How to Calculate Average Revenue Per Mobile App User: A Step-by-Step Guide
By Emil Kristensen CMO
@ Sleeknote

As a business owner, understanding your mobile app users is essential to calculating your revenue and ensuring the success of your app. One crucial metric to track is the average revenue per mobile app user. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to calculate this metric and why it is important for your business.

Why Calculating Average Revenue Per Mobile App User is Important for Your Business

The average revenue per mobile app user is a crucial metric for understanding the financial performance of your app. It tells you how much revenue you generate from each user on average, allowing you to understand how much value your app provides to its users. By knowing this metric, you can identify the best ways to monetize your app, improve user engagement and retention, and generate more revenue.

Understanding the Basics of Average Revenue and User Metrics

The average revenue per mobile app user is calculated by dividing the total revenue generated by your app by the number of active users during a specific period. This metric provides insights into the efficiency of your app’s monetization strategies and helps you identify the best ways to improve your revenue generation.

Another important metric is the number of active users. This metric tells you how many users interact with your app within a given period. By understanding these metrics and how they impact each other, you can make informed decisions to improve your revenue and user engagement.

How to Define Your Mobile App Users for Accurate Calculation

Before calculating the average revenue per mobile app user, you need to define who your users are. You want to ensure that you are accurately counting users who interact with your app in ways that generate revenue, such as in-app purchases or ad clicks.

It is essential to carefully define what actions qualify a user as active. For example, you may consider users who log in more than once a week or users who spend more than ten minutes per session as active. By doing so, you can accurately calculate the average revenue per active user.

Different Methods to Calculate Average Revenue Per Mobile App User

There are several methods to calculate the average revenue per mobile app user, depending on your app’s monetization strategy. These include:

  • Total Revenue/Total Users: This method calculates the average revenue per user by dividing the total revenue generated by your app by the total number of users. While simple, this method does not account for active users and may be less accurate than other methods.
  • Total Revenue/Active Users: This method calculates the average revenue per active user by dividing the total revenue generated by your app by the number of active users. This method is more accurate than the first but may still not account for users who make purchases but are not considered active.
  • Segmented Revenue/Segmented Users: This method calculates the average revenue per user for specific segments, such as users who have made in-app purchases or clicked on ads. This method provides the most targeted information on revenue generation and user behaviors.

Using In-App Purchases and Advertising Revenue to Calculate User Revenue

Two of the most common revenue streams for mobile apps are in-app purchases and advertising revenue. To calculate the average revenue per mobile app user using in-app purchases, you would divide the total revenue generated from in-app purchases by the number of users who made purchases.

To calculate the average revenue per mobile app user using advertising revenue, you would divide the total revenue generated from ads by the total number of users who clicked on ads. By tracking these metrics over time, you can identify trends and make informed decisions to improve your revenue generation and user engagement.

Factors Affecting Average Revenue Per Mobile App User and How to Improve Them

Several factors can affect the average revenue per mobile app user, including:

  • User engagement: The more engaged a user is, the more likely they are to interact with in-app purchases or ads.
  • User retention: The longer a user stays active, the more opportunities they have to generate revenue for your app.
  • App monetization strategy: The type and placement of in-app purchases or ads can impact how much revenue they generate.
  • Competition: Other similar apps may offer more appealing features or better pricing, leading users to spend less on your app.

To improve your average revenue per mobile app user, consider ways to boost user engagement and retention. Offer more appealing in-app purchases or ads, experiment with different monetization strategies, and regularly analyze your metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.

Real-Life Examples of Successful Apps with High Average Revenue Per User

There are many successful mobile apps that generate high average revenue per user. For example, the dating app Tinder generates an estimated $1.2 billion in annual revenue, largely from in-app purchases. Another example is the game Candy Crush, which generates an average of $0.43 per user per day from in-app purchases.

Tips for Increasing Average Revenue Per Mobile App User for Your Business

To increase your app’s average revenue per user, consider the following tips:

  • Offer compelling in-app purchases: Offer in-app purchases that enhance the user experience and provide real value.
  • Experiment with pricing: Adjust prices to find the optimal balance between revenue and user retention.
  • Improve user engagement: Offer new features or new content to keep users engaged and interested in your app.
  • Monetize with ads: Experiment with different ad types and placements to maximize revenue while not overwhelming users.

Conclusion: The Importance of Tracking and Improving Average Revenue Per Mobile App User

Calculating and tracking the average revenue per mobile app user is a crucial step in understanding your app’s financial performance and improving your revenue generation. By defining your users accurately, understanding your app’s monetization strategies, and analyzing your metrics regularly, you can identify opportunities for improvement and ensure the success of your mobile app.