Buy a Mobile App

Startup Index lists iOS and Android apps for sale from indie developers, with revenue verified through RevenueCat or the app-store connect via TrustMRR. You compare ROI and payback across listings and contact sellers directly to close a deal.

Established indie mobile apps with $1k–$10k monthly revenue usually sell for 1.5–3x annual revenue. Utility and subscription apps command higher multiples than one-time-purchase apps because recurring revenue is more predictable.

Sellers connect RevenueCat (or their App Store / Play Store payout account) through TrustMRR. Revenue on each listing is pulled from the source, not typed in.

Verify last-90-day revenue and refunds, review App Store and Play Store ratings and any policy warnings, check server and API costs, and confirm the seller can transfer the developer account without triggering a full app-store review.

Yes. Apple supports app transfers between developer accounts as long as the app has no in-app purchases with pending revenue, no beta versions, and is not using Passbook or CloudKit. Google Play supports similar transfers.

Platform risk is the main difference. App Store or Play Store policy changes can affect discoverability or force major rewrites. Diversified traffic sources and subscription revenue reduce that risk.

Apple supports app transfers through App Store Connect (the seller initiates, you accept into your Apple Developer account). Google Play uses a similar transfer flow through the Play Console. Apps with active in-app-purchase subscriptions, pending contracts, or shared bundle IDs must be cleaned up before Apple approves the transfer.

Ask the seller for a live App Store Connect and Google Play Console screen-share showing the last 12 months of proceeds, plus a RevenueCat export if the app uses subscriptions. Compare those numbers against the TrustMRR-verified figure on the listing — they should reconcile within a small margin.

Most mobile apps on Startup Index sell for 1.5–3x annual revenue. Utility apps with organic downloads sit at the low end; subscription apps with strong retention and ASO reach 2.5–3x. Filter the Buy Apps page by asking price to see current live deals in your budget.

Only if the unit economics work at your cost of capital. Ask for the last 6 months of blended CAC and payback period — if the seller was profitable at their ad spend, you can probably run the same playbook. If growth relied on unsustainable ad arbitrage, walk away.

Not to sign the purchase agreement, but Apple and Google both prefer developer accounts registered to a legal entity for anything commercial. Most buyers set up an LLC (US) or Ltd (UK) before the transfer so tax, App Store payouts, and liability all live in one clean structure.

Yes. App Store rankings, reviews, ratings, and keyword positions travel with the app itself, not the developer account. That's why buying an established app with good ASO is often faster than building one — you inherit years of ranking signals on day one.