On October 16, 2026 the US Social Networking top 100 grossing holds only 4 apps from 2025–2026, the fewest among the 26 categories we checked. Life360, Facebook, Grindr, Telegram and Discord lead. Among the rest the biggest earner by our estimate is the Taimi dating app at rank 12, $511K–2.0M a month, not Apple data.
Messengers, dating, live streams
The top 20 split into four shelves. Big networks and messengers (Life360, Facebook, Telegram, Discord, Marco Polo, rednote), dating for specific communities (Grindr, Taimi, SCRUFF, BLK), a second phone number (TextNow, Text Me, Text Free) and live streams where viewers send hosts gifts bought with coins (Clapper, BIGO LIVE, TopLive, Gaze). Add Wizz for teens meeting friends and Yubo.
We show no range for twelve apps of the top 20. These are brands and old large services, many came out in 2009–2015 and have hundreds of thousands or millions of ratings, Facebook has 28,763,061. Our method runs low for them. The top 20 median is 338,851 ratings, and the fewest belong to TopLive at rank 17, 18,349.
| Rank | App | How it charges | US ratings | Released | Our monthly estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life360: Family Safety & GPS | subscription | 3,122,008 | 2010 | long-running, method runs low |
| 2 | in-app purchases, no subscription | 28,763,061 | 2019 | major brand, method runs low | |
| 3 | Grindr - Gay Dating & Chat | subscription | 388,816 | 2009 | long-running, method runs low |
| 4 | Telegram Messenger | subscription with a weekly plan | 283,174 | 2013 | long-running, method runs low |
| 5 | Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out | subscription | 3,568,829 | 2015 | long-running, method runs low |
| 6 | Clapper: Video, Live, Chat | in-app purchases, no subscription | 85,112 | 2020 | $290K–1.2M |
| 7 | BIGO LIVE-Live Stream, Go Live | in-app purchases, no subscription | 232,303 | 2016 | major brand, method runs low |
| 8 | TextNow: Call + Text Unlimited | subscription with a weekly plan | 924,482 | 2009 | long-running, method runs low |
| 9 | Wizz App - chat now | subscription with a weekly plan | 303,850 | 2019 | $131–524K |
| 10 | Text Me - Phone Call + Texting | subscription | 674,251 | 2012 | long-running, method runs low |
Apple, US top grossing chart, Oct 16, 2026. Ratings and release years from iTunes Lookup. Monthly range by our estimate for Sep 16, 2026–Oct 16, 2026, not Apple data.
Subscriptions and coins
There are two money models here. 14 of the 20 top grossing apps sell a subscription, 6 of them a week. 6 more sell coins without a subscription, these are live streams, rednote and Facebook with Stars for creators. Clapper sells coin packs from $0.99 to $249.99.
Almost the whole free chart sells. Only 4 of its top 20 sell nothing on the App Store, Google Meet, Meta's Instants and Forum and Reco Social. The rest list at least one purchase.
A week costs $5.99 at the median, a month $13.99 and a year $52.99. A year costs 3.8 months, and only 4 apps show a yearly price at all, dating apps sell weeks and months. A BLK Elite week costs $19.99, a Grindr month goes up to $27.99. The most common amount in the purchase lists is $4.99, 12 apps of the top 20 have it.
Secure messengers hold the paid chart. imo video calls and chat HD leads at $6.99, next to Threema and TeleGuard, and the paid top 20 median is $1.99.
| What is sold | Median | Range | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly subscription | $5.99 | $1.19–$19.99 | 6 |
| Monthly subscription | $13.99 | $3.99–$24.99 | 7 |
| Yearly subscription | $52.99 | $4.99–$99.99 | 4 |
| Paid upfront, top 20 | $1.99 | $0.49–$6.99 | 20 |
In-app purchase lists on the app pages, US App Store, Oct 16, 2026.
What a chart rank is worth
47 apps of the top 100 have an estimate once brands and old large services are left out. 28 have a range starting at $100K a month or more. The top 10 is almost all brands and gets no median. Ranks 11–25 make $308K–1.2M, ranks 26–50 $160–642K.
The lower half of the top 100 makes good money here, ranks 51–100 bring in $106–426K. That is where dating for narrow communities, apps for Instagram followers and voice rooms sit. The 3Fun dating app at rank 23 makes $375K–1.5M.
The most closed top 100
This is the most closed top 100 of the 26 categories we checked. Only 4 apps of it came out in 2025–2026, none in the top 20. 38 apps of the top 100 came out before 2016. 19 of today's 20 leaders were there on September 24, 2026.
The youngest app in the top 100, GTL messaging for loved ones in prison, came out June 30, 2026. Newcomers stay at the edges of the category, like the Track Followers Instagram unfollower tracker from 2025. A dating network or a messenger built from scratch rarely breaks in here, it needs people from day one.
Niches inside the category
A solo developer can't launch a new social network, without people it is empty. The App Store money here goes to services around talking. A second number for listings and work, dating for your community, rituals for couples, a follower counter. The book has no niche in this category, the closest is the couples app from Lifestyle.
Related articles and breakdowns
- How to make a couples app for iPhone
- Subscription or one-time purchase? How leaders in 50 App Store niches charge
- Can a new app still break through on the App Store in 2026? Five examples with numbers
Before you build a social app, Appto checks the niche on fresh App Store data and shows whether a leader there makes money and what its users complain about. Appto draws the screens, writes the code and prepares the App Store page in every language.
Where the numbers come from
The US App Store snapshot was taken on October 16, 2026. Appto estimates revenue from 30 days of rating growth in six countries. In half of the cases the estimate is within 2x of the real figure, in four out of five within 3x, and for large apps it tends to run low. Ads, web sales and Google Play are not included. More on the method and on niches by category.
Questions
How much do dating apps make?
By our estimate on October 16, 2026, Taimi makes $511K–2.0M a month, BLK $308K–1.2M and SCRUFF $118–472K. We show no range for Grindr and Match, our method runs low for old large services. It is our estimate, not Apple data.
How do live streaming apps make money?
Viewers buy coins and send hosts gifts. On October 16, 2026 Clapper, BIGO LIVE, TopLive and Gaze work that way in the top 20, and Clapper sells coin packs from $0.99 to $249.99.
What does a dating app subscription cost?
The category leaders charge a median $5.99 a week and $13.99 a month (US App Store, October 16, 2026). Only 4 apps of the top 20 show a yearly price.
Can a new app get into the social grossing chart?
It is hard. On October 16, 2026 the top 100 holds only 4 apps from 2025–2026, fewer than any of the 26 categories we checked.
Build your own app in Appto
Appto checks the niche on fresh App Store data, designs the screens, writes the code, builds the App Store page and submits to Apple from your account or shows you what to press in App Store Connect. Runs on your own Claude Code or Codex.
Download for Mac50 niches checked for money
The Appto book: the money in each niche, the leaders and their weak spots, a version 1 plan and a ready task for the agent. 5 niches free.
Open the book