One of the major hurdles for many app developers is monetization. Almost anyone can build an app these days, but not everyone can produce the same kind of earning power. One of the more common and straightforward ways to earn mobile money is to charge an upfront download fee for your app. Many high-quality apps make use of this tactic as a way to bring in consistent money. This is also a good way to measure both the popularity of an app and its financial success because each download represents money spent. Valuing the app, however, can be a difficult conundrum that might not be easy to solve.

Putting a Value on Your App:

When you put a value on your app, you have to take into account everything that went into it. If you’re an independent app developer and you used your own knowledge and resources to create the app, then you probably have a good idea about how much the creation process cost you. Some companies actually end up outsourcing most of the work to freelancers who can get the job done but at an increased cost for the company. Make sure you understand the time and money spent on the app.

Of course, effort isn’t always an accurate marker of value. You may have worked incredibly hard building the app, but that doesn’t mean many consumers will appreciate that. The single-download value of most apps ranges from $0.99 to potentially much higher values. If you’ve created a small, simple game, then you can expect people to purchase the app if it doesn’t cost that much. If you’ve created a high-end enterprise management tool, then you might expect to charge a little bit more. The key is recognizing who is going to purchase your app. A casual gamer is likely going to pass up a high-priced game, but a corporate CEO won’t pass up an ideal business management app if it meets certain requirements.

Give Away App – Charge For Premium:

Charging a download fee isn’t the only way to make money from your apps. Depending on what you have to offer, it might make more sense to give the app away for free and charge for content later on. This is especially true for smaller apps from unproven developers that don’t have the track record of something like Angry Birds. If you’re dead set on charging an upfront cost for your app, you’re going to need to employ proper marketing strategies. Even a $0.99 app can be ignored by users if they don’t know what they’re going to get. Thus, it’s always a good idea to seek out app review websites and customer testimonials to get your brand out to the public eye.

It might also behoove you to start the app at a certain price, and then lower the price as a form of promotion. In fact, some developers have even gone as far as to give their app away for free for a day or two. This is a good way to eliminate consumer risk and still ensure that people are using your app.

Martin Blackman is an Android app developer from Australia. He has created more than 20 apps and offers advice on the Android app market.

Description: Mobile trading with the MetaTrader 5 for Android is an exciting possibility to trade in the Forex and Stock markets using smartphones and tablet PC’s powered by Android OS. Wherever you are, you will be able to monitor your account, view trading history and trade in financial markets.

Cost: Free

Developer: MetaQuotes Software Corp.

Download From Google Play

Description: THE BEST FREE WAY TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY
Mint pulls in all your personal finance accounts into one place, so you can manage your money from anywhere. Track your spending, create a budget, and save more.

MANAGE YOUR MONEY ANYWHERE
• See all your personal finance accounts—checking, savings, and credit cards.
• Automatically categorizes transactions.
• Charts and graphs show you at a glance where you’re spending. (tablet only)
• Track your budget.
• Track your cash spending.
• View finances offline. The app stores information from your latest download. (tablet only)
• Get email or text alerts that notify you of upcoming bills, fees, low balances, unusual activity and more.

IT’S EASY TO GET STARTED.
• Get the free app and sign up for free with Mint.
• Securely connect your accounts.
• Mint automatically organizes everything and creates a budget for you.

SAFE AND SECURE.
Your app is passcode protected. If you lose your device, or even temporarily misplace it, simply log-on to your Mint.com account and deactivate device access from your profile page with one easy click.

SYNCS WITH MINT.COM ON WEB, MOBILE AND TABLET
Always have access to your account from your mobile, tablet and the Web. Your information automatically syncs across devices so you have your latest information at your fingertips

Please note that Mint currently connects to US and Canadian financial institutions only.

Widget users, moving the app to a SD card will disable the widget. http://bit.ly/mintwidget

To learn how Intuit protects your privacy, please visit https://www.mint.com/how-it-works/security/policy/

When you download and use Mint, you agree to the Mint Terms of Service https://www.mint.com/how-it-works/security/terms/.

Cost: Free

Developer: Intuit Inc

Download From Google Play

Apps aren’t all about catapulting birds at pigs or adding a 60s effect to your photos. They can also be highly practical and provide you with a lot of advantages that make living your every-day life much easier and help you to stay on top of things like your finances and your to-do lists. Financial apps are particularly useful because they enable you to keep on top of your spending, to quickly check how much money is in the bank, and even transfer cash on the go. This can get you out of a scrape, keep you in the green and save you being fined in all kinds of different circumstances. Here we will look at some of the best such apps out there to help you stay on top of your money situation at all times.

PayPal: The PayPal app is incredibly handy and very useful if you have an account (if you don’t it’s very much worth getting one). This provides you with a quick and easy way to transfer and send money on the go that doesn’t require any PIN codes or access to your bank account meaning it’s a much safer thing to have installed on your phone. They take a cut yes, and it doesn’t tell you what’s in your account, but if you trade on eBay or just as a backup way to send a friend some money you owe them it’s invaluable.

Download PayPal From Google Play

Bank Apps: Many banks have their own apps, and usually these enable you to check your balance with a detailed break down, pay your bills and more. Sadly there are many banks that don’t have these facilities, but those that do include Wells Fargo, USAA, JP Morgan and more.

Currency Converter: If you’re travelling with business or for leisure then often you can find yourself spending too much simply because it doesn’t feel like real money. Using a currency converter – of which there are many – you can quickly find how much you’re spending in your own money which is a useful way to avoid over-spending.

Download Currency Converter From Google Play

Google Finance: If you trade stocks and shares then Google Finance will give you real-time stock quotes. This is very useful for quickly seeing the value of the shares you’re interested in while you’re on the tube.

Download Google Finance From Google Play

Tip Calculator: Okay so it’s not going to save you a lot of money or help you out when you’re stuck with no cash… but this is a useful way to avoid a faux pas and to avoid confusion when trying to work out what you owe.

Download Tip Calculator From Google Play

Expense Manager: If you need to keep a running tally of your expenses then this is a very handy way to do so while on the move and it prevents you having to do lots of writing and adding up when you get back home.

Download Expense Manager From Google Play

Mint Personal Finance: This is a great app for those who like to budget and keep on top of their budget and their finances. Making it easy to track how much you’re spending each month and to track your profits and losses this can help you to get your finances in order once and for all and is the recipient of several awards.

Download Mint From Google Play

Martin Speedie is a finance consultant who works at MGDS Ventures Pty Ltd. He is also an avid tech-blogger, who shares his views on the latest gadgets through his blogs which are regularly published in  www.debtconsolidation.com.au

Description: Receipt Ninja makes it easy to track and split expenses.

Love travelling with friends but hate doing the math afterwards? Figuring out who paid for what and how to split the expenses has now been made easy for you by Receipt Ninja. It is extremely simple to track and split group expenses and you can conveniently share the financials with your buddies using Email, SMS, or Dropbox. Let Receipt Ninja manage your expenses and you just go get on the road!

Key features include:

-Track receipts with pictures.
-Split group expenses anyway you want (evenly or unevenly).
-Share the report and receipts using Email, SMS, or Dropbox.
-Avoid circular debts (A owes B, B owes C).
-Export to Excel (csv file).
-Support SD card backup and cloud backup using Dropbox.

Please report crashes when they happen. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or suggestions. We keep on adding new features requested by our users.

FAQ:
1. I cannot save the receipt. Each time I clicked to save, result, nothing was saved. It looked as if I entered nothing. What is happening?

This is a bug in versions below 1.3.0 on some devices. It is due to low memory when taking picture. Android system automatically destroys the paused activity when memory is running low so that some of the data you entered cannot be saved. If you experience this problem, please update your app to the latest version. Please report to us if it still exists after updating.

2. Can I export the receipts to Excel and import from Excel?

Currently, we support export to excel (.csv file) by clicking “Export”->”Email” on the “Reports” tab. The expense report (.csv file) will be attached to the email. It is also saved to SD card under the path “SD card/Receipt Ninja/Your Event Name/. If you do not see the attachment, please update your app to the latest version. Importing to Receipt Ninja from Excel file is not currently supported because we store the receipt data in our own data format using SQLite database.

3. Can I keep my receipts when changing from one phone to another?

Yes, you can backup your receipts to SD card or Dropbox and import them from another phone.

Cost: Free

Developer: Serene Wireless

If you ever gone on a trip or planned a party with a couple friends, you’d know how difficult it is to calculate how to split the costs. Receipt Ninja is a great app to calculate costs splits with relative ease.

Receipt Ninja does a good job of calculating simple splits. Receipt Ninja allows you to enter all your costs, then reports how much each person owes. Receipt Ninja can track who paid what amount and then spits out a report breakdown of costs that’s easy to read.

I liked how Receipt Ninja:

• is easy to use
• can use the preset categories and can add your own categories
• can pull contacts from your address book or add a person not in your address book
• creates a simple cost break down
• calculates paying with different currencies
• can take a picture of receipts (only for records)
• shares calculation reports via email or SMS.

Receipt Ninja can take a picture of a receipt but it’s only for records. It can’t read the receipt and automatically enter the totals into the report. Automatically entering the costs from the receipt picture would be a great enhancement.

Receipt Ninja will take a little time to learn how to use, but once you get a hang of it, you’ll find Receipt Ninja to be a powerful and useful tool to split costs.

Download Here

Description: Handy shopping list: smart, fast & user friendly (+web portal, +great widget)
Listonic is a handy shopping list that comes with convenient widget.
It is also accessible through the Internet at http://listonic.com. To make sure that using Listonic is actually saving you time and money we focus on simplicity and user-friendly interface.
By installing Listonic Mobile app you can manage all your shopping lists in a smart manner because:
- Your shopping lists are always with you – on your mobile phone or online.
- Products are automatically ordered by store alleys so you don’t have to wonder around.
- Shopping lists can be easily shared with family, friends or coworkers – any changes are instantly seen on every device.
Listonic is available for FREE.
Moreover, scientists say that shopping with the list saves you money.
You can also use Listonic on iPhone, Windows Phone 7, Blackberry, Symbian, Windows Mobile and all java enabled feature phones.
Permissions:
Geolacalization – to show where promotion is available [not available worldwide].
Write to SD card –for adding user photos to products after scanning them [not available worldwide].
Get Tasks – for Listonic button (in other apps), which converts cooking recipe to shopping list and saves it to Listonic. Permission is necessary, so we can get you back to app, that contained cooking recipe, after saving list in Listonic [not available worldwide].

Cost: Free

Developer: Listonic

The Good:

• Easy to use.
• Add items by using the keyboard or voice commands
• Add items on the Listonics website and it will be updated to the Listonic app on your phone
• Updates of shopping lists from website to phone is fast
• Share and update shopping lists among multiple phones
• Archive shopping lists for future use. Archive shopping lists don’t display on the normal screen unless asked to be shown.

The Bad:

• Only languages available are English and Polish
• Only currency designation is lbs
• Price calculation doesn’t multiply quantity and price

Wanted improvements:

• A scanning function to add products to the shopping list
• More languages
• Better price calculations
• Share lists with email or text

Download here

Description: Win easy gift certificates!

GET PAID — in CASH, PayPal or Amazon Gift Cards for doing simple tasks on your Android Phone or Android Tablet in your spare minutes!!

You can earn money by downloading apps, registering in cool websites, and even by playing games!

Start earning cash in what would be lost time. You can do it easily at your job, in that boring class, or any place you choose…any time.

The awesome part is that when you get friends to use the Free Money Factory app, YOU get paid. When they earn points, the Free Money Factory gives free extra points to YOU, and you get paid even more! And what about when “friends-of-friends” continue the money chain? That’s right — you get paid EVEN MORE! And this amazing money chain can run for 10 generations! (Think of it: “friends-of-friends-of-friends-of-friends-of-friends….”!)

Best of all, the Free Money Factory app is fun, easy… and works when and where YOU want it to work! We’re talking about 100% flexibility!

Start your own Free Money Factory now!

The Free Money Factory app is not connected with Amazon, PayPal or Western Union. This app makes use of their services.

Cost: Free

Developer: Last-Call

Getting paid to just download Android Apps and registering for websites seems to good to be true right? I thought the same thing. I was pretty skeptical Free Money Factory would pay out.

I downloaded a few apps from the Free Money Factory app to earn enough awards points for a $1 payout.

I set up Free Money Factory to pay me through my PayPal account.

In less than 24 hours, I received the $1 payment in my Pay Pal account.

It was as easy as that. I was really astonished I received the payment.

Most of the apps to receive reward points are apps you would normally download anyways, like Zynga Poker and Solitaire. Free Money Factory brings you to the Android Market so you know the Apps are legit.

The website registrations to receive points are tedious. They bring you to endless screens of offers before you can complete the registration.

Downloading Android Apps is the easiest way to accumulate points.

Try out Free Money Factory for an easy way to make some money.

When you download Free Money Factory, please reference my invitation code 94808, so I can get some extra rewards points! I’ll appreciate it.

Download Here From the Free Money Factory website

Description: Forget all those millions of deal sites that require you to pay ahead for a deal you plan to use. Actually, forget about daily deal sites in general. Scoutmob brings the best of these coupons to your phone, and leaves behind all the hassle of, well, paying for deals. By focusing only on the best of local businesses (you know, the places locals actually go), getting you a free 50% off just for having the app, Scoutmob’s mission is to get you out and discovering the best of local. Read up on first person Scout perspectives on every featured restaurants, rediscover old favorites, or nearby spots you may have never noticed before. And then… get a sweet deal just for having Scoutmob. Best of all, these deals are all free. As in, you never ever pay Scoutmob one shiny cent. Choose from deals near you, head to the location, and click “USE THE DEAL” and – hey, lookee there! – get a 50% off your meal or purchase just for being you and having that phone of yours. Being local is about to get approximately 87.5% more awesome with some Scoutmob in your pocket.
This app is currently available for those in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC. More cities coming soon.
For more daily goodness from Scoutmob, visit their website (www.scoutmob.com) for daily articles, events and editorial.

Cost: Free

Developer: Scoutmob

I was a little skeptical the first time I used Scoutmob. I didn’t think it would really work. I was at an Indian restaurant and at the end of the meal when the bill came, I sheepishly showed the waiter my phone with the Scoutmob coupon. Low and behold, the waiter took $10 off the bill.

All the deals listed on Scoutmob are 50% off up to a certain dollar amount. I’ve seen between $10 – $20 off for restaurants and up to $50 off for other services and stores. Scoutmob coupons are only available for a limited amount of cities right now. Some cities have a very limited amount of coupons, i.e. Denver, CO, Boston, MA, Los Angeles, CA while others have quite a bit, i.e. Atlanta, GA, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY. You can sort deals by City, New, Expiring, or Nearby. I always forget to use the Scoutmob app though. I wish there was a way to favorite or bookmark a deal so I can remember which deals I want to use at a later date.

The Good:

• Easy to use.
• You don’t have to buy any coupons in advanced. Just show the Scoutmob coupon.
• Shows a description of the restaurant/store, highlighting the menu and store hours.
• It WORKS!

The Bad:

• Very few coupons in certain cities.
• You need GPS and data service at the coupon location to use.
• No way to favorite or bookmark deals.
• Force Closes once in a while.

Download Here

Description: shopkick – Deals & FREE Rewards!

NEW V2.1!: Your favorite stores… just got better with Deals & Rewards from shopkick, the #1 SHOPPING APP (Wall Street Journal). Join 1.5 million people that already use it!

#1 DEALS: Find new hot deals, exclusive deals & must-have items at the best stores, like Target, Best Buy, Macy’s, American Eagle, Sports Authority, Crate & Barrel and many more. We keep you posted on everything that happens at your favorite stores.

#2 REWARDS: With just a couple of shopping trips, you can earn cool gift cards, free movie tickets or help a good cause. Earning is easy: Simply WALK into partner stores (yes, just VISIT them – crazy, but true), scan products, purchase or even check in. Walk-in rewards are available in 80 markets now! Includes NYC, LA, SF, Dallas, Chicago, BOS, ATL, Houston, D.C., Miami, Seattle, St. Louis.

NOTICE: Users who improperly or inaccurately post referral information are violating shopkick’s Terms of Use and are subject to deactivation. You can report these atreport@shopkick.com

Version: 2.1

Cost: Free

Developer: shop kick

Let’s save some cash!

shopkick advertises deals from a large variety of stores. Most are retailers but there are a few chain restaurants like Burger King and TGI Fridays. Most of the deals are deals you will likely find in the local paper or companies website. shopkick doesn’t show all the deals from the retailers website, but will highlight a select few deals.

shopkick also offers special deals where you scan a code in store at checkout.

What’s good about shopkick?

The large variety of stores shopkick highlights deals from.

The special codes for in store purchase

Rewards

Nice layout – nice clear pictures of ads, a top ten deals row, easy to use

Finds stores closest to you based on your gps

What’s not so great?

shopkick needs to highlight more deals for each store

Needs more deals for food

You need to have data access. I’ve been in a lot of stores where I get poor service. Without data service, shopkick won’t work. Too bad shopkick doesn’t have an offline option.

Download Here

Description: SavingStar Grocery eCoupons – Nothing to Clip. Nothing to Print.
Save money on your groceries! SavingStar offers free paperless eCoupons redeemable at over 24,000 supermarkets and drugstores nationwide from brands you love.
SavingStar eCoupons are linked to your store loyalty cards. Nothing to clip. Nothing to print.
It’s easy to save! Here’s how it works:
1. Tap
Select the eCoupons you like, and we’ll link them to your registered store loyalty cards.
2. Shop
Use your loyalty card at checkout (note: your bill will stay the same).
3. Save
Money is automatically added to your SavingStar account. Once you save $5 pick your payout from cash deposit into your bank account, PayPal transfer, Amazon gift card, or a donation to the charity American Forests.
Features:
- Select eCoupons even while you’re out shopping
- Sort eCoupons by value, category, expiration date, and brand name
- Sync the eCoupons you select online and on your phone
- Check your savings balance
- Find local participating stores
- Save big $$ at grocery and drugstores!

Version: 1.8

Cost: Free

Developer: SavingStar

SavingStar Grocery eCoupon has great potential, but as of today, it’s not ready for the big time.  There are barely any eCoupons as of this writing (7/15/11).  Only 33 coupons of varied products ranging from pain killers to dog food.  If I bought 1 of everything on the SavingStar site, I’d save a whopping $29.  I usually go to Safeway for groceries, but Safeway wasn’t on the stores list.  I normally don’t shop at CVS, but that was the only store around me on the SavingStar list, so I registered for a reward card on the CVS website just to see if it recognized the card, and it did.  I’m going to trust it recognizes all the rewards cards in it’s stores list.  Since there wasn’t any product I really wanted to get on the SavingsStar site available at CVS, I didn’t go and test if the eCoupon worked.  The biggest gripe I have about SavingStar Grocery eCoupon is the lack of eCoupon’s and lack of stores available around me supported by SavingStar.  Once they increase the coupons and stores, I may use this app, but until they do, I’m better off clipping and printing out coupons like those people on Exteme Couponing.  SavingStar Grocery eCoupon is an app to keep an eye on and if the coupons increase, it could be a must have app.

Download Here