i promote my app on facebook, 179 app installs at $0.09 CPI but 0 subscriptions. What am I doing wrong?

I'm running Meta ads for my app, its an AI scanner utility app, the app core is good, screenshots good, ASO is good, i know that by looking at store listing cnv rate

Here are the ad results so far:

* Spend: $16.77
* App installs: 179
* CPI: $0.09
* Clicks: 412
* CPC: $0.04
* CTR: 1.65%
* Reach: 23,013

The app has a subscription model (weekly 4.99$, yearly 29$), but I've had **zero trial starts and zero purchases** from these installs, recently i added reward ad so use can choose to watch ad and scan or upgrade to premium but no luck, even with spend of 5$ got installs etc but no sales and only 0.1$ in admob from reward ad.

I'm trying to understand where the problem is.

Some questions:

  1. Is 179 installs simply too little data to expect a conversion?
  2. Would you optimize for installs initially, or try to optimize for trials/purchases?
  3. What conversion rate would you expect from \~180 installs for a niche hobby app?
  4. At what point would you conclude the issue is the audience, paywall, pricing, or product itself?

Target countries:

* all countries except : Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, India, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

I'd appreciate any feedback from people who've scaled subscription-based utility apps.

reddit.com
u/You-Are-Beautifful — 9 days ago

i promote my app on facebook, 179 app installs at $0.09 CPI but 0 subscriptions. What am I doing wrong?

I'm running Meta ads for my app, its an AI scanner utility app, the app core is good, screenshots good, ASO is good, i know that by looking at store listing cnv rate

Here are the ad results so far:

  • Spend: $16.77
  • App installs: 179
  • CPI: $0.09
  • Clicks: 412
  • CPC: $0.04
  • CTR: 1.65%
  • Reach: 23,013

The app has a subscription model (weekly 4.99$, yearly 29$), but I've had zero trial starts and zero purchases from these installs, recently i added reward ad so use can choose to watch ad and scan or upgrade to premium but no luck, even with spend of 5$ got installs etc but no sales and only 0.1$ in admob from reward ad.

I'm trying to understand where the problem is.

Some questions:

  1. Is 179 installs simply too little data to expect a conversion?
  2. Would you optimize for installs initially, or try to optimize for trials/purchases?
  3. What conversion rate would you expect from ~180 installs for a niche hobby app?
  4. At what point would you conclude the issue is the audience, paywall, pricing, or product itself?

Target countries:

  • all countries except : Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, India, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

I'd appreciate any feedback from people who've scaled subscription-based utility apps.

reddit.com
u/You-Are-Beautifful — 9 days ago
▲ 1 r/PPC

i promote my app on facebook, i got 179 app installs at $0.09 CPI but 0 subscriptions. What am I doing wrong?

I'm running Meta ads for my app, its an AI scanner utility app, the app core is good, screenshots good, ASO is good, i know that by looking at store listing cnv rate

Here are the ad results so far:

  • Spend: $16.77
  • App installs: 179
  • CPI: $0.09
  • Clicks: 412
  • CPC: $0.04
  • CTR: 1.65%
  • Reach: 23,013

The app has a subscription model (weekly 4.99$, yearly 29$), but I've had zero trial starts and zero purchases from these installs, recently i added reward ad so use can choose to watch ad and scan or upgrade to premium but no luck, even with spend of 5$ got installs etc but no sales and only 0.1$ in admob from reward ad.

I'm trying to understand where the problem is.

Some questions:

  1. Is 179 installs simply too little data to expect a conversion?
  2. Would you optimize for installs initially, or try to optimize for trials/purchases?
  3. What conversion rate would you expect from ~180 installs for a niche hobby app?
  4. At what point would you conclude the issue is the audience, paywall, pricing, or product itself?

Target countries:

  • all countries except : Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, India, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

I'd appreciate any feedback from people who've scaled subscription-based utility apps.

reddit.com
u/You-Are-Beautifful — 9 days ago
▲ 4 r/RankMyApps+1 crossposts

i promote my app on facebook, 179 app installs at $0.09 CPI but 0 subscriptions. What am I doing wrong?

I'm running Meta ads for my app, its an AI scanner utility app, the app core is good, screenshots good, ASO is good, i know that by looking at store listing cnv rate

Here are the ad results so far:

  • Spend: $16.77
  • App installs: 179
  • CPI: $0.09
  • Clicks: 412
  • CPC: $0.04
  • CTR: 1.65%
  • Reach: 23,013

The app has a subscription model (weekly 4.99$, yearly 29$), but I've had zero trial starts and zero purchases from these installs, recently i added reward ad so use can choose to watch ad and scan or upgrade to premium but no luck, even with spend of 5$ got installs etc but no sales and only 0.1$ in admob from reward ad.

I'm trying to understand where the problem is.

Some questions:

  1. Is 179 installs simply too little data to expect a conversion?
  2. Would you optimize for installs initially, or try to optimize for trials/purchases?
  3. What conversion rate would you expect from ~180 installs for a niche hobby app?
  4. At what point would you conclude the issue is the audience, paywall, pricing, or product itself?

Target countries:

  • all countries except : Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, India, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

I'd appreciate any feedback from people who've scaled subscription-based utility apps.

reddit.com
u/You-Are-Beautifful — 9 days ago

i promote my app on facebook, 179 app installs at $0.09 CPI but 0 subscriptions. What am I doing wrong?

I'm running Meta ads for my app, its an AI scanner utility app, the app core is good, screenshots good, ASO is good, i know that by looking at store listing cnv rate

Here are the ad results so far:

  • Spend: $16.77
  • App installs: 179
  • CPI: $0.09
  • Clicks: 412
  • CPC: $0.04
  • CTR: 1.65%
  • Reach: 23,013

The app has a subscription model (weekly 4.99$, yearly 29$), but I've had zero trial starts and zero purchases from these installs, recently i added reward ad so use can choose to watch ad and scan or upgrade to premium but no luck, even with spend of 5$ got installs etc but no sales and only 0.1$ in admob from reward ad.

I'm trying to understand where the problem is.

Some questions:

  1. Is 179 installs simply too little data to expect a conversion?
  2. Would you optimize for installs initially, or try to optimize for trials/purchases?
  3. What conversion rate would you expect from ~180 installs for a niche hobby app?
  4. At what point would you conclude the issue is the audience, paywall, pricing, or product itself?

Target countries:

  • all countries except : Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, India, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

I'd appreciate any feedback from people who've scaled subscription-based utility apps.

reddit.com
u/You-Are-Beautifful — 9 days ago

Before you write another line of code: 7 data-backed signs an app will succeed

We’ve all spent months building a polished app only for it to get zero traction post-launch. To save you some time before your next project, I put together a quick post outlining 7 data-backed indicators of app success based on actual store performance metrics (like keyword velocity and early retention numbers). It’s a solid sanity check for anyone currently building a mobile side project.

Read the full post here: 7 Signs an App Will Succeed (Based on Real Data)

u/You-Are-Beautifful — 12 days ago

App Ranking Tracker: How Indie Devs Can Beat the Algorithm

If you’ve ever launched a mobile app only to get zero organic impressions, you're likely targeting high-competition keywords you can't win. I wrote a straightforward, human guide on how indie developers can track their store positions, uncover low-competition long-tail keywords, and build a sustainable optimization routine without an enterprise marketing budget.

Read the full post here: App Ranking Tracker: How Indie Devs Can Beat the Algorithm

u/You-Are-Beautifful — 12 days ago
▲ 5 r/RankMyApps+2 crossposts

Winning apps released recently that are getting massive installs - May 17, 2026 🚀

Winning apps ideas shipped recently that are pulling huge install numbers,

Google Play :

- Smart Switch / age : 40 days / installs : 100K+ / Link

- Water Eject / age : 42 days / installs : 10K+ / Link

- Smart Alarm / age : 34 days / installs : 10K+ / Link

- Transcribe Speech / age : 45 days / installs : 10K+ / Link

- Float Sort / age : 46 days / installs : 10K+ / Link

- Tornado Tracker / age : 48 days / installs : 10K+ / Link

App Store :

- Indigo for Bluesky / age : 6 days / installs : 5.7K+ / Link

- Chat Wrapped / age : 9 days / installs : 3.7K+ / Link

- Her Trees / age : 11 days / installs : 5.9K+ / Link

- Divine Video / age : 18 days / installs : 6.4K+ / Link

- Jam AI / age : 19 days / installs : 21.7K+ / Link

I’ll keep posting trending apps, niches, growth stats, keyword opportunities, and ASO insights regularly for indie devs building mobile apps.

What niche are you currently betting on?

u/You-Are-Beautifful — 26 days ago
▲ 1 r/GooglePlayDeveloper+1 crossposts

some of those apps grow so fast in their first month using ads, i want to know what app growth organically, what pro use to know organic growth?

u/You-Are-Beautifful — 1 month ago