You’re a smart businessperson who wants to dip their feet into the iOS application field. You’ve done your research or may hire Research Data Collection help or avail phd data collection services about the tools and resources you’ll need and may even have a smart idea. But if your goal is revenue, there is one more thing you need to consider—which app categories make the most money. Our iOS app developers agree there are some brilliant exceptions in the low-revenue segments that make good money for the value they offer. However, it’s best to err on the side of caution when you’re just setting up something new.
So, keeping this in mind, the experts at our iOS application development services decided to compile a list of the most profitable applications business users can invest in. So, let’s get into it!
5 Profitable App Categories to Consider
SensorTower shared data for the top categories in applications that garnered the most profits. The following chart shows the breakdown of iOS app types that hit a million per year globally.
Source: SensorTower
Let’s discuss each of these categories separately:
1. Gaming
The gaming industry is booming, and with IoT in the mix, there are more opportunities than ever to make the most of this area. In addition, game applications are where almost all kinds of monetization methods work the best. According to a survey forecast, the App Store game revenue will grow 64% by 2025.
When it comes to gaming, you need to develop highly addictive applications so you can hook users for a long time. The more time they spend on your app, the more your chances of increasing revenue.
If you want some insight into what games have served well recently in terms of profits, the following are some examples to review. Maybe you can get inspiration from these:
- Roblox: This app hosts multiple games from various developers. Users can explore hundreds of virtual spaces and choose any genre they like. They can also create their own experiences.
- PUBG Mobile: An exciting, highly engaging survival game, this app is consistently increasing profits since its launch. In 2021, it raked in $2 billion in revenue, making it the highest-grossing game of the year.
- Genshin Impact: This addictive game has a beautiful world to explore, which keeps expanding with new spaces, characters, and items. The fanbase is pretty strong, and people love the visuals, the fights, and the chance to discover more in this fantasy universe.
2. Social Networking
Humans are social animals. And no matter how disconnected we may get from the real world (as many boomers claim), we still crave connection. The difference is that in this age, the connection is mostly virtual, which brings social apps to the center of the spotlight. This means no matter how advanced applications get, there will always be room for this category.
Now, you may be worried about there not being any space left because of the giants in this space like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok. Well, all is not lost yet. If you’ve got a creative brain, you can come up with new ideas to utilize photos, videos, social sharing, and everything in between.
Here are a few ideas for you:
- Avatar generator apps: Amidst the boom of meme culture, avatar apps have garnered major attention. You can look into this category and see what new features you can offer to your audiences.
- Photo editing apps: While the iPhone camera is enough for many, some people may still want to use a tool to create collages or manipulate some areas of the picture before they post it. There’s a wide range of apps in this category, and you can find a place for yourself, too!
- Publishing apps: This category targets businesses, influencers, and all other people who wish to post or schedule their content for multiple social apps at once. There’s ample room to grow in this area, as well.
3. Media and Entertainment
Entertainment applications are extremely attractive to Gen Z, who spend the most time on their smartphones. As of 2022, Netflix and YouTube are ruling the charts, followed by other streaming services. And like the category above, you may get intimidated by this one, too.
Fear not, dear friends; our iOS app developers are here to the rescue. Following are some great ideas for entertainment app development:
- Karaoke app: Karaoke is always fun with family and friends, and an app makes things more accessible.
- Dance app: You can develop an application with various dance tutorials or dance along. Spice it up with regular challenges users can share with the platform and even on social media.
- Sports streaming app: Sports enthusiasts would love to get a single platform where they can stream all their games on the go.
4. Health and Fitness
The pandemic saw a boom in health and fitness apps. The category is still going strong. Some of the most-used applications you can invest in include:
- Meditation apps: These can offer anything from complete meditation coaching or a mix of many features like courses, videos, challenges, and gamification elements.
- Fitness coaching apps: These usually include videos and pictures along with detailed instructions. You can pair that with online training with a professional instructor for an in-app fee.
- Calorie tracker apps: This can work just like a productivity app. Users can plug in their daily calorie intake, and the platform can relay statistics and insights.
You can bank on these areas or try something new instead. For example, there’s a new trend of using white, brown, and pink noise for various tasks. You can use that as a part of a meditation application.
5. Productivity
With the world going remote and now more geared towards hybrid work, business and productivity applications are all the rage. Moreover, people are also more likely to purchase in this category. So, you can definitely use the paid app monetization model if you have a unique app idea that delivers value. And what’s better than taking advantage of such a lucrative area?
To help you out, here are a few brilliant examples of applications in this category:
- Forest: This app works wonders for people who are easily distracted by their phones. It uses a virtual tree as an incentive. Users can “plant” a seed by setting up a timed task. Their plant grows well into a tree if they complete the project without exiting the app. Otherwise, it dies.
- Be Focused—Focus Timer: This application is for people who work well with the Pomodoro technique of taking 5-minute breaks after 25 minutes of work. The app includes a timer and usage analytics.
- Google Calendar: This is one of the best all-in-one organization apps of all time. You can manage tasks from your personal, professional, and academic lives, schedule meetings, and view them all in a single space.
So, these were the five categories you can gain the most money from. Other worthwhile mentions include the following:
- Dating apps
- Education apps
- On-demand delivery apps
- Travel apps
- Shopping and retail
We hope this guide helps you get started with your iOS app development project. But if you get stuck, you can always get professional assistance. Hire our iOS application development services today if you want the best results. AppSocio’s experts will be happy to translate your ideas into a profitable reality. They will also discuss plans with you and provide you with honest advice if you need it.