Mobile app monetization isn’t what it used to be, and in 2025, the gap between average and top-performing apps is wider than ever. The tactics that worked even a year or two ago might be hurting your user retention, driving down revenue, or even risk delisting from app stores.
Start.io’s 2025 Best Practices Guide to Mobile App Monetization offers a concise, actionable roadmap to help app developers navigate today’s shifting monetization landscape. Whether you’re building mobile games, utility tools, or lifestyle apps, this guide delivers six practical strategies that leading apps are already using to drive revenue without compromising user experience.
Inside the guide, you’ll discover:
- Hybrid monetization is the new norm. With the most successful apps combining ads, in-app purchases, affiliate revenue, and even branded content in one seamless UX. (Hint: Fortnite’s $5B-per-year strategy isn’t out of reach.)
- Why user retention must shape your entire monetization strategy. With mobile churn as high as 98% in the first month, you only have one shot to monetize without alienating new users.
- The quiet killer of ad revenue? Lack of app-ads.txt. Shockingly, 3 out of 4 apps still don’t have this basic file, despite the fact that it can boost CPMs and protect against fraud.
- The risk of app abandonment. More than 15% of Google Play apps haven’t been updated in 2+ years, and many get quietly removed by the stores. The guide outlines how to keep your apps compliant and monetization-ready.
And that’s just the start.
If you’re serious about maximizing your app’s revenue in 2025, this is the one resource you don’t want to skip. Whether you’re a solo developer or leading a full-scale mobile publishing team, these tips are designed to be easy to implement and immediately impactful.
Download the full guide now and future-proof your mobile monetization strategy.
