Recent research from app analytics platform App Annie found that there are nearly 3,000 Apps making at least $1 million in revenue per year. That represents significant growth from past years, suggesting that apps are becoming an increasingly viable source of significant revenue for businesses. If you’re looking to make use of this emerging tactic, there are plenty of different ways you can go about it. Small Business Trends recently spoke with Abs Girdhar, CEO of popular app builder Appy Pie to get some expert tips and insights about how businesses can successfully make money with apps. Here are some top tips. How to Make Money With Apps Release Paid Apps The most obvious way that you can make money through an app is to sell it directly to customers. Many apps in Google Play or the App Store are free to download. But others cost anywhere from $0.99 and up to download. This is a tactic that can logistically work for any type of business. But your app does have to offer some kind of tangible value that customers would be willing to pay for. So something like a game or dating service could possibly work, while an app that offers products from your store that customers could also buy online might not be worth the investment. Offer Premium Upgrades You could also make the app free to download in its most basic form, but then offer another option as well. Girdhar explained in an email interview with Small Business Trends, “You can offer certain special features to the app users if they upgrade to a paid premium version of the app.” This is a tactic that could be relevant for streaming services, business tools, or anything where you could separate the functionality into different tiers. Offer In-App Purchases Girdhar says, “This is similar to the premium upgrade model and lets the users buy access to higher levels (on a game), unlock special features or functionality.” As Girdhar mentions, this is something that’s especially popular in gaming apps. However, you could also offer it in entertainment, coupon, or photo…