Whether it's a native iOS or Android app with real installs, a web app you built on the side, or a finished project that never launched — there's a market for it. Here's how app sales actually work: what buyers check, how store transfers happen, and how to get paid without either side taking on risk.
Bottom line:Apps sell as codebase + assets, not just as an idea. Buyers pay for working, well-built code, a clean store presence (if applicable), and a straightforward transfer path. List free on Siterifty's app marketplace, and let escrow handle the trust problem so you don't have to hand over source code on a promise.
You don't need App Store rankings or thousands of daily active users. Buyers in this space fall into a few clear categories.
Live apps with real installs and revenue (subscriptions, ads, in-app purchases)
Apps with a modest but engaged user base and no monetization yet
Finished, unpublished apps — complete, working, never launched
Well-built app templates or starter kits other developers can launch faster with
Apps built for a niche (fitness, productivity, local services) with clear demand but a small team unable to grow it further
The common thread: real, working software. A half-finished prototype or an idea with no code is not an app sale — see the game guide or website guide if what you actually have is closer to one of those.
Native, web, or cross-platform — what changes
The platform your app is built on directly affects both how you package it and what buyers will pay.
Platform
What transfers
Key buyer concern
Native iOS
Xcode project, App Store Connect listing, signing certs
Clean store transfer, no rejected-app history
Native Android
Project source, Play Console listing, keystore file
Keystore must transfer — losing it blocks future updates
Web app / PWA
Full codebase, hosting/deploy config, domain
Deployment reproducibility on buyer's infrastructure
Cross-platform (React Native, Flutter)
Shared codebase + both platform configs
Confirm both store listings are included, not just one
Whatever the platform, be explicit in your listing about exactly what's included — buyers who discover mid-negotiation that only the Android side transfers, for example, will either walk or renegotiate hard.
Valuing your app
Revenue-generating apps
Similar logic to website valuation: average monthly profit multiplied by a range that reflects stability, typically 20x–40x for smaller apps, adjusted up for diversified monetization (subscriptions plus ads, for example) and down for heavy dependence on a single ad network or a store feature that could disappear.
Pre-revenue or unpublished apps
Price on build quality, scope, and time-to-replicate. A buyer is effectively paying to skip months of development — estimate what it would cost to build from scratch (developer time at market rate) and price meaningfully below that, since the buyer is also taking on the work of launching and growing it.
For the full multiple-based methodology and how to document revenue for buyer verification, see the Website Valuation Guide — the same framework applies to app profit.
What to package in the sale
Full source code repository, with commit history if possible (signals real, incremental development)
App store listing(s) — screenshots, description, ASO keywords already in place
Signing certificates and keystores (Android sales fail without the original keystore)
Backend/API code and infrastructure access, if the app depends on a server
Design files (Figma/Sketch) if available — saves the buyer redesign work
Analytics access or exported historical data (installs, retention, revenue)
Any third-party service accounts tied to the app (push notifications, analytics, payment processor)
Transferring app store ownership
This is the step most first-time app sellers underestimate — plan for it explicitly.
iOS: Apple supports direct app transfer between App Store Connect accounts — both parties need active developer accounts, and the process can take several business days
Android: Google Play supports ownership transfer between Play Console accounts — plan for review time and confirm the buyer has an active Play Console account before agreeing to a hard deadline
Never send the keystore or signing certs before payment is secured in escrow — losing control of these before payment clears is unrecoverable leverage
Agree on a transfer timeline with the buyer upfront in writing, since store-side processing time is outside either party's direct control
Because store transfers take real time and can't be instantly reversed, this is exactly the kind of deal escrow is built for — payment stays held while the transfer completes, so neither side is exposed while waiting on Apple or Google's processing queue.
Multiple-of-profit if it earns; build-quality-and-scope if it doesn't yet.
3
Field buyer questions
Expect questions about tech stack, why you're selling, and store account status — answer directly and completely.
4
Agree on the full asset list and price
Lock down exactly what transfers: code, stores, keystores, design files, third-party accounts.
5
Buyer pays into escrow
Funds are held securely while the (potentially multi-step, multi-day) transfer happens.
6
Transfer code, then stores
Hand over the repository first, then begin the App Store Connect / Play Console ownership transfer process.
7
Escrow releases once confirmed
Once the buyer verifies working access to everything promised, funds release to you.
What buyers check before paying
Code actually runs and builds cleanly — not just screenshots of it working
Store listing history has no policy strikes or removal history
Revenue/install numbers are verifiable via screen-share or exported reports, not just claimed
Dependencies and third-party services are current and not about to be deprecated
A clear, specific reason for selling
Run through the full checklist from the buyer's side before you list — see the Due Diligence Checklist to pre-empt exactly what a serious buyer will ask.
Mistakes that tank app sales
Losing the Android keystore. Without it, the buyer can never ship an update to existing users — verify you still have it before listing.
Vague scope in the listing. "Full app for sale" without specifying platform, stack, and what's included invites lowball offers and wasted back-and-forth.
Transferring stores before payment clears escrow. Store transfers can't be easily undone — sequence this after funds are secured.
No documentation of setup/deploy steps. A buyer who can't get the app running post-purchase becomes a dispute, not a happy customer.
FAQ
Can I sell an app that has no users yet?
Yes — a finished, working codebase has value on its own, priced on build quality and scope rather than a usage multiple.
How do I transfer an app store listing to a buyer?
Apple and Google both support direct account-to-account app transfers, but they take real processing time — keep the sale in escrow until the transfer completes.
What's the difference between selling an app and selling a SaaS product?
App sales often center on the codebase and store presence; SaaS sales center on recurring revenue and subscriber retention. See the SaaS guide if yours has active paying subscribers.
How much is my app worth?
Revenue-generating apps: typically 20x–40x monthly profit. Pre-revenue apps: priced on build quality, scope, and replacement cost.
Ready to list your app?
Reach buyers looking specifically for apps — native, web, or cross-platform — with every deal protected by escrow.
This guide explains how to sell a mobile or web app online: what kinds of apps sell (live apps with users, pre-revenue but finished apps, app templates), how platform (iOS, Android, web, cross-platform) affects what needs to transfer, how to value an app (profit multiple if revenue-generating, build-quality/scope-based if not), what to package in a sale (source code, store listings, signing certificates/keystores, design files), and how App Store Connect and Google Play account transfers work. It also covers a seven-step sale process using escrow and common mistakes like losing an Android keystore or transferring stores before payment clears.
Siterifty is a marketplace for indie developers to buy and sell apps, websites, games, templates, and source code, with free listings and escrow protection on every deal.
How to Sell Your App Online (2026 Guide) | Siterifty
