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How to Find Winning App Ideas That Actually Make Money

App Ideas to Make Money – The Proven Method

Everyone wants to win when they make an app.

We all dream of launching that one brilliant app that goes viral, tops the charts, and prints money while we sleep. But the reality is, most of us don’t know where to begin.

How do you even know if your app idea is a good one?
What separates a money-making app from a dud?

If you’re serious about building a successful app (without wasting months on an idea that doesn’t stick), keep reading.

🎥 Wanna watch the full content? Check it out here

The Problem: “Is My App Idea Any Good?”

We’ve been there. You get this flash of inspiration for an app, and the idea feels exciting – but deep down, you’re unsure if it will actually work.

The good news? You don’t need to guess.

This strategy helps you spot proven ideas, evaluate the competition, and understand the market demand – all using free tools.

Step 1: Look Where the Money’s Already Flowing

Tool: SensorTower

The first step is super straightforward: see what’s already making money.

Sign up for a free account at Data.ai. Head over to the Top Charts, and don’t just browse the overall top apps. Instead, filter by Top Grossing and pick a specific category – like Health & Fitness, Utilities, Games, or Productivity.

For example, when we explored the Health & Fitness category, we noticed that four different intermittent fasting apps were in the Top 100.

Simple concept. Big demand.

Apps like Zero, Simple, BodyFast, and Fastick all offer essentially the same thing – a fasting timer – but they’re thriving.

Sensor Tower dashboard showing Calm app review trends, downloads, revenue, and category ranking history on Google Play.

Step 2: See Revenue Potential

Once you spot a promising app, click on the app to see its downloads and revenue for the last month.

Let’s say we check BodyFast – it’s generating over $400,000 a month. That’s $4.8 million a year from a relatively straightforward utility app.

Another one we looked up was Zero – this app is making $100K–$200K a day. They built their audience first, delayed monetization, and then cashed in. That’s another valid path.

You don’t need to hit those numbers out of the gate. Just look for apps making at least $20K a month – that’s a good signal that the market is strong, even if you only get 5% of that pie.

Step 3: Study the Reviews

Tool: App Store (Free!)

Now that you’ve found a hot niche and confirmed people are spending money on it, your final step is to understand what users really want.

Open the App Store and dive into the reviews of top-performing apps in your niche.

Look for:

Critical Reviews: What’s broken? What do users hate? This is your blueprint for improvement.

Positive Reviews: What do people love? These are must-have features you need to retain.

Here’s the pro move: Use their language in your app store screenshots and onboarding copy.

For example:

“So easy to use, works perfectly every time.”
 → Use in your screenshot: “Easy to use. Works seamlessly.”

“Finally, a fasting tracker that doesn’t glitch.”
 → Use in your messaging: “No bugs. Just results.”

This not only improves conversions but also builds trust with future users.

Real-World Proof This Works

Now here’s the part we love – Steve doesn’t just preach. He proves.

Client 1

App launched in 2019
 📈 20,000 downloads / 💵 $200,000 revenue in one month
 That’s $2.4 million a year. Not bad for something built years after the “early mover advantage” era.

Client 2

Games / Word category
 📈 50,000 downloads / 💵 $30,000 revenue last month
 Still performing in 2025 – even with many similar apps out there.

Client 3

Utilities / Productivity category
 📈 6,000 downloads / 💵 $10,000 revenue monthly
 Simple but useful app, launched in late 2018, still printing cash.

Sensor Tower screenshot showing anonymized client app with 20,000 downloads and $200,000 in revenue in a single month, validating Steve P. Young’s app idea strategy

Recap: The 3-Step Strategy for Finding Winning App Ideas

  1. Go to Sensor Tower
    Check Top Grossing apps in your category
    Spot trends and repeated patterns (multiple fasting apps = demand)
  2. Validate with Sensor Tower
    Confirm if competitors are making at least $20K/month
    Gauge monetization potential and longevity
  3. Study Reviews
    Learn what to fix
    Learn what to keep
    Borrow language for your store listing

Why This Still Works

You might wonder: “Isn’t this outdated?”

The truth is, it’s not about chasing hype or building the next ChatGPT clone. It’s about solving a real problem, in a space with real demand, using a process that minimizes your risk.

That’s what this method helps you do. Whether you’re new to app development or stuck validating your idea, it gives you a crystal-clear process to follow.

Also Read

  1. These 5 Free Tools Will Change How You Do ASO Forever
  2. The Easiest Go-To-Market Strategy for App Founders and Startups
  3. The Ultimate Guide to App Store Optimization (ASO)

Final Thoughts

Finding a winning app idea doesn’t have to be a guessing game.

If you:

  • Use data
  • Look at what works
  • Understand users deeply

… you’ll find yourself not just building apps – but building a business.

So before you start coding, do your research.
Use this 3-step strategy.
Then take your winning idea and run with it.

And if you need expert help with ASO or scaling your app business, check out our pricing page.