Comparison
Empire Flippers alternative: selling your app to a direct buyer instead
Short answer
Empire Flippers charges sellers a flat $10,000 on any sale up to about $66,667 and 15% up to $700,000. Selling your app directly to a buyer like me costs nothing in fees: on a $40,000 sale that’s $30,000 net through Empire Flippers vs $40,000 direct. I usually reply within a few hours and the deal closes in about 14 days, everything included. Empire Flippers is built for large, established online businesses; for an app, its minimum fee takes a big share of your exit.
Disclosure: I’m the direct buyer in this comparison. Empire Flippers’ figures come from its own commission calculator, 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
Empire Flippers vs selling directly: how do they compare?
Empire Flippers is a broker: it vets your business, lists it for its buyer network and handles the sale for a commission. A direct buyer skips all of that and buys the app outright. Side by side:
| 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 |
| Empire Flippers | $10,000 minimum; 15% up to $700K; lower above that | Vetting, then listing until a buyer is found | Buyers on its marketplace | A broker, then the buyer they bring |
Empire Flippers: commission calculator, checked September 2026. Empire Flippers doesn’t publish an average time to sell.
What does Empire Flippers charge app sellers?
A blended commission, with a $10,000 floor that matters most for smaller apps:
| Sale price | Commission |
|---|---|
| Up to ~$66,667 | $10,000 flat |
| ~$66,667–$700,000 | 15% of the sale price |
| $700,000–$5M | 8% on the amount above $700,000 |
| Above $5M | 2.5% on the amount above $5M |
Source: Empire Flippers commission calculator, checked September 2026.
On a $20,000 app, the flat fee is half the price. That’s why most founders of apps in the $10K–$60K range look for an Empire Flippers alternative: a small marketplace, or a direct buyer. Full fee comparison across platforms: 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 |
| Empire Flippers | $15,000 | $40,000 | $85,000 |
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.
On a $50,000 app, Empire Flippers needs to find a buyer at about $60,000 just to match a $50,000 direct offer.
What does a direct sale look like instead?
You send the store link and your monthly numbers (average of the last 3 months). I usually reply within a few hours, and if the app fits, I send a direct offer after checking what buyers verify. Payment goes through escrow, and the app moves through Apple’s official App Store transfer. From first message to a closed deal usually takes about 14 days, everything included.
- No fees: no listing fee, no commission. The escrow fee split is agreed up front.
- Private: no public listing. Only I see your numbers, and I sign an NDA on request.
- One person: the person who makes the offer is the one who takes over the app. No broker in between.
- 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.
I price apps at around 6–36x monthly profit. See where yours lands with the app valuation calculator.
Who is Empire Flippers for?
Empire Flippers is a broker for established online businesses: vetting, a buyer network, and a managed negotiation. It suits sellers of:
- large, complex online businesses (several products, a team) that want a managed auction;
- products I don’t buy (games, SaaS, or web-only products).
For an iOS app, a direct sale leaves you with more: no $10,000 minimum, no commission, and a close in about 14 days. More routes compared in where to sell your app and direct buyer vs marketplaces.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Empire Flippers alternative for a small app?
For an app under ~$66,667, Empire Flippers’ $10,000 minimum commission weighs heavily. The main alternatives are a small-project marketplace such as Microns (6–10%, no listing fee) or a direct buyer, who charges no fees at all. Compare them in Flippa alternatives.
How much are Empire Flippers fees on a $50,000 app?
$10,000. The flat minimum applies to any sale up to about $66,667, so you’d net $40,000 before escrow and tax (Empire Flippers, checked September 2026).
Does Empire Flippers sell mobile apps?
Yes. It lists app businesses alongside content sites, e-commerce and SaaS. Its published commission schedule is the same for every type of business.
Is selling directly safe compared with a broker?
It can be, as long as payment goes through a licensed escrow service and the app moves through Apple’s official transfer. That’s how I buy. See app sale escrow.