AI Mobile Apps

Across the 17 of our 18 sourced cases that report a monthly figure, amounts range from $10,000 to $1,400,000 a month, with a median of $20,000. These are what each source reports, not typical results.

From a $2,000 marketing test to about $1,105 a month in running costs, in the cases that disclose a cost. 2 of 18 cases disclose a startup cost.

From a few days after launch to about two months, in the cases that say. This comes from what our cases report.

Cursor (8 cases), Claude (6 cases), ChatGPT (3 cases), OpenAI API (1 case). Only tools named in the sources are counted.

1 of 18 cases are independently documented, meaning a news outlet says it reviewed records. 17 are self-reported. Every case links its source.

App store fees and review rules. Growth in many cases depends on TikTok or paid ads. Easy to copy, so competitors appear quickly.

4 of 18 cases state a time to first revenue. For example: ToneAdapt (Kyan): "Under five months from his first app to $25K a month, by his account"; STOPPR (David Attias): "About one month; he says the first month of revenue was 5,000"; Ken (solo mobile game developer): "A few days after launch; he says his first sale was about $10". The rest do not say, so treat any single timeline as one example, not a norm.

18 of 18 cases list limitations or risks drawn from their sources. Examples: Cal AI (Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack): Ad spending of about $770,000 a month makes margins sensitive to ad costs; Vaultaire (Rasty Turek): Lifetime purchases create spikes, not predictable recurring revenue; MyFutureSelf (Giancarlo Sarti): Self-reported figure with no records reviewed. Each case page lists them in full.

Yes. The IRS says that whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you must report all income from selling goods or services on your tax return. Payment apps and online marketplaces must send a 1099-K when payments for goods or services total over $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, but they may send one for lower amounts. Source: IRS, "Understanding your Form 1099-K" (irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.

According to the IRS, you must pay self-employment tax and file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. The rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare), and you may need to pay estimated taxes quarterly. Source: IRS, "Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)" (irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.