The application market keeps growing due to the way in which different sectors of the industry have implemented mobile applications to provide better service to their customers, generating brand awareness and creating another business channel.
That’s why there are developers that are working on building a profitable app. If that’s your goal you should get to know the top paid applications in Google Play that are related to utility or gaming. No matter what your app is, soon you will inevitably come across an important issue: Pricing your Android App.
There are several business models for applications, and depending on your target group and your app category you’ll be able to analyze what is your best option to generate profits.
Some Android users can definitely pay for a great app, however they would probably prefer it to be free. Besides, an upfront charge may drive users away because they could be unaware of the unique features of your product. That makes Freemium or In-app purchase the most used business model for Android developers.
Evaluate  your competition
Before you start your creative process it is really important that you do your research: You want to make sure that nothing too similar to your idea exists already in the market. There must be something valuable that sets your app apart from the others.
A good way to set a price for a Paid app is to compare the price range of similar applications, and perhaps increase or decrease your own depending on the key features your app has to offer. Also be aware of similar free apps if you really want to compete on the Android market. Read more about Paid apps vs. Free apps.
Most paid apps in the android market usually cost US$ 0.99. This is the expected price range nowadays for an app. As we said before, utility or game apps that go for this model ranges from $2.99 to $4.99. If you want to set higher prices, then you should get some external feedback of how much your target users are willing to pay for your app.
Freemium and In-app purchase models for Android
Last year, the global amount of sales coming from In-app purchase model was close to $36 billion, compared to the $28 billion generated from Paid apps. That makes In-app purchase the number one source for app revenue. Also, App Annie stated that apps that follow a Freemium model contributed almost half of Google Play downloads.
Freemium apps get revenues mostly from advertising. However some apps offer a free lite version that can direct users to pay for the complete version. This is a great option for users who want to test an app before they buy it.
If you choose the In-app purchase model something to keep in mind is to put a price considering its acceptance and popularity, in which UX and a great design become critical aspects. Some games, for example, charge you for getting special elements in order to continue playing.
You can try different price ranges and see what works for your application. In case of  negative answers, you can always launch special offers so that users finally decide to make a purchase.
Conclusion
All business models have their own benefits and disadvantages. A paid app allows you to get a direct payment and create a sort of user commitment with your app, but you can run into lower download rates. Free apps can benefit from good reviews, higher ratings and more downloads, if your final product is good.
However, that does not get compromised users, allowing them to easily substitute your app if it is not remarkable. Make sure to consider all these factors when pricing your Android app.
If you want to know more about your best options to get revenues from your Android Apps, make sure to get enrolled in the course Monetize Android Apps with Business Models. This course will be instructed by the Google Marketing Expert Luis Betancourt, covering the best practices of advertising, monetizing and publishing your Android app.
