For mobile app developers, Black Friday represents one of the most lucrative opportunities of the year. What began as a retail phenomenon has evolved dramatically, with the digital economy now claiming a massive share of the action.

This is your moment to shine. With millions of consumers actively hunting for deals and opening their wallets, you have a rare window to convert free users into paying customers.

To help you make the most of this opportunity, here are fourteen ideas to promote your mobile app during Black Friday.

1. Introductory Offer

Before getting started, you should think about the products you’ll offer. When setting them up for Black Friday, the type of discount you offer can significantly impact your app’s long-term revenue. Offering products that are discounted indefinitely might seem appealing, but it can create challenges down the road.

Our advice is to create a product that offers a discounted rate for the initial subscription period, then renews at the standard rate. For example, offer “50% off your first 3 months” or “Get your first year at $29.99 (regularly $59.99).”

Make sure to clearly communicate when the pricing changes in your app’s UI and marketing materials to maintain transparency and trust.

2. Promo Codes

Promo codes are an incredibly versatile tool for Black Friday promotions. They allow you to offer custom deals to specific audiences and track the effectiveness of different marketing channels.

3. App Store Event

App Store Events are a powerful way to showcase your Black Friday promotion directly in the App Store. These events appear prominently on your product page and can even be featured in the Today tab, giving you prime real estate during the busiest shopping period of the year.

4. Reddit Communities

Reddit has become a hotspot for Black Friday deal sharing, with dedicated threads that attract thousands of engaged users actively looking for app deals. The platform’s community-driven nature makes it perfect for discovery, but you need to approach it authentically.

Key subreddits to target:

• r/iosapps and r/androidapps - These communities specifically look for app deals
• r/AppHookup - Dedicated to app promotions and deals
• r/apps - General app discussion
• Your app’s niche-specific subreddits (e.g., r/productivity, r/fitness)

An example like this Black Friday apps deals thread can drive significant traffic if you participate early and meaningfully.

5. Content Creators

Black Friday is when influencer marketing truly shines. Content creators are actively producing gift guides, deal roundups, and “best of” lists during this period, and getting your app featured can drive massive downloads.

The key is to make the partnership valuable for both parties. Creators want content that resonates with their audience, and you want quality users who convert.

6. Reactivate Churned Users

Black Friday isn’t just about acquiring new users—it’s also the perfect time to win back users who previously tried your app but didn’t convert or have since churned.

Use your analytics to segment users based on their previous behavior and create targeted offers. Someone who used your app for 30 days before churning is more likely to return than someone who abandoned it after day 2. Tailor your offers accordingly.

7. GitHub Collections

GitHub hosts popular repositories that curate Black Friday deals and are particularly effective if your app targets developers or tech-savvy professionals. The traffic is highly qualified and tends to convert well.

Popular repositories to target:

• Awesome Black Friday Cyber Monday
• Black Friday Deals

8. Push Notifications

Push notifications can be incredibly effective when used timely and strategically.

For the best results, segment your audience—target free users with upgrade value, trial users with savings emphasis, churned subscribers with win-back offers, and active subscribers with friends/family discounts.

9. Email Campaign

Emails with the right offer are another powerful way to drive sales during Black Friday, often outperforming other channels when properly executed. Similarly to push notifications, segment your messaging for different user groups for the best results.

10. Themed App Icon

A temporary Black Friday-themed app icon can make your app stand out on the App Store and on users’ home screens.

11. App Store Search Ads

Black Friday is when users actively search for deals, making it the perfect time to invest in App Store Search Ads. With higher search volumes and purchase intent, your ads can capture users at the exact moment they’re looking for apps like yours.

12. Referral Program

Set up a referral program that incentivizes users to invite friends and family to try your app. Offer a discount or free trial to both the referrer and the referee, which can significantly increase user acquisition and retention. Combining it with Black Friday promotions can create a powerful multiplier effect.

13. Alternative Paywall

Your paywall is where conversions happen, so make it festive and optimized for Black Friday. A custom-designed paywall with holiday theming, urgency elements, and clear messaging can dramatically increase conversion rates during the shopping season.

If you use RevenueCat or Superwall, it’s easy to create and A/B test holiday-specific paywalls without app updates.

14. “Pay What You Want” Pricing

A “Pay What You Want” promotion creates buzz, generates goodwill, and can surprisingly result in higher revenue than a fixed discount.

Set a price range where users choose what they want to pay by offering a few options to purchase. This unique approach stands out from standard deals and creates an emotional connection with users who appreciate the trust and flexibility.

Ready for Black Friday?

Black Friday is one of the biggest opportunities of the year for mobile app developers. It’s not just about discounts — it’s about creating a compelling offer, communicating it effectively across multiple channels, and providing an exceptional user experience that turns holiday shoppers into long-term, loyal customers. The key is to start planning early, test your campaigns before launch, and be prepared to adjust based on real-time performance data.

Want to supercharge your Black Friday promotion? Try WinWinKit and get all the tools you need to run efficient and organic marketing campaigns!