How much do Reference apps make?
The #25 Reference app on the App Store makes about $330K a month in App Store spend, and the #100 app about $44K, by AppTrendKit's estimates.
Estimated App Store spend over the last 30 days, worldwide, before Apple's cut. Updated October 25, 2026.
Revenue by rank in Reference
What the app at each position earns and downloads in a month, ranking Reference apps by estimated revenue and by estimated downloads separately.
| Position in Reference | Revenue a month | Downloads a month |
|---|---|---|
| #25 | $330K | 95K |
| #50 | $110K | 53K |
| #100 | $44K | 32K |
| #200 | $11K | 30K |
203
Reference apps make $10K or more a month
58
Reference apps make $100K or more a month
9
Reference apps make $1M or more a month
The top-earning Reference apps
Ranked by estimated App Store spend over the last 30 days. Figures for the 300 biggest apps on the App Store are free; the rest open with Pro.
What this means if you are building a Reference app
Revenue falls steeply down the ranks: the #25 Reference app makes about 8 times as much as the #100 app. Reaching the top 100 earners takes about $44K a month in App Store spend; a top 25 place takes about $330K.
203 of the 12,271 Reference apps we track make an estimated $10K a month or more. Most apps in the category earn far less, so size an idea against apps close to where you can realistically start, not against the leaders.
Look up the apps you would compete with on Explore, check today's top free Reference apps, or try the app revenue estimator.
Climbing in Reference this week
The biggest climbers on the US Reference Top Free chart, Oct 12–18, 2026, from our weekly App Store report.
- BibleWatch - Watch the Bible
Up 77 places to #16
- Family Tree Maker & Heritage
Up 31 places to #55
- InstantTranslator:AI Translate
Up 24 places to #40
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Every Monday: the fastest-rising iPhone apps, including the biggest movers in Reference, by email. Free, no account needed.
Questions
How much do Reference apps make?
The #25 Reference app on the App Store makes about $330K a month in App Store spend, and the #100 app about $44K, by AppTrendKit's estimates.
How many Reference apps make more than $10K a month?
203 Reference apps on the App Store make an estimated $10K or more a month in App Store spend, 58 make $100K or more and 9 make $1M or more. We track 12,271 Reference apps; most of them earn far less than the apps on the grossing charts.
How much does it take to be a top 100 Reference app?
About $44K a month in App Store spend: that is what the #100 Reference app by revenue makes, by our estimates. The #25 app makes about $330K.
Where do these numbers come from?
They are AppTrendKit estimates of what users spend in the App Store over the last 30 days, before Apple's cut, worldwide. We model them from App Store chart positions in markets around the world, ratings and pricing. Ads and sales outside the App Store are not included.
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