Android Apps vs. Games: Which Earns More?.

There are major differences when it comes to generating revenue from Android apps versus games. In general, most of the big revenue comes from mobile games, while revenue from standard apps is more limited. The main reason for this is that large companies developed popular apps years ago and captured much of the market (for example, YouTube, To-Do apps, fitness apps, productivity apps, etc.). Mobile games can be an important source of revenue for projects driven by creativity. For example, the game OSMOS earned around 1 million dollars in its first year. After all taxes and Google's 30% cut are deducted, this revenue still represents a significant achievement. Games like this can earn serious revenue both through in-app purchases (such as virtual currency or content) and ads.

Earning Revenue Through Games

Revenue earned from games mostly comes from ad revenue and in-app purchases. Revenue from ads is usually higher than revenue from sales, especially if you have not developed large games (such as those in the style of Gameloft). App ad revenue with a solid app can range from 2,000 to 6,000 dollars per month. If you have developed multiple games and they are popular, your ad revenue can exceed 10,000 dollars per month. For example, a developer I know is earning more than 3,000 dollars per month from a game he developed on his own called Robo Miner. Such successes are shaped not by the number of downloads but by how often the app is used and the level of user engagement.

The Importance of Ads and In-App Purchases

In addition to ad revenue, in-app purchases are an important source of income for games. In-app level unlockers and virtual currency (coin) purchases generally generate large revenue. What matters is not how many times the game has been downloaded, but how often users use the game and the level of engagement within the game. For this reason, developing features that get players to spend more time in the game can be a critical strategy for earning revenue.

Conclusion

If you are a creative and independent developer, you have the potential to earn significant revenue by making games. In-app purchases and ads can bring substantial earnings. However, the popularity of the game, frequency of use, and content quality are decisive factors in successful revenue generation. Another point developers should pay attention to in order to earn more is to keep the game continuously updated and improve it based on user feedback.