Is making money the only measure of an app’s success?
by•
A successful product is often seen as one that is well-commercialized, with users willing to pay for it. But is that always the case?
Today, I came across many products that are incredibly fun and creative. It made me wonder: are there products that don’t fit the conventional definition of success? Maybe some exist just to bring joy, even if users simply visit, smile, and leave.
Some might argue that if something brings value, people will naturally be willing to pay. But is that always true?
Let’s discuss:
💬 Is profitability the only way to define an app’s success?
💡 Do you create apps to make money, or is there another motivation behind your work?
156 views
Replies
No, you do not create products for money. You create products to genuinely solve problems or fit needs.
That said, developers do need to make money to sustain themselves. The ideal balance is creating something useful while having a viable strategy to monetize it.
@maxirmx Totally agree! Products are created to solve problems—whether it’s efficiency, communication, or even emotions. Only products that do so have real value. It just so happens that money is one way to reflect that value.
minimalist phone: creating folders
Short answer – Yes
Long answer – it depends (but at the end of the day you will end up with the answer above)
People use other metrics like downloads/installs to convince others how the app is demanded.
If your goal as the founder is to bring joy and it is enough for you – it is also good.
BUT...
You need to pay your bills, you need to pay for developers, you need to survive somehow, so the profit matters. :)
@busmark_w_nika Haha, true! Paying isn’t the only way, but it’s definitely the most direct way to reflect value.
minimalist phone: creating folders
😀💸
Fun, enjoyable, and useful apps are certainly a good thing. But developers need to eat too. The only option is if you already have a popular product that brings you a lot of profit on a regular basis, you can create a free fun product that will not only be in demand among users, but also somehow refer to that successful paid product. I think that's a cool idea!
ദ്ദി •⩊• )
Tempo-Pulse
For a commercial app, profitability is certainly a key indicator of its success, as commercialization is one of its goals. However, for a non-profit app, profitability is not necessarily a crucial metric. Non-profit apps often aim to spread value and are likely free. Since they do not pursue commercialization, profitability is not a measure of their success.
💯 agree with Nika.
The only measure of the success' app is making the money. It could be measured by different KPIs but the true story is that the only reliable way to evaluate the success of the app is its ability to convert to money.
You can sell a bad product well with aggressive marketing, and you can sink a good product with poor promotion. But there’s another angle: a product can be genuinely useful, people might rely on it, yet the sales funnel relies on dark patterns. The definition of success or failure can be stretched quite far
Great question! I personally think profitability is important, but it's not the only way to measure success. Sometimes the value isn’t just monetary, but more about the experience or the emotions they generate. In fact, some products may build a community or loyalty over time, which can eventually translate into other forms of revenue (advertising, partnerships, etc.).
That said, if users aren’t willing to pay, it often signals that they don’t see enough value in the product or that it doesn't solve a pressing need. The key is finding the right balance between creating something people love and figuring out how to monetize it in a sustainable way.
Deamoy
Profit isn’t the only heartbeat of success. Think of apps like early TikTok (pure chaos before ads) or Wikipedia—they redefined value beyond revenue. Success can be cultural impact, sparking joy, or just proving a wild idea works.
Milestone Content Studio
Making money is an important measure of an app’s success, but it’s certainly not the only one.
Success can be evaluated from multiple perspectives depending on the purpose and goals of the app. Not all apps are built with monetization as their primary goal. Some are passion projects, artistic creations, or experiments in design and technology. Many apps focus on long-term goals like user loyalty or market share before prioritizing revenue.
Epsilla (YC S23)
I think yes. Making money => make more better products. This is the only way works for continuing provide joy for everyone.