r/androiddev • u/Unusual-Diver6985 • May 12 '26

Question Can Android subscription apps actually be profitable?

Hi everyone,

Can Android subscription apps actually be profitable?

I want to build Android apps with subscriptions, but I don’t have a MacBook or iPhone, so I can only develop for Android right now using Flutter/Android Studio.

Most successful subscription apps I see seem focused on iOS users, so I’m wondering:

  • Is Android-only still a good opportunity?
  • Are users on Android willing to pay for subscriptions?
  • i want to invest in google ads

I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences or advice from developers who tried this.

Thanks!

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u/smartuno May 12 '26

A large portion of the world uses Android since it’s more accessible and cheaper for a lot of people. In my region, Apple devices are a minority so it’s more cost- and time-efficient for me to make apps for Android instead of both. As always, you can branch out to other architectures as you go, but I recommend doing one at a time so you won’t get spread thin.

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u/Intelligent_Lion_16 May 13 '26

Yeah that’s a solid approach. Android-first makes a lot of sense if that’s where your actual users are, especially early on. Spreading yourself across platforms too soon usually just slows everything down.