PDF Scanner App

"A Mac App Store scanning app that has been earning ~$500/mo for nearly 15 years since the Mac App Store's launch day, with all updates free — selling solely to new customers."
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pdfscannerapp.com
Maker: planb
Approximately $500/mo after nearly 15 years on the store

Marketing Channels

Primary

Mac App Store

Published on day one when the Mac App Store was released; relies entirely on App Store discovery and organic search

Secondary

Hacker News

Shared on HN Show thread

Growth Levers

  • Maintain compatibility with latest macOS features (Liquid Glass) to stay visible in App Store search
  • Consider adding a Pro tier or subscription for advanced features to increase revenue per user
  • Optimize App Store listing keywords and screenshots for modern macOS scanning searches
  • Leverage the nearly 15-year track record as a trust signal in marketing
  • Explore cross-platform expansion to iOS/iPadOS to broaden the addressable market

First Customer Strategy

First-mover advantage by publishing on the Mac App Store on day one of its launch. Has sustained organic sales to new customers for nearly 15 years without active marketing — the App Store listing itself serves as the sole acquisition channel.

Pricing Insight

One-time purchase with all updates free since launch. No subscription model. Revenue comes entirely from new customer acquisitions. The latest update was for Liquid Glass (Apple's latest design language), showing continued maintenance.

Key Takeaways

  • • First-mover advantage on platform stores (Mac App Store day one) can generate passive income for 15+ years
  • • A hobby project worked on in bursts can sustain $500/mo indefinitely with minimal effort
  • • One-time purchase apps can maintain revenue through a steady stream of new customers without requiring subscriptions
  • • Staying current with platform design language (Liquid Glass) keeps legacy apps relevant and visible
  • • Mac App Store organic discovery alone can sustain a utility app without any external marketing

Sentiment Analysis

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