The Apple Controversy: Apps Gone Free & Indie App Santa Removal Explained

Want higher conversions from your web-to-app campaigns?In this episode, we break down the exact structure of high-converting web paywalls that are crushing it with high conversion rates.Join Steve P. Young and Igor Lyubimov, CEO of web2wave, as they dissect the anatomy of winning paywalls—what works on web vs. mobile, how to build psychological trust, and why personalized, long-form paywalls outperform app-native ones.You’ll learn:✅ Why web paywalls convert up to 3x more than mobile ones✅ The 14-block structure of a perfect web-to-app paywall✅ How to personalize offers based on quiz responses✅ Why timers, huge discounts, and upsells dramatically boost LTV✅ Real-world examples from top apps like BetterMeIf you're running Meta ads, looking to improve ROAS, or just want to scale without relying solely on the app stores, this deep dive is a must-watch.All you need to build your web2app funnel:https://www.web2wave.com/ Contact with Igor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorlyu/ Work with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSYou ever work with a tool where the support feels like...a ghost town? Yeah, not AppsFlyer.Their support team is massive — like 5x bigger than the industry average. They’re global, 24/7, and actually helpful!If you’re scaling your app and don’t want to be left hanging, check out AppsFlyer dot com or book a demo by clicking this https://tinyurl.com/AppsFlyerAM*********************************************Have an idea for a mobile app, but don't know how to code?Dreams Into Apps is a mobile app accelerator for non-technical entrepreneurs who want to launch their app—without hiring developers.You’ll work step-by-step with expert app builders to turn your idea into a real revenue generating product using AI and No-Code. No coding experience required.And here’s the best part—100% of apps launched through the program generate revenue within 7 days.Stop dreaming about your idea. Build it yourself!Check out:ambitiouslabs.io.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

15 Jul 30min

This week’s episode is something special, a live coaching session with Max Gorman, the 20-year-old indie dev behind CarSnap - an AI-powered app that helps users identify and compare cars in seconds.Max built the entire app himself while studying Computer Science at the University of Michigan and working full-time as a software engineer. He’s grown the app with zero paid ads, leveraging influencer marketing, ASO, and scrappy growth tactics, but now he’s ready to take it to the next level.Max is one of Steve’s youngest (and longest-time) followers and in this livestream, Steve coaches Max live - breaking down what’s working, what to improve, and how to grow CarSnap into a top-ranked AI app for car lovers. If you’re an indie dev building in public or working on your own apps, this is the real-time roadmap you’ve been looking for.You will discover:✅ Steve’s live teardown of CarSnap’s ASO strategy✅ Quick wins for improving onboarding & retention✅ Growth hacks for niche apps without paid ads✅ How to stand out when your audience isn’t on the App StoreLearn More:Connect with Max:https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-gormanWork with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSYou ever work with a tool where the support feels like...a ghost town? Yeah, not AppsFlyer.Their support team is massive — like 5x bigger than the industry average. They’re global, 24/7, and actually helpful!If you’re scaling your app and don’t want to be left hanging, check out AppsFlyer dot com or book a demo by clicking this https://tinyurl.com/AppsFlyerAM*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

12 Jul 1h 7min

This week’s episode is something special, a live coaching session with Max Gorman, the 20-year-old indie dev behind CarSnap - an AI-powered app that helps users identify and compare cars in seconds.Max built the entire app himself while studying Computer Science at the University of Michigan and working full-time as a software engineer. He’s grown the app with zero paid ads, leveraging influencer marketing, ASO, and scrappy growth tactics, but now he’s ready to take it to the next level.Max is one of Steve’s youngest (and longest-time) followers and in this livestream, Steve coaches Max live - breaking down what’s working, what to improve, and how to grow CarSnap into a top-ranked AI app for car lovers. If you’re an indie dev building in public or working on your own apps, this is the real-time roadmap you’ve been looking for.You will discover:✅ Steve’s live teardown of CarSnap’s ASO strategy✅ Quick wins for improving onboarding & retention✅ Growth hacks for niche apps without paid ads✅ How to stand out when your audience isn’t on the App StoreLearn More:Connect with Max:https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-gormanWork with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSYou ever work with a tool where the support feels like...a ghost town? Yeah, not AppsFlyer.Their support team is massive — like 5x bigger than the industry average. They’re global, 24/7, and actually helpful!If you’re scaling your app and don’t want to be left hanging, check out AppsFlyer dot com or book a demo by clicking this https://tinyurl.com/AppsFlyerAM*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

12 Jul 1h 9min

In this episode, Alex shares the hard-earned lessons from spending over $1.5 million on Instagram and Meta ads. If you're running paid ads and struggling to make them work—or wondering whether Meta ads are even worth it anymore—this video is for you.🚀 You'll Learn:• Why most Meta ads fail at first• The role of capital and what to expect early on• Why you must understand hooks, CTAs, and creative angles• How to handle account restrictions and support nightmares• The surprising power of a hard paywall strategyThis is a masterclass on performance marketing, creative testing, and building profitable mobile apps through paid acquisition.👀 Don’t miss Alex’s story of spending $14K/day and generating 1,000+ trials in a single day.Watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/iYCPvl0jipE?feature=shareWork with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSYou ever work with a tool where the support feels like...a ghost town? Yeah, not AppsFlyer.Their support team is massive — like 5x bigger than the industry average. They’re global, 24/7, and actually helpful!If you’re scaling your app and don’t want to be left hanging, check out AppsFlyer dot com or book a demo by clicking this https://tinyurl.com/AppsFlyerAM*********************************************Have an idea for a mobile app, but don't know how to code?Dreams Into Apps is a mobile app accelerator for non-technical entrepreneurs who want to launch their app—without hiring developers.You’ll work step-by-step with expert app builders to turn your idea into a real revenue generating product using AI and No-Code. No coding experience required.And here’s the best part—100% of apps launched through the program generate revenue within 7 days.Stop dreaming about your idea. Build it yourself!Check out:ambitiouslabs.io.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

8 Jul 8min

Discover the 7 counterintuitive app growth strategies that are helping indie developers and top apps scale in 2025 — straight from Steve P. Young’s live session at MAU Vegas 2025.In this session, you’ll learn:🚀 Unexpected growth tactics that drive real installs💸 How to scale without burning ad budgets📲 The power of paywall experiments & pricing hacks🤖 The role of AI in modern creative testing🔁 What’s working right now across top-performing appsThese aren’t your typical growth tips — they’re battle-tested strategies with real results.Work with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSHave an idea for a mobile app, but don't know how to code?Dreams Into Apps is a mobile app accelerator for non-technical entrepreneurs who want to launch their app—without hiring developers.You’ll work step-by-step with expert app builders to turn your idea into a real revenue generating product using AI and No-Code. No coding experience required.And here’s the best part—100% of apps launched through the program generate revenue within 7 days.Stop dreaming about your idea. Build it yourself!Check out:ambitiouslabs.io.*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

1 Jul 19min

This week, we’re sharing crazy, trending, and situational app marketing strategies that every modern app marketer should know to grow users and revenue. One standout strategy is paywall animation — and got plenty more to share with you.We are joined by Tigran Mkrtchyan, Head of Digital Marketing at CoinStat, one of the top crypto portfolio apps with millions of users. Tigran is known for launching trend-setting campaigns that blend behavioral psychology, animated paywalls, and a concept he calls "situational marketing."Today, he’s unpacking the exact growth tactics he shared at MAU Vegas and APS Berlin—including how to 10x your revenue by simply rethinking your paywall and positioning.Tigran will also share his exact reimagined paywall framework, how he blends behavioral psychology with paywall animation, and his signature "situational marketing" playbook that helped 10x user revenue. Whether you're optimizing your first paywall or scaling an app across multiple funnels, channels, and platforms, this is the growth strategy episode you don’t want to miss.Learn more:https://www.businessofapps.com/insights/paywall-optimization-reimagined/https://youtu.be/e1GlHAlod4Q?si=rPPQ-dptsfRi7LZHYou’ll Learn:✅ How to rethink paywall optimization with emotion, animation & psychology✅ Real paywall examples that boosted revenue and went viral✅ What “situational marketing” actually means—and how to apply it✅ Marketing fundamentals most app marketers are missing todayConnect with Tigran:https://tigranmk.substack.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrtchyantigran/https://t.me/mk_tigranWork with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSYou ever work with a tool where the support feels like...a ghost town? Yeah, not AppsFlyer.Their support team is massive — like 5x bigger than the industry average. They’re global, 24/7, and actually helpful!If you’re scaling your app and don’t want to be left hanging, check out AppsFlyer dot com or book a demo by clicking this https://tinyurl.com/AppsFlyerAM*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

28 Jun 1h 7min

This week, we’re sharing crazy, trending, and situational app marketing strategies that every modern app marketer should know to grow users and revenue. One standout strategy is paywall animation — and got plenty more to share with you.We are joined by Tigran Mkrtchyan, Head of Digital Marketing at CoinStat, one of the top crypto portfolio apps with millions of users. Tigran is known for launching trend-setting campaigns that blend behavioral psychology, animated paywalls, and a concept he calls "situational marketing."Today, he’s unpacking the exact growth tactics he shared at MAU Vegas and APS Berlin—including how to 10x your revenue by simply rethinking your paywall and positioning.Tigran will also share his exact reimagined paywall framework, how he blends behavioral psychology with paywall animation, and his signature "situational marketing" playbook that helped 10x user revenue. Whether you're optimizing your first paywall or scaling an app across multiple funnels, channels, and platforms, this is the growth strategy episode you don’t want to miss.Learn more:https://www.businessofapps.com/insights/paywall-optimization-reimagined/https://youtu.be/e1GlHAlod4Q?si=rPPQ-dptsfRi7LZHYou’ll Learn:✅ How to rethink paywall optimization with emotion, animation & psychology✅ Real paywall examples that boosted revenue and went viral✅ What “situational marketing” actually means—and how to apply it✅ Marketing fundamentals most app marketers are missing todayConnect with Tigran:https://tigranmk.substack.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrtchyantigran/https://t.me/mk_tigranWork with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSYou ever work with a tool where the support feels like...a ghost town? Yeah, not AppsFlyer.Their support team is massive — like 5x bigger than the industry average. They’re global, 24/7, and actually helpful!If you’re scaling your app and don’t want to be left hanging, check out AppsFlyer dot com or book a demo by clicking this https://tinyurl.com/AppsFlyerAM*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

28 Jun 1h 5min

In this episode, Ben from Adapty.io interviews Steve Young to share practical strategies for growing mobile apps without relying on massive marketing budgets.Learn how indie developers and small teams can boost downloads and revenue using smart tactics like review prompts, lifetime offers, optimized paywalls, and ASO-driven strategies.They also discuss how to maintain momentum after launch, the value of niche vs. broad targeting, and why keyword research is key for App Store Optimization.You'll discover:✅ Steve’s go-to growth hack for taking apps from 0 to thousands of downloads✅ How to combine rating prompts, ASO, and lifetime offers for a high-impact launch✅ The power of keyword-first app development and niche targeting✅ What really works in paywall A/B testing (weekly vs. yearly, free trials, layout)✅ The top app categories where short-term subscriptions drive the most revenueWhether you're launching your first app or scaling to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Learn more:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adaptyio/X (Twitter): https://x.com/AdaptyTeam Work with us: https://www.appmasters.comIndie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSHave an idea for a mobile app, but don't know how to code?Dreams Into Apps is a mobile app accelerator for non-technical entrepreneurs who want to launch their app—without hiring developers.You’ll work step-by-step with expert app builders to turn your idea into a real revenue generating product using AI and No-Code. No coding experience required.And here’s the best part—100% of apps launched through the program generate revenue within 7 days.Stop dreaming about your idea. Build it yourself!Check out:ambitiouslabs.io.*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

24 Jun 25min