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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryMobile & App MarketingFreemium

Mobile & App Marketing

Freemium

A model where an app is free to download and use, with revenue from premium features, purchases, or subscriptions.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Freemium is a model in which an app is free to download and use, with revenue coming from premium features, in-app purchases, or subscriptions. The free tier lowers the barrier to trying the product and builds a large user base. Monetization then depends on converting a portion of those users into payers.