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AppSumo
SaaS B2B & B2C

AppSumo is a platform that offers entrepreneurs discounted lifetime deals on business software and digital tools.

appsumo.com · Founded 2010 · 37 public sources · Updated 2 days ago

Researched profile. Starter Story's AI research system compiled this page from 37 public sources — the founder didn't write it. Automated research can misread or misattribute a source, so treat figures as best-effort. How this works →

How AppSumo Makes Money

Daily deals site offering discounted lifetime software for entrepreneurs

How did AppSumo monetize?

Summary of the sourced claims below

AppSumo monetizes primarily by taking commissions from sales on its digital marketplace, typically around 50%. It also offers lifetime deals where customers pay once for lifetime access to software without monthly fees. Additionally, AppSumo generates revenue through a yearly subscription plan called AppSumo Plus, which provides discounts and exclusive deals to members.

Revenue sources

5 sources · grouped by how AppSumo makes money

  • Marketplace commissions

    · 7 mentions · 7 sources
    “The Revenue Share Model: It’s negotiable, but AppSumo takes 65-80% of revenue from my research (even though recently I saw this comment from Noah on LinkedIn saying the average is 50%).”
    high
    Show 6 more quotes
    “AppSumo takes a percentage of sales from every deal, typically 50%.”
    high
    “AppSumo takes a percentage of sales from every deal, typically 50%.”
    high
    “our core customer, we have two, because it's a marketplace. It's a software creator anywhere in the world that's creating software for solopreneurs. And it's a solopreneur that buys that software.”
    medium
    “When a SaaS developer lists on AppSumo, they get visibility, early adopters, and initial funding — all while AppSumo takes a commission on the sales.”
    high
    “This also included a very heavy commission rate for AppSumo.”
    high
    “Today, AppSumo is all about making entrepreneurship accessible to everyone. Noah's one-man show has exploded into the leading digital marketplace trusted by 1.25M+ entrepreneurs.”
    medium

  • One-time / lifetime deals

    · 6 mentions · 6 sources
    “my first sale was 12 bucks via PayPal. And the whole backend CRM development was me using Gmail to send the person the redemption code. ... And that $12 sale led into, literally yesterday I was looking at our sales numbers. We have a daily pulse. And I think the sales number yesterday ... 284,964.”
    high
    Show 5 more quotes
    “AppSumo, a platform for digital marketplace deals focusing on software aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses.”
    medium
    “The Lifetime Deal (LTD) Approach: Customers pay once for lifetime access on AppSumo and have a 60-day money-back guarantee.”
    high
    “AppSumo is a popular marketplace that offers lifetime deals on software, tools, and services for entrepreneurs and creators. It’s known for helping startups grow and giving users access to premium tools at a one-time discounted price.”
    high
    “With our lifetime deals, you can access incredible software with no monthly fees. Just pay once and you’re good to go.”
    high
    “Ready to meet another groundbreaking founder? Lynn Lin, the founder of WeShop AI— is joining Chris Cownden to share how to make the most of WeShop’s lifetime deal.”
    high

  • Recurring subscriptions

    · 1 mention
    “then consider getting the AppSumo Plus yearly subscription of 99$. As an AppSumo Plus member, you’ll enjoy: 10% off on every purchase ... AppSumo Plus will save you a lot more than buying deals individually.”
    high

  • Add-ons & upsells

    · 1 mention
    “What is AppSumo Plus? It’s a $99/year plan that gives 10% off all purchases, exclusive deals, and a $25 coupon every 90 days.”
    high

  • Affiliate / referral commissions

    · 1 mention
    “these Facebook groups would come out of the AppSumo audience. ...and be affiliates of us. So we would actually pay them to promote the deals.”
    high

How 2,721 businesses make money

Of businesses with mapped revenue sources, the share using each — AppSumo’s highlighted.
  • Recurring subscriptions
    65% ◀
  • One-time / lifetime deals
    30% ◀
  • Services & consulting
    25%
  • Physical products
    21%
  • Affiliate / referral commissions
    14% ◀
  • Course / training sales
    11%
  • Usage-based fees
    10%
  • Add-ons & upsells
    10% ◀
  • Advertising revenue
    9%
  • Sponsorships & partnerships
    9%
  • Marketplace commissions
    4% ◀
  • Licensing
    2%
  • Donations & tips
    2%
  • Setup / onboarding fees
    2%
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