Hello, Im curious to know whats steps people, or companies take to turn profit off of free apps? Words for friends is an example. I know it is made by Zynga, a highly profitable company, but the app itself is free and everyone seems to use it. How are they generating revenue off it?

place ads in your app, Zynga most likely has people offering great money to put ads on their app. When your app becomes huge, people will most likely contact you about wanting to put ads in your app. But until then you can use iADs, admob, revmob, leadbolt, and many others

Hi @Class1c, Welcome to buzztouch! The basic answer is advertising. Notice how each time you submit a Word in Words with Friends that you get a screen advertising a different app? They get money for each of those screens presented, and for each time it's clicked on. Some free apps also have premium content that can be paid for within the app itself. So, the app is free, but the good content...well, that costs. The more I read, the more I understand that I won't make any money selling Android apps, and maybe some money selling iOS apps. For any app that's free, integrating ads (iAds, AdMob, etc) is paramount to making any revenue. Or, you could just do it for fun! Or, you could make money by building apps for others! Mark

Thats very good advice from both of you. GoNorthWest - I'm torn between making my app $.99 to purchase or making it free and with adds. When you say you wont make any money selling Android apps do you mean a free app or an app that costs money to purchase? Is it that hard to sell an app in the Android marketplace?

It depends what type of app it is. Alot of people have free apps, and an upgradable app that costs 99 cents for more content. So if people like your app odds are theyll spend the 99 cents on the pro version

@Class1c Stats and popular opinion show Android users tend not to like parting with their buck as much as iPhone users.

Totally agree with @MacApple. There are even Android users in this forum who have said they won't pay anything for an app. I think on Android, unless the app is super, super, super good and useful (like it comes from a company with an actual development team), or it contains niche material (like for professionals)...it'll be tough to get an Android user to buy it. And I think the same behaviour is starting to occur for Apple as well. Mark

I regularly use a free Android app that's ad supported, it has something like 500k downloads. The £1.49 ad free pro version has <50. Massive paid for iOS games have ported to Android and had to go ad supported. Mark's right as usual. Tight professional niches can command a fee, you can find apps for in the field engineers that are £15+, but they obviously have a severely limited market. Mass market apps need to be extremely good and original to even stand a chance. Here's a busy BT thread about ads that might help: http://www.buzztouch.com/forum/thread.php?tid=3E28C256B7E055F01604EC4

Thanks for all the help guys!

I am just setting up a business to see if I can make money making apps. I doubt I can make anything much on the App Store, although I don't want to give up completely on that. My plan is to try to make apps for clients. On my existing apps, I may try to look for sponsors for the apps. I think there is money to be made, but not directly from the App Store. Businesses will need to have an app just like they need to have a website. (I hope so, anyway! I will let you all know how it goes!)

Susan, Please let me know when you will be ready to take on clients. Cheryl

Clients are 'where it is at' as some say, don't discount the app store though.

One thing about App Store revenue, is that it just keeps coming. There is an up front cost to make the app, but little ongoing cost once it is there, unless you want to invest in marketing.

Yep, I'm already making apps for clients- I've established myself on Freelancer and am getting pretty regular work from Aussie clients who want the convenience of a local developer. I note that it isn't my day job- but I'm getting some pretty decent pocket money for a few hours each evening. I use a variety of tools, BuzzTouch, RedFoundry, custom coding and pre-made templates. I've more or less given up selling my own apps on the AppStore, but do make the occasional one just to boost my portfolio. Good luck with your endeavours Susan. // J

How do you find RedFoundry javooooo? I looked at it a while ago, and you know how little things can put you off something? A company that focuses on mobile development, yet on a 15" screen, you have to horizontal scroll the website! In 2012! Turned me off them straight away before even digging in.

Definitely agree. It is hardly as polished as BuzzTouch. It is slightly more customisable now that they've introduced a new "Fusion" feature, but I still opt for BT if the client wants a CMS. Otherwise, if the app is REALLY simple, RedFoundry sometimes makes a nicer UI with less work. I also personally have a grudge with the support team/community of RedFoundry- nothing like BuzzTouch at all. In fact, when I first started, I posted a few questions and was pretty much shunned for asking the questions- don't go near the community anymore. So, I use it SOMETIMES, but only when they want something that BT doesn't offer. // J

Yeah, makes sense to use what's readily available. I think we're spoilt after visiting BT, no other support compares!

@javooooo Thanks for the heads up about RedFoundry! I didn't know there were other options. I am so attached to buzztouch and its community, it is hard to imagine using anything else.

how to I put nag screen and push notifications in my app?