• Gohar Aslam
• App Development
• 15 November, 2023

Finding your perfect match takes work! With over 8000 dating sites and apps worldwide, there are countless options. But while users search for partners to spice up their love life, the marketing teams of these apps vie to gain the traction of more and more users. The dating app industry revenue is projected to reach US$3.01bn in 2023, and the number of users is expected to amount to 440.9m by 2027.  Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are some of the most popular dating apps witnessing massive profitability. Undoubtedly, the development of dating apps can be a lucrative investment. This article will explore how dating apps make money using various monetization strategies. 

Monetization Strategies for How Dating Apps Make Money

To discover how dating apps make money, analyzing numerous monetization strategies required to generate money is essential. The following are the key monetization strategies.

How many types of ads can be displayed in a dating app?

To know how dating apps make money, it is also crucial to know the types of ads that can be displayed in dating apps.

1. Display Ads

Display ads are static or animated ads displayed within the app, such as banner ads or interstitial ads.

2. Video Ads

These are short videos that play before or during the app’s usage, similar to commercials on television.

3. Native Ads

These are designed to blend with the app’s content, such as sponsored posts or in-feed ads.

4. Interstitial Ads

Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that appear in an app or website, typically between content pages. They can be used to promote a product or service or to display a message or call to action. Interstitial ads are often used in mobile apps and can be triggered to indicate when a user navigates between different sections of the app. They can also be used on websites, which may appear as a pop-up or full-screen overlay.

5. Playable Ads

Playable ads are interactive advertisements that allow users to engage with a product or service before committing to a download or purchase. These ads often take the form of a mini-game or interactive demo that simulates the experience of using the actual product or service. They are typically used to promote mobile games or apps but can also promote other products or services. Playable ads are designed to provide users with a more engaging and interactive experience, which can increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions.

However, It is essential to remember the user experience while showing ads, as excessive or irrelevant ads can lead to a negative user experience and cause users to uninstall the app.

6. Subscription model

A subscription model for dating app monetization would involve users paying a recurring fee (e.g., monthly or annually) to access certain app features or services. These features may include messaging other users, seeing who has viewed their profile, or accessing a more exclusive pool of potential matches. Some apps may also offer a tiered subscription model, where users can pay for different access levels depending on their needs. Subscription-based dating apps can be a successful monetization strategy, as users are willing to pay for these services’ convenience and added value.

7. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s marketing efforts. It can be used as a monetization strategy in a dating app by partnering with other businesses such as online dating sites, single events organizers, and relationship counselors. Similarly, businesses can earn a commission for each user who signs up for their services through a unique referral link from the dating app. This approach can help the dating app generate revenue without directly charging its users to access its features.

8. Freemium

A dating app that uses a freemium monetization model allows users to access the app’s basic features for free but charges a fee for access to additional features or services. It can include seeing who has liked your profile, access to advanced search filters, or messaging other users without restrictions. Freemium models can be effective in generating revenue for dating apps. They allow users to try the app before committing to a paid subscription while providing an incentive to upgrade to a paid account.

9. Sponsored content

Sponsored content can include displaying ads from third-party companies or allowing companies to support certain features or sections of the app. It can be a cost-effective way to monetize the app without requiring users to pay directly. However, ensuring that the sponsored content is clearly labeled and does not interfere with the user experience is vital.

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