Most mobile apps are on the low end of the price spectrum — they’re free or 99 cents or maybe $1.99. But a few mobile development firms charge the highest price possible through the App Store — $999.99.
What kinds of apps will people pay $1,000 for? The Wall Street Journal took a look at three of the approximately thirty $1,000 apps in the App Store and found that they serve highly specialized markets.
For example, there’s the Reyburn CyberTuner for piano tuners. “It’s a small market, which is why it’s expensive—but the folks who need it, need it bad,” explained founder Dean Reyburn. “We definitely don’t sell in the millions, so we couldn’t do it for $50 or $100.”
Another example is iVIP Black. Also known as “the millionaire’s app,” it offers exclusive access to luxury services, but to use it, you’ll have to prove that your net worth is over $1 million.
Finally, there’s BarMax, a bar exam prep tool. It competes not against 99-cent apps but against $4,000 prep courses, which make the high price tag seem much more reasonable.
