AI Apps & $6B Trends: What’s REALLY Working in 2026

In this episode, we’re joined by Summer Liu, CMO of SocialPeta, one of the leading ad intelligence platforms used by top app developers and marketers worldwide.Summer will break down the latest data from 90K+ advertisers and 1.7B+ ad creatives, revealing what’s actually driving installs, revenue, and scale in 2026. She’ll also share the trends from AI apps and short drama apps to the top-performing ad creatives and strategies across different markets.Must watch, if you're building, growing an app, or finding what to build next.You will discover:✅ Why micro-drama apps grew 126% YoY and how to replicate their success✅ The rise of AI apps (Chat, Companions) and winning growth angles✅ How to find winning creatives and spy on competitors using SocialPeta✅ Top-performing ad creatives across regions (and why they work)Learn More:Planning to scale your app or game globally?SocialPeta provides deep insights into global advertising trends, localized creatives, and competitive strategies, helping growth teams expand into new markets with confidence.Start your data-driven expansion at https://www.socialpeta.com/.You can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/live/_ELbpz39hzE*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Got tons of freemium users who won’t upgrade? Encore turns free users into paying customers and reduces churn by adding smart, curated affiliate offers at key user moments. Everyone wins with Encore.Learn more at ⁠https://encorekit.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Looking for a self-improvement app that actually helps you improve your memory, focus, and communication skills?In this video, we break down RiseGuide, a powerful personal development app designed to help you train your brain, build better habits, and become a more confident communicator.You’ll discover:✅ How RiseGuide uses personalized onboarding to tailor your learning experience✅ Why long-form onboarding flows can improve engagement in education apps✅ How the app structures lessons to improve memory retention and focus✅ The role of interactive learning, quizzes, and habit-building systemsSteve also shared insights on:👉🏻 Best practices for self-improvement and learning apps👉🏻 How to structure content for daily habit formation👉🏻 What app founders can learn from RiseGuide’s user experienceThis is a must-watch if you are app founders building education, productivity, or self-improvement apps or growth teams aiming to optimize onboarding and user engagement, as well as those who want to improve their memory, focus, or communication skills. 🔗 Learn More👉 Try the app: https://riseguide.comYou can also watch this video here: ⁠https://youtu.be/3NN4qlM_2aY*********************************************SPONSORSGot tons of freemium users who won’t upgrade? Encore turns free users into paying customers and reduces churn by adding smart, curated affiliate offers at key user moments. Everyone wins with Encore.Learn more at ⁠⁠https://encorekit.com/*********************************************Want to know what ads your competitors are running right now?SocialPeta gives you access to real ad creatives and market insights across apps, games, and emerging content formats, so you can stay ahead without endless trial and error.Check it out at https://www.socialpeta.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

This week, we’re joined by Trent Hommeyer, Founding Growth Product Manager at Helium, a powerful platform helping app founders build, test, and optimize high-converting paywalls faster than ever.In this episode, we’ll build paywalls live using crazy, unconventional ideas, break down the best-performing vs worst-performing paywalls, and reveal proven strategies to test and iterate faster inside your app.If you're serious about improving conversions and revenue, this is a must-watch deep dive into real paywall experiments that actually work.You will discover:✅ How to build high-converting paywalls using AI (live demo)✅ The craziest paywalls that surprisingly work✅ Real-time paywall ideas from the audience (and building them live)✅ Creative monetization experiments most apps aren’t usingLearn More:Get more out of your paywall with:https://tryhelium.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/Mhp8Cw93JR8*********************************************SPONSORSGot tons of freemium users who won’t upgrade? Encore turns free users into paying customers and reduces churn by adding smart, curated affiliate offers at key user moments. Everyone wins with Encore.Learn more at ⁠⁠https://encorekit.com/*********************************************Want to know what ads your competitors are running right now?SocialPeta gives you access to real ad creatives and market insights across apps, games, and emerging content formats, so you can stay ahead without endless trial and error.Check it out at https://www.socialpeta.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Want to convert more free users into paying customers?In this video, Steve P. Young shares little-known app monetization strategies used by top subscription apps to increase conversions, improve paywalls, and grow revenue.If you’re building a mobile app, SaaS product, or subscription app, these monetization tactics can dramatically improve your trial conversions, paid subscribers, and overall revenue.You’ll learn:✅ 3-Screen Paywalls that increase subscription conversions✅ Trial-to-Discount Strategy to convert hesitant users✅ Paid Intro Offers that outperform free trials✅ Reverse Trials that turn free users into paying subscribers✅ Pay-What-You-Want Pricing to increase purchase conversionsIf you're struggling with low trial conversion, weak paywalls, or too many free users, these tactics can help you unlock new revenue from your existing user base.Want access to the full video course? Join 100+ app founders sharing what’s working in app growth, app marketing, and monetization strategies:https://appfounders.coWatch - How a Solo Founder Built a $30K/Month App with 5.2M Installs:https://youtube.com/live/jN6e9sSyaoo?feature=shareYou can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/FWF_AbsR0qc*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Thinking about your next great app? This is the best time to make it! Contact Chaim at b7dev.com and get your idea started! Delivery times are super short; you'll be surprised by the cost to develop! B7dev.com*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Most founders quit after their first failed product. Vadim failed three apps before finally building one that worked.Vadim is the founder of KBMH, a kettlebell workouts app that grew from a simple MVP built for himself into a fast-growing fitness app generating $80K+ per month.After years of failed ideas, bad product decisions, and zero traction, everything changed when Vadim focused on validating ideas faster, testing onboarding and monetization aggressively, and building a personal brand that now reaches 400K+ followers on social media.In this episode, Vadim shares the real story behind the growth of KBMH, from launching fast with landing pages to running nonstop monetization experiments and even how a mistake in his cancellation flow generated a $40K revenue spike.If you're building an app, validating a new idea, or trying to scale revenue, this conversation is packed with real lessons from the trenches.You will discover:✅ The landing page strategy he uses to validate app ideas before building✅ Onboarding and monetization experiments that drove 15% trial-to-paid conversion✅ The accidental $40K revenue spike caused by a cancellation flow mistake✅ Why simple ad creatives outperform polished adsLearn More:Explore the KBMH Apphttps://kbmh.app Follow Vadim on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/vadim.kettlebell/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/eZGIcL-IvWY*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Want to know what ads your competitors are running right now?SocialPeta gives you access to real ad creatives and market insights across apps, games, and emerging content formats, so you can stay ahead without endless trial and error.Check it out at https://www.socialpeta.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

App Store Connect shows a lot of data, but it’s not always easy to understand.In this video, Steve P. Young demos AppSignals, a new app analytics dashboard built specifically for indie app developers and small app teams.AppSignals simplifies your App Store analytics and shows the most important app growth metrics in one clear dashboard.Instead of digging through complicated reports, you can instantly see some important app metrics. If you're building or scaling an app and want a clear view of your installs, conversions, and revenue, this tool is designed to make app analytics much easier.Try it here 👇🏻Use code EARLYBIRD to unlock the Lifetime Growth Plan for just $49 (normally $199), perfect if you want early access and to share feedback:⁠https://appsignals.io?utm_source=podcastYou can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/9IkraI0u4hE*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Thinking about your next great app? This is the best time to make it! Contact Chaim at b7dev.com and get your idea started! Delivery times are super short; you'll be surprised by the cost to develop! B7dev.com*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

In this episode, we break down the 2026 State of Subscription Apps report from RevenueCat, one of the largest analyses of subscription app performance ever conducted.We’re joined by David Barnard, Growth Advocate at RevenueCat, to unpack the key insights from the report.The study analyzes 75,000+ apps and more than $11B in revenue across over a billion transactions, revealing what’s actually working in today’s subscription economy.One of the most surprising findings: apps launched before 2020 still generate nearly 70% of all subscription revenue, even though thousands of new apps are launched every month.If you’re building or growing a subscription app, these benchmarks will help you understand where you stand and which levers can truly move revenue. You will discover:✅ Why the top 25% of apps grew 80%+ while the bottom quartile shrank✅ Why hard paywalls convert 5× better than freemium✅ The surprising truth about AI apps: higher revenue but worse retention✅ The growing importance of web-to-app funnels and web revenue✅ Benchmark metrics like conversion rates, RPI, and retentionLearn More:Connect with David:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbarnard/State of Subscription Apps 2026:https://www.revenuecat.com/state-of-subscription-apps/?utm_source=appmasters&utm_medium=youtubeYou can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/live/8Tk_EHQUeaY*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Got tons of freemium users who won’t upgrade? Encore turns free users into paying customers and reduces churn by adding smart, curated affiliate offers at key user moments. Everyone wins with Encore.Learn more at ⁠https://encorekit.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Most brands are quietly losing revenue because their web-to-app journey is broken.In this video, Steve P. Young (Founder of App Masters) breaks down:✅ Why ecommerce apps convert 3X higher than mobile web✅ How poor deep linking kills installs and revenue✅ Smart banner mistakes even big brands make✅ How Nike and Sephora handle web-to-app differently✅ How to fix your mobile growth funnel todayIf you're a growth marketer, lifecycle marketer, CRM manager, or ecommerce brand, this is one of the simplest levers you can pull to:✅ Increase app installs✅ Improve onboarding conversions✅ Reduce cart abandonment✅ Boost in-app revenue✅ Create seamless deep linking experiencesWe review real examples from Nike and Sephora to show what works, and where even billion-dollar brands leave money on the table.You’ll also learn how smart deep linking solutions (like AppsFlyer’s deep linking platform) can help you combine:✅ Direct app install from smart banners✅ Seamless product-level deep linking✅ Reduced friction from web to app✅ Better attribution and analyticsIf you’re investing in paid traffic, CRM, email, or SMS but ignoring your web-to-app flow, you’re likely losing significant revenue.Fix the funnel. Improve the journey. Increase app revenue.🔗 Learn more about web-to-app challenges on the AppsFlyer blog → https://bit.ly/3Nm5C9wReady to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite - coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → https://bit.ly/46O7WgdYou can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/3PopKGfRj10

In this episode, we are joined by Zakhar Azatian, a bootstrapped technical solo founder based in San Francisco and the creator of BeHard, a gamified accountability app built around lifestyle challenges.He’s a two-time founder with one successful exit and has grown B2C mobile products to over 1 million users, without a big team or massive funding.In this session, Zakhar breaks down how he generates and tests hundreds of ad creatives per month, the gamification mechanics that dramatically increased retention and referrals, and how he treats App Store search like a technical optimization problem, not just marketing.If you're building a consumer app and want practical growth tactics, this episode is packed with real execution frameworks.You will discover:✅ How to generate and test hundreds of ad creatives per month with a tiny team✅ How to treat App Store search like a code optimization problem✅ Paid growth insights from Meta, TikTok & influencer marketing Learn More:Explore Be Hard👉 https://www.behard.co/Connect with Zakhar on LinkedIn👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakhar-azatian/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/TpH3xu-DjqU*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Thinking about your next great app? This is the best time to make it! Contact Chaim at b7dev.com and get your idea started! Delivery times are super short; you'll be surprised by the cost to develop! B7dev.com*********************************************If you’re advertising your growing mobile app, you need a measurement partner you can actually rely on — and that’s where AppsFlyer comes in.It gives you a clear view of your entire funnel — from the first impression all the way to the install, in-app events, and user LTV. You’ll know what’s driving real results, and what’s just noise.What teams love about it? It’s stable, accurate, and built to handle everything the mobile world throws at you — privacy changes, creative optimization, you name it.And when you need help? Their global support team is there 24/7 — not just to fix things, but to help you grow.If you’re ready to level up your mobile marketing and make smarter decisions, check out AppsFlyer.com *********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

How do you successfully sell your app, prepare for a business exit, or structure a SaaS acquisition deal? In this episode, Steve P. Young, Founder of App Masters, on Exit Podcast by Flippa, shares real-world lessons from building, selling, and nearly exiting multiple app businesses, plus what founders must know before attempting a 7-figure exit.You'll learn:✅ How to sell apps on Flippa✅ Common mistakes founders make during exits✅ When it’s the right time to sell your startup✅ Why distribution matters more than productSteve also explains how he scaled App Masters from a side hustle into a 30+ person global team, and why he shifted from selling businesses to acquiring them.If you’re a startup founder, SaaS operator, app developer, or entrepreneur thinking about selling your company, this episode breaks down the exit process step by step.🚀 #1 Platform to Buy & Sell Online Business:https://referral.flippa.com/j7zo8so2ql98🚀 Join the App Founders Community:www.appfounders.coWork with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/Zh1E8ewIddo*********************************************SPONSORSStill designing, resizing, and uploading screenshots manually? AppScreens lets you pick from hundreds of high-converting templates, generate for every device size and language in minutes, and upload automatically to directly to App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Trusted by more than 100K developers and ASO experts worldwide.Try it free: https://appscreens.com/?via=am*********************************************Got tons of freemium users who won’t upgrade? Encore turns free users into paying customers and reduces churn by adding smart, curated affiliate offers at key user moments. Everyone wins with Encore.Learn more at ⁠https://encorekit.com/*********************************************If you’re advertising your growing mobile app, you need a measurement partner you can actually rely on — and that’s where AppsFlyer comes in.It gives you a clear view of your entire funnel — from the first impression all the way to the install, in-app events, and user LTV. You’ll know what’s driving real results, and what’s just noise.What teams love about it? It’s stable, accurate, and built to handle everything the mobile world throws at you — privacy changes, creative optimization, you name it.And when you need help? Their global support team is there 24/7 — not just to fix things, but to help you grow.If you’re ready to level up your mobile marketing and make smarter decisions, check out AppsFlyer.com *********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************