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What is ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)?

Definition, examples, and more

Definition

A performance metric that represents the average revenue generated per user over a defined period. ARPU is calculated by dividing total revenue by the number of active users during that time frame (e.g., monthly). It can be segmented by platform, geography, or acquisition source to assess the value of different user cohorts. While related to LTV, ARPU is time-bound, whereas LTV spans the full customer lifecycle.

How to Calculate

ARPU = Total Revenue / Number of Active Users. For example: $150,000 monthly revenue / 50,000 MAU = $3.00 ARPU. You can also calculate ARPPU (Average Revenue Per Paying User) by dividing revenue only by paying users.

Example

A language learning app earns $150,000 in monthly revenue from 50,000 active users. Their monthly ARPU is $3.00. When segmented by platform, iOS ARPU is $4.20 while Android ARPU is $1.80 — telling the team to invest more in iOS acquisition.

Why ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) Matters

ARPU tells you how effectively you are monetizing your user base and helps you compare acquisition channels apples-to-apples. A productivity app discovered that users acquired from Apple Search Ads had 2.5x higher ARPU than those from Facebook — leading them to shift 40% of their ad budget and increase overall revenue by 18%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good ARPU for a subscription app?

It varies wildly by category. Consumer subscription apps typically see monthly ARPU between $0.50 and $5.00. Health and fitness apps average around $1.50-$3.00, while productivity tools can hit $4.00-$8.00. The key is tracking your ARPU trend over time, not comparing to other categories.

What is the difference between ARPU and LTV?

ARPU measures revenue per user over a fixed time period (like a month), while LTV estimates the total revenue a user will generate over their entire relationship with your app. Think of ARPU as a snapshot and LTV as the full movie.

How can I increase my app’s ARPU?

Focus on three levers: increase your conversion rate from free to paid, raise your average selling price through better price anchoring and annual plan promotion, and reduce churn so paying users stay longer. Upselling power users to premium tiers is another high-impact move.

Category
Subscription App Terminology
Related Area
Mobile App Growth & Monetization

More terms starting with “A

A/B testing

A method of product experimentation in which users are randomly split into two or more cohorts (e.g., Group A and Group B), with each group exposed to a different variation of a feature such as copy, design, or pricing. A primary success metric is established before the test begins, and the outcome is typically measured using frequentist statistics and confidence intervals to determine if one version outperforms the other — or if results are inconclusive.

Activation

A key stage in the customer lifecycle that occurs after acquisition. Activation is defined by a user completing a high-value action for the first time — such as starting a trial, making a purchase, or engaging with a core feature. The exact definition depends on the app’s monetization model and business goals.

Active subscriber

A user who currently has an active, paid subscription. This excludes users in a grace period, trial, or lapsed state, and is typically the core population used when calculating MRR or churn rate.

App store optimization (ASO)

The process of improving an app’s visibility in app store search results and browse sections (e.g., on Apple’s App Store or Google Play). ASO involves optimizing elements like the app name, description, keywords, icon, screenshots, and video preview to drive organic installs and improve conversion rates from page views to downloads.

Apple Search Ads (ASA)

Apple’s paid user acquisition channel that displays targeted ads at the top of App Store search results. ASA allows marketers to bid on keywords, define demographic and behavioral targeting, and optimize campaigns based on user value post-install, such as subscription conversion or trial start.

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