Freemium Business Model: Examples (2026)
Offer a useful free product to attract users, then sell premium capabilities, convenience, or virtual goods to customers who want more.
Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.
How do free apps make money?
Free access creates a path to paid features. Biggest disclosed lines: Dropbox: United States at $1,421 million; Duolingo: Subscriptions at $873 million; Match Group: Tinder at $1,925 million; Roblox: United States And Canada at $2,969 million; Zoom Communications: Americas at $3,508 million.
Free access creates a path to paid features.
Signals to look for
- Free and paid tiers
- Paid conversion
- Optional upgrades
Companies using this model
| Company | Sector | Evidence status |
|---|---|---|
| Dropbox | Cloud software | verified |
| Duolingo | Education software | verified |
| Match Group | Consumer software | verified |
| Roblox | Gaming | verified |
| Zoom Communications | Communications software | verified |
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Frequently asked questions
How does Freemium work?
Offer a useful free product to attract users, then sell premium capabilities, convenience, or virtual goods to customers who want more.
How do free apps make money?
Free access creates a path to paid features. Biggest disclosed lines: Dropbox: United States at $1,421 million; Duolingo: Subscriptions at $873 million; Match Group: Tinder at $1,925 million; Roblox: United States And Canada at $2,969 million; Zoom Communications: Americas at $3,508 million.