1
Distribution and billing for iOS apps; Apple keeps 30% (15% for small businesses and year-two subscriptions).
#10 web rank · Apple keeps 30%, or 15% under the Small Business Program and on subscriptions after year one · accepts Health & Supplements
8.4/10
The App Store distributes iOS apps and handles in-app purchases and subscriptions, paying developers monthly after taking 30% (15% for those under $1 million a year and on subscription renewals after the first year). Users on iOS spend more than on any other platform; the terms and the review process are Apple's. Read more →
Pros
- Highest-spending mobile users and global billing in one integration
- Search and featuring bring users
Cons
- 30% cut, review process and policy risk
- $99/year developer account
Pricing: Paid from $8/mo · Payout: Monthly, ~33 days after month end · app store ios in-app purchases
2
Distribution and billing for Android apps; Google keeps 15% on the first $1M and on subscriptions, 30% above.
#1 web rank · Google keeps 15% on the first $1M a year and on subscriptions, 30% above · accepts Health & Supplements
8.2/10
Google Play distributes Android apps and handles billing, keeping 15% on the first $1 million a year and on all subscriptions, 30% above that. Developer registration is a one-time $25. Install volume is unmatched; revenue per user is lower than iOS. Read more →
Pros
- Largest install base worldwide and a one-time $25 developer fee
- Faster review than Apple
Cons
- Lower ARPU than iOS
- Policy enforcement is automated
Pricing: Free · Payout: Monthly, ~15th · google play android in-app purchases
3
Free distribution for WordPress plugins and themes, the funnel behind most freemium WordPress businesses.
#49 web rank · ▼ 1 this week · Free (GPL required)
7.8/10
The WordPress.org directories host free plugins and themes reaching tens of millions of sites. Monetization happens through a Pro version sold on your own site (Freemius, EDD or WooCommerce), but the free listing is the acquisition channel. GPL licensing is required. Read more →
Pros
- Millions of installs for good free plugins
- The freemium upsell to Pro is a proven model
Cons
- Must be GPL and free; monetization happens off-site
- Review and guidelines
Pricing: Free · Payout: n/a · wordpress plugins freemium
4
PC game distribution; Valve keeps 30% (25% above $10M, 20% above $50M) with a $100 fee per game.
#27k web rank · ▲ 41 this week · Valve keeps 30% (25% after $10M, 20% after $50M revenue)
7.7/10
Steam distributes PC games to over 100 million users, taking 30% of revenue (reduced at very high revenue) with a $100 fee per title recoupable after $1,000 in sales. Wishlists, festivals and seasonal sales are the discovery levers. Read more →
Pros
- The PC gaming audience, wishlists and sales events
- DLC, in-game items and Workshop revenue
Cons
- Crowded; discoverability is hard
- $100 per title
Pricing: Paid from $100/mo · Payout: Monthly, ~30 days after month end · steam pc games distribution
5
Merchant of record and licensing for WordPress plugins and themes, with in-dashboard checkout; 7% + 50c.
#51k web rank · ▼ 74 this week · 7% + 50c per transaction (merchant of record)
7.6/10
Freemius sells and licenses WordPress plugins and themes as merchant of record, with checkout inside the WordPress dashboard, trials, subscriptions and analytics, for 7% plus 50 cents per transaction. It is the standard commercial layer for freemium plugins. Read more →
Pros
- Handles tax, licensing, trials and upgrades inside the WordPress admin
- Marketplace exposure to plugin buyers
Cons
- Fee on every sale
- WordPress-specific
Pricing: Free · Payout: Monthly · wordpress plugin licensing merchant of record
6
Launch platform for new products; free, and a good launch day brings traffic, sign-ups and press.
#4.5k web rank · ▼ 11 this week · Free
7.5/10
Product Hunt is where new software, apps and digital products launch to an audience of early adopters. Listing is free; a top-five day can bring thousands of visitors, sign-ups and coverage. It is a launch event, not a sales channel. Read more →
Pros
- Free exposure to early adopters and investors
- A #1 badge and backlinks last
Cons
- Traffic spike lasts days
- Competitive; needs preparation and a community
Pricing: Free · Payout: n/a · launch early adopters free
7
Lifetime-deal marketplace that can sell thousands of licences of a new tool in weeks; AppSumo keeps most of the price.
#39k web rank · ▲ 1.0k this week · Self-listed: AppSumo keeps 5% on your own traffic, 70% on marketplace sales
7.3/10
AppSumo runs lifetime-deal campaigns for software, courses and templates: you list a deeply discounted lifetime licence, AppSumo promotes it to its buyer base and keeps 70% of marketplace sales (5% on sales from your own links). It delivers cash and users quickly at the cost of a large cohort of lifetime customers to support. Read more →
Pros
- Fast cash and thousands of users for a new SaaS or course
- Feedback and reviews at scale
Cons
- Lifetime deals at 70% marketplace cut create support-heavy, low-value customers
- Can undercut regular pricing
Pricing: Free · Payout: NET-45 after the campaign · lifetime deals saas launch marketplace