Subscription App Growth Is Getting Brutal (RevenueCat Data Explained)

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*********************************************

In this solo episode, Steve P. Young, Founder of App Masters, breaks down the newest and most effective app monetization strategies working right now and some key insights he presented at AppsFlyer’s MAMA San Francisco 2026.With competition increasing across the App Store and Google Play, monetization is no longer just about adding a paywall; it’s about designing the right pricing strategy, structuring trials intelligently, and optimizing every step of the user journey.Steve will share real examples from top-grossing apps and explain how leading subscription apps are increasing revenue without increasing downloads.This session is perfect for founders, product managers, and growth teams looking to improve conversions and maximize subscriber lifetime value.You’ll Learn:✅ How top apps structure paywalls to increase conversions✅ The smartest way to use trial-to-discount and paid intro offers✅ How to recover lost revenue with winback and triggered discount strategies✅ Pricing psychology tactics that increase ARPU without hurting conversionLearn More:Subscribe to the newsletter and get free access to the App Growth Playbook:https://appmasters.com/appgrowth-playbook/ You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/m-1TYFoA2sU*********************************************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*********************************************

With AI tools making it easier than ever to launch new apps, competition is exploding. The real competitive advantage today isn’t product — it’s distribution.In this video, I break down the single most important factor in app marketing: channel market fit and the 5 distribution channels you should consider to grow your app faster.If you’re struggling to get downloads, this is the uncomfortable truth about app marketing in 2026.You’ll Learn:✅ The #1 mistake founders make in app marketing✅ Why distribution beats product in 2026✅ How to use ASO for organic growth✅ Why Apple Ads is the best starting point✅ The “get the refund” mindset for growth✅ A controversial lifetime free growth hack (that still works)💡 Key Takeaway:App marketing is about finding your distribution channel first.Features are easy.Traffic is hard.Distribution wins.If you're serious about growing your app downloads in 2026, focus on channel market fit before writing another line of code.Want help with your app marketing strategy?👉 Work with us: https://appmasters.com👉 Join our founder community: https://appfounders.coConnect with Ethan Keiser:https://www.instagram.com/itsethankeiser/You can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/4ivLHY6PcD0*********************************************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*********************************************

In this episode, we are again joined by Michael Gants, founder and CEO of Encore, a new SDK helping subscription app developers turn churned users into paying subscribers.Michael is a Stanford grad, a Time Magazine “Leader of Tomorrow”, and a seasoned founder with a passion for building sustainable consumer businesses. Michael breaks down how leading apps use lifecycle experimentation, not just acquisition, but to retain and to winback. We’ll go deep into A/B testing across the user journey, smart winback strategies, and the systems top teams use to improve retention, conversions, and subscriber value without relying on more installs.If you’re building or scaling a subscription app, this session will help you think beyond surface-level experiments and focus on what actually moves revenue.You will discover:✅ What lifecycle experiments every subscription app should be running✅ How to structure A/B tests beyond onboarding and paywalls✅ Proven winback strategies that actually bring subscribers back✅ How smart layers and options increase subscriber conversionLearn More:Explore Encorehttps://encorekit.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/x-JmAZbnD9M⁠⁠*********************************************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*********************************************

Want to increase your organic downloads without spending money on ads? In this video, I break down our proven app store optimization (ASO) framework for 2026. Whether you are an indie developer or managing a big brand, these strategies will help you rank higher on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.We cover the exact steps we use at App Masters to help clients find success, from keyword research to conversion rate optimization.In this ASO tutorial, you will learn:✅ The most important ASO ranking factors in 2026✅ How to find low-competition keywords that still drive revenue✅ The do's and dont's of selecting keywords✅ Some Real Case Studies:- $1,600 in revenue in the first 22 days from organic search- $3,000/month purely from long-tail ASO strategy- 90+ #1 keyword rankings using low-traffic terms🔗 Resources:✅ ASO Mobile (keyword research tool): http://bit.ly/49y6rEP✅ Work with us: https://appmasters.com✅ Join our App Founders community: https://appfounders.coJoin us LIVE on YouTube every Friday at 9am PST!You can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/ytAKZDh5eHU⁠⁠*********************************************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*********************************************

AI has fundamentally changed app development. With vibe coding, agentic workflows, and modern AI development tools, what used to take 6 months to build can now be shipped in weeks. Costs are lower than ever. Speed is no longer the bottleneck.But here’s the problem: faster development hasn’t led to better products or stronger app businesses.In this livestream, we’re joined by Chaim Sajnovsky, Founder of B7 Dev, a development studio that has helped startups go from idea to launch for over a decade.Chaim brings real-world experience helping founders navigate AI-powered app development, outsourced development teams, and early-stage decision-making. Together, we’ll break down why planning, positioning, and distribution now matter more than code, and why so many founders still fail even when building faster than ever.You will discover:✅ How AI reduced app development time and cost by 80%✅ Why “what to build” is now more important than “how to build.”✅ How to define your main hypothesis before writing code✅ Why most of these features don’t drive product-market fit✅ AI tools founders are using right now (including Claude Code)Learn More:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaim-sajnovsky-5003494/http://www.b7dev.com/You can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/live/unb8p-5MkuA*********************************************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*********************************************

Most AI photo apps try to do everything, and end up blending in.In this video, Steve P. Young breaks down how Photo Revive AI scaled to over $500K/month by doing the opposite: niching down first, then expanding later.Instead of launching as “another AI image generator,” this app positioned itself around photo restoration and revival and used smart ASO, onboarding, and paywall strategies to win in a brutally competitive market.You’ll learn:✅ Why niching down beats competing in red-hot AI categories✅ How Photo Revive AI generates ~$500K/month (verified across multiple tools)✅ The exact onboarding and paywall flow driving conversions✅ How credit-based pricing controls AI costs and boosts revenue✅ Why distribution matters more than features or UISteve walks through:• Real revenue estimates from Sensor Tower, AppFigures, and AppMagic• The full user journey from install → upgrade• Paywall tactics most founders overlook• How to start a niche, win early traction, and expand laterIf you’re building:📸 An AI photo or video app📱 A consumer subscription app🚀 Or trying to monetize without massive ad spendThis case study will change how you think about positioning, ASO, and monetization.📄 Get the full app flow & screenshots (free):👉 https://appmasters-co.kit.com/6c95612d01You can also watch this video here: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/VXzHlt_rldQ*********************************************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/*********************************************Still 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*********************************************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*********************************************