Which niche should you build in?

Every category, ranked by room for a small team: where small developers and new apps already make money, and the money isn't all taken by a few giants.

CategoryOpportunity ▾Money a month ESTChange since Oct 10Small dev winnersNew winnersTop 3 share
Role Playing713 apps earning, middle app $98.3K 54156 small developers earn $10K+ here, 229 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 14% $784.7M ▲ 0.0% 156 229 14%
Photography249 apps earning, middle app $103.6K 507 small developers earn $10K+ here, 45 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 22% $402.8M ▲ 25.2% 7 45 22%
Entertainment805 apps earning, middle app $287.8K 4832 small developers earn $10K+ here, 161 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 12% $2.3B ▲ 8.7% 32 161 12%
Adventure315 apps earning, middle app $143.9K 4651 small developers earn $10K+ here, 99 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 42% $649M ▲ 0.6% 51 99 42%
Casual420 apps earning, middle app $178.9K 4657 small developers earn $10K+ here, 127 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 29% $916.3M ▼ 4.6% 57 127 29%
Lifestyle433 apps earning, middle app $117.6K 4626 small developers earn $10K+ here, 83 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 26% $371.2M ▲ 10.7% 26 83 26%
Strategy435 apps earning, middle app $159.6K 4672 small developers earn $10K+ here, 101 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 31% $1B ▲ 0.1% 72 101 31%
Action368 apps earning, middle app $157.7K 4534 small developers earn $10K+ here, 75 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 21% $520.8M ▼ 0.5% 34 75 21%
Books & Reference254 apps earning, middle app $555.7K 454 small developers earn $10K+ here, 31 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 26% $561.1M ▲ 16.1% 4 31 26%
Music & Audio327 apps earning, middle app $365.4K 455 small developers earn $10K+ here, 36 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 23% $675.6M ▲ 15.3% 5 36 23%
Games1 apps earning, middle app $27.5M 44no small developer earns $10K+ yet, 1 app launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take 100% $27.5M ▲ 5.9% 0 1 100%
Puzzle290 apps earning, middle app $395.9K 4320 small developers earn $10K+ here, 69 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 34% $1.1B ▲ 2.0% 20 69 34%
Social649 apps earning, middle app $295.6K 4330 small developers earn $10K+ here, 106 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 37% $1B ▲ 11.2% 30 106 37%
Tools614 apps earning, middle app $58.1K 4217 small developers earn $10K+ here, 106 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 25% $345.3M ▼ 2.4% 17 106 25%
Dating402 apps earning, middle app $360.7K 4113 small developers earn $10K+ here, 46 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 36% $694.4M ▲ 7.0% 13 46 36%
Health & Fitness328 apps earning, middle app $130.2K 4014 small developers earn $10K+ here, 39 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 26% $314.1M ▼ 2.4% 14 39 26%
Communication284 apps earning, middle app $373K 3913 small developers earn $10K+ here, 31 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 39% $652.6M ▲ 4.2% 13 31 39%
Productivity389 apps earning, middle app $388.2K 3914 small developers earn $10K+ here, 45 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 51% $2.2B ▲ 11.4% 14 45 51%
Simulation468 apps earning, middle app $110.6K 3945 small developers earn $10K+ here, 92 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 22% $356.6M ▼ 23.8% 45 92 22%
Beauty2 apps earning, middle app $681.1K 381 small developer earning $10K+, 1 app launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take 100% $1.4M ▼ 97.4% 1 1 100%
Education528 apps earning, middle app $79.6K 3814 small developers earn $10K+ here, 54 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 36% $446.2M ▼ 0.7% 14 54 36%
Sports572 apps earning, middle app $236.8K 3828 small developers earn $10K+ here, 63 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 17% $859.8M ▼ 18.1% 28 63 17%
Video Players187 apps earning, middle app $503.8K 386 small developers earn $10K+ here, 17 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 46% $808.5M ▲ 6.2% 6 17 46%
Card394 apps earning, middle app $145K 3725 small developers earn $10K+ here, 56 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 29% $331.1M ▼ 16.4% 25 56 29%
Board225 apps earning, middle app $264.3K 366 small developers earn $10K+ here, 18 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 38% $459.9M ▼ 4.8% 6 18 38%
Maps & Navigation222 apps earning, middle app $204.4K 365 small developers earn $10K+ here, 22 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 18% $132.1M ▼ 18.6% 5 22 18%
News & Magazines288 apps earning, middle app $139.9K 362 small developers earning $10K+, 5 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 32% $252.4M ▼ 1.8% 2 5 32%
Utilities5 apps earning, middle app $119.1K 36no small developer earns $10K+ yet, 1 app launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take 100% $6.7M ▲ 83.9% 0 1 100%
Art & Design162 apps earning, middle app $162.1K 3413 small developers earn $10K+ here, 50 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 53% $173.8M ▼ 22.3% 13 50 53%
Business217 apps earning, middle app $215.8K 344 small developers earn $10K+ here, 14 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 42% $280.9M ▼ 5.2% 4 14 42%
Casino254 apps earning, middle app $385K 345 small developers earn $10K+ here, 10 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 16% $377.8M ▼ 21.4% 5 10 16%
News14 apps earning, middle app $34.3K 34no small developer earns $10K+ yet, the top 3 take 70% $1.4M ▲ 708.4% 0 0 70%
Finance184 apps earning, middle app $170.5K 335 small developers earn $10K+ here, 15 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 23% $79.8M ▼ 38.6% 5 15 23%
Shopping62 apps earning, middle app $1M 332 small developers earning $10K+, 7 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 39% $252M ▼ 17.4% 2 7 39%
Racing126 apps earning, middle app $88K 325 small developers earn $10K+ here, 14 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 33% $35.5M ▼ 88.1% 5 14 33%
Word126 apps earning, middle app $81.5K 326 small developers earn $10K+ here, 21 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 38% $47.8M ▼ 85.5% 6 21 38%
Arcade145 apps earning, middle app $112.5K 318 small developers earn $10K+ here, 21 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 43% $79.3M ▼ 59.2% 8 21 43%
Books11 apps earning, middle app $37.3K 31no small developer earns $10K+ yet, the top 3 take 97% $16.8M ▲ 28.2% 0 0 97%
Food & Drink112 apps earning, middle app $53.4K 313 small developers earn $10K+ here, 10 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 34% $21M ▼ 81.6% 3 10 34%
Parenting117 apps earning, middle app $100.8K 315 small developers earn $10K+ here, 10 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 37% $54.9M ▼ 50.7% 5 10 37%
Family10 apps earning, middle app $38.6K 30no small developer earns $10K+ yet, the top 3 take 92% $2.4M ▲ 262.8% 0 0 92%
Social Networking12 apps earning, middle app $18.6K 30no small developer earns $10K+ yet, the top 3 take 100% $146M ▲ 107.6% 0 0 100%
Travel & Local120 apps earning, middle app $64.3K 291 small developer earning $10K+, 6 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 34% $23.4M ▼ 80.8% 1 6 34%
Medical91 apps earning, middle app $24.9K 281 small developer earning $10K+, the top 3 take only 38% $7.1M ▼ 91.5% 1 0 38%
Photo & Video5 apps earning, middle app $217.8K 27no small developer earns $10K+ yet, 1 app launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take 100% $302.9M ▲ 1.4% 0 1 100%
Weather122 apps earning, middle app $17K 271 small developer earning $10K+, 1 app launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take only 45% $24.4M ▼ 83.3% 1 1 45%
Music6 apps earning, middle app $16.2K 23no small developer earns $10K+ yet, 2 apps launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take 98% $1.2M ▼ 96.5% 0 2 98%
Graphics & Design3 apps earning, middle app $27.2K 22no small developer earns $10K+ yet, 1 app launched this year already earn $10K+, the top 3 take 100% $281.9K ▼ 93.6% 0 1 100%
Personalization5 apps earning, middle app $298.5K 15no small developer earns $10K+ yet, the top 3 take 96% $3.7M ▼ 95.1% 0 0 96%
Trivia2 apps earning, middle app $87.6K 11no small developer earns $10K+ yet, the top 3 take 100% $175.2K ▼ 98.8% 0 0 100%

From the estimates saved for October 21, the same as on each app's page. A winner earns $10K or more a month (estimate); small developers have up to 5 apps and aren't big publishers. The opportunity score favours categories where small and new apps already win, money isn't locked up by the top 3, and the total is growing.