Mileage tracking is among the leaders of grossing Finance. On October 16, 2026 MileIQ topped the US category chart and makes $303K–1.21M a month by our estimate (not Apple data). People pay because every business mile cuts their tax, and the 2026 IRS rate is 72.5 cents a mile, 76 cents from July 1.
How much mileage trackers make
On October 16, 2026 MileIQ was number 1 in the US top grossing Finance chart, Everlance number 14 and Driversnote number 54. The top 100 held 7 trip logging apps, next to banks and brokers.
| App | Released | US ratings | Top grossing rank | Monthly revenue, our estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MileIQ | Jan 15, 2013 | 114,713 | #1 | $303K–1.21M |
| Everlance | Aug 21, 2015 | 52,827 | #14 | $138K–553K |
| Driversnote | Nov 18, 2014 | 39,131 | #54 | $99K–398K |
| Gridwise (for gig drivers) | Apr 27, 2017 | 28,494 | #31 | $35K–138K |
| Solo (for gig drivers) | Dec 12, 2021 | 13,330 | #28 | $12K–48K |
| Hurdlr (mileage and expenses) | Jul 23, 2015 | 21,084 | #39 | $13K–54K |
| Shoeboxed (receipts and mileage) | Oct 22, 2009 | 1,820 | #65 | too few new ratings to estimate |
| Mileage IQ (launched 2025) | Apr 10, 2025 | 212 | #61 | too few new ratings to estimate |
Appto data as of October 16, 2026. Rating growth September 16 to October 16, 2026. Rating counts and chart positions from the US App Store on October 16, 2026. Revenue is our estimate, not Apple data.
Gridwise and Solo rank above Driversnote, number 31 and number 28, yet make less by our estimate. They serve rideshare and delivery drivers, who rate apps less often than they pay.
Newcomers are still small
Apps from 2013 to 2015 hold the money. Mileage IQ launched on April 10, 2025, has 212 ratings, and was number 61 in grossing Travel on October 16, 2026. Its name is nearly the leader's, which is a weak route.
The book suggests another angle. The app notices the drive on its own, one swipe marks it business or personal, and everything stays on the phone with no account and no server.
What the IRS expects from the log
The 2026 IRS rate started at 72.5 cents per business mile and was raised to 76 cents from July 1, 2026 (IRS mileage rates, Bulletin 2026-29). Ten thousand business miles in the second half of the year come to a $7,600 deduction.
The log has to be kept at the time, not rebuilt later. For each trip the IRS expects the mileage, the date, the destination and the business purpose (Publication 463). An app that records this by itself saves people an evening at the end of the year.
How the phone detects a drive
Two sources do the work. CMMotionActivityManager reports that the person is driving, and CoreLocation records the route. To catch drives without opening the app you need "Always" location permission and background monitoring of significant moves.
Battery is the main enemy. Turn precise GPS on only during a drive and rely on motion events in between. Version 1 should show missed drives openly and let people add them by hand.
What goes into version 1
- Automatic trip start and end. No start button.
- Swipe business or personal. With a purpose field that suggests past purposes.
- Rate per mile. The IRS rate by default, switching by trip date.
- Monthly and yearly report. PDF and CSV for the accountant.
- Manual trip. If detection missed one, add it in ten seconds.
How mileage trackers charge
Every app in the table is free to download (US App Store, October 16, 2026) and sells a subscription. Usually a few trips a month are free, with unlimited trips and reports paid. People accept the subscription here because the deduction pays for it.
Risks
- Tax advice. The app keeps the log and applies the rate. What to deduct is a question for an accountant.
- "Always" location. Many will decline. Explain on a separate screen why it is needed and that routes stay on the phone.
- One country. Each country has its own rate and rules, start with the US.
How we counted
Appto estimates revenue from 30 days of App Store rating growth, before Apple's commission. It is our estimate, not Apple data. 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. The method is explained in our article on estimating app revenue.
Next steps
In the book 50 iPhone App Niches the mileage log for tax deductions is niche 42, with an angle for a newcomer, the version 1 screens and a task for the agent.
You can recheck the niche in Appto on fresh App Store data. Then Appto and the agent build the screens and code and the App Store page, and submit the app to Apple from your account or show you what to press in App Store Connect.
Questions
How much do mileage tracker apps make?
By our estimate as of October 16, 2026, MileIQ makes $303K–1.21M a month, Everlance $138K–553K and Driversnote $99K–398K. It is an estimate from App Store rating growth, not Apple data.
What is the 2026 IRS mileage rate?
72.5 cents per business mile from January to June and 76 cents from July 1, 2026, per IRS Bulletin 2026-29.
What must a mileage log contain?
Under Publication 463, the mileage, date, destination and business purpose of each trip, recorded at the time.
How does the app detect a drive by itself?
CMMotionActivityManager reports that the person is driving and CoreLocation records the route. It needs "Always" location permission.
Do I need a server?
No. Trips, routes and reports can be stored and computed on the phone, with a backup in iCloud.
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