsers, or answer the same questions for each one.
- What I buy: iOS apps (and Android apps when the fit is right), live 6+ months with steady revenue, deals from $10K to $1M+. I don’t buy games, SaaS, or web-only products.
Who is Acquire.com for?
Acquire.com is built mainly for SaaS. It suits sellers who:
- are selling a SaaS or web product (I don’t buy those);
- are fine with three months or more on market and running the process themselves.
If you’re selling an iOS app, a direct offer is faster, private and free: no closing fee, no monthly fee, no months on market. More options in Flippa alternatives and direct buyer vs marketplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acquire.com the same as MicroAcquire?
Yes. MicroAcquire renamed itself Acquire.com in January 2023 (Acquire.com).
What is a good Acquire.com alternative for a mobile app?
For an iOS app, the main alternatives are Flippa (larger, general marketplace), Microns (small projects, 6–10%) and direct buyers, who charge no fees. Acquire.com leans toward SaaS; I buy iOS apps directly, and Android apps when the fit is right.
How much does Acquire.com charge on a $50,000 sale?
An 8% closing fee ($4,000) plus $25 for each month you’re listed, as of September 2026 (Acquire.com). Acquire.com covers the escrow cost.
Can I list on Acquire.com and talk to a direct buyer at the same time?
Usually, yes. Check the platform’s terms for anything about exclusivity or off-platform deals with buyers you met there. A direct offer is a useful benchmark either way.