Super App business model
A business model where a single application provides a wide range of services. Uber's potential acquisition of Expedia is framed as a strategic move toward this model.
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8/20/2025, 3:38:26 AM
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8/20/2025, 3:39:52 AM
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8/20/2025, 3:39:52 AM
Summary
A super-app, also known as an everything-app, is a mobile or web application designed to consolidate multiple services, such as payment, instant messaging, e-commerce, and travel booking, into a single, comprehensive online platform. This business model provides core features while also enabling access to independently developed 'mini-apps' by third-party developers, fostering a rich ecosystem. Notable examples include Tencent's WeChat, Tata Neu, and Grab. The super-app model is attractive due to its ability to create sticky user experiences and diverse monetization opportunities through advertising, commission, and transaction fees. Companies like Uber are actively exploring this model, potentially through strategic acquisitions such as Expedia, despite challenges posed by advancements like AI's impact on industries and the rise of agentic platforms like Perplexity that could disintermediate traditional online services.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Definition
A mobile or web application that consolidates multiple services, such as payment and instant messaging, into a single, all-encompassing online platform for personal and commercial life.
Core Features
Provides a set of core functionalities while also giving access to independently developed mini-apps.
Market Dynamics
Similar to online marketplaces, matching consumers (demand) with service providers (supply).
Alternative Name
Everything-app
Benefits for Users
Convenient, seamless experience, eliminates need to switch between multiple apps, saves time and effort.
Developer Ecosystem
Functions as a platform allowing third-party developers to create and publish mini-apps within its ecosystem.
Key Characteristics
Multiple services, seamless integration, cross-promotion, embedded payment solutions, one-stop destination for daily needs.
Revenue Streams (B2B)
Advertising fees (click-based, impression-based), commission fees (e.g., from restaurants, drivers), product recommendation fees (e.g., insurance).
Revenue Streams (B2C)
Value-added service fees, transaction fees for digital payment services, fees from crypto and stock trading, interchange fees from debit cards, monetization of social features (e.g., digital item purchases).
Benefits for Businesses
Reach a large user base, increase user engagement, drive revenue through various channels, create new revenue streams, enhance customer loyalty, scale faster.
Timeline
- Gartner's article 'What Is a Superapp?' was originally published, reflecting ongoing research and definition of the concept. (Source: Gartner)
2022-08
- The businesses segment dominated the super app market, accounting for 61.6% of revenue, primarily through B2B revenue generation models like advertising and commission fees. (Source: Grandview Research)
2022
- Uber's ambition to create a Super App business model, potentially through an acquisition of Expedia, is a major strategic debate among entrepreneurs and investors. (Source: e253fa1c-86a2-480a-8d06-b318365f16ac)
Ongoing
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaSuper-app
A super-app, also known as an everything-app, is a mobile or web application that can provide multiple services including payment and instant messaging services, effectively becoming an all-encompassing self-contained commerce and communication online platform that embraces many aspects of personal and commercial life. Notable examples of super-apps include Tencent's WeChat in China, Tata Neu in India, and Grab in Southeast Asia. For end users, a super-app is an application that provides a set of core features while also giving access to independently developed miniapps. For app developers, a superapp is an application integrated with the capabilities of platforms and ecosystems that allows third-parties to develop and publish miniapps.
Web Search Results
- The Super App Strategy: Business Model & Examples - productmint
Financial super apps have adopted a similar business model whenever they recommend a product such as insurances. They also drive revenue through various fees, for instance from crypto and stock trading as well as interchange fees from debit cards. Advertising is another significant revenue source. Brands can promote their products and services and normally pay for every click that they generate through the ad. Impression-based compensation is sometimes utilized as well. [...] Many other super app examples, which we’ll detail further below, have also become multi-billion-dollar money printers. It’s safe to say that the business and economic model of super apps is enticing at the very least. Super apps possess many of the same dynamics that are akin to online marketplaces. They often match consumers (= demand) with people offering a service (= supply) such as grocery delivery. [...] It also makes it easier for the super app to introduce new services and drive instant demand to those. All it takes is to promote a new service through hacks like push notifications, in-app banners, trial discounts, and so forth. In some instances, like WeChat, super app operators utilize social features to keep users engaged and create habits around daily logins. And those use cases can then be monetized as well, for example by allowing users to purchase stickers and similar digital items.
- Super Apps Market Size, Share, Growth & Trends Report 2030
## End-user Insights The businesses segment dominated with a revenue share of 61.6% in 2022 and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of over 27.0% during the forecast period. Super apps generate revenue from the Business-to-Business (B2B) revenue generation model from advertising fees, commission fees, and others. Advertising generates significant revenue for super apps. To learn more about this report, request a free sample copy [...] The consumers segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR of 28.5% throughout the forecast period. Super apps generate revenue from consumers through value-added service fees and transaction fees for digital payment services. For instance, when a user wants to withdraw funds exceeding a certain amount from WeChat Wallet, WeChat (Tencent) charges a 0.01% fee. A growing number of people adopting super apps owing to growing smartphone and internet penetration is likely to offer significant [...] For instance, China-based WeChat (Tencent) has numerous business and individual blogs and makes significant revenue from blogs associated with public accounts. Brands use the super apps platform to promote their products and services and pay for the number of clicks generated by the advertisement. Moreover, they generate revenue by charging drivers a share of their earnings, and restaurants give commissions.
- Top 5 Super App Examples and Their Features Analysis | Coreteka
These and other apps have transformed the way people interact with digital services, delivering unparalleled convenience and shaping the future of the mobile app landscape. Super Apps are seen as a powerful business model because they create sticky user experiences and open various monetization opportunities. Top super app examples ---------------------- We suggest our own selection of successful super apps and explain the core features that make them stand out. [...] , Super Apps integrate diverse services like messaging, e-commerce, payments, entertainment, travel booking, and more. The fundamental characteristics of Super Apps encompass the following: Multiple services. Super Apps ultimately satisfy users’ daily needs, becoming their one-stop destination. The applications cover transportation, food delivery, shopping, banking, social networking, just to name a few. [...] Seamless integration. The services within a Super App integrate effortlessly, enabling users to switch between functions without exiting the app. Cross-promotion. Super Apps leverage their ecosystem to cross-promote services, increasing user engagement and loyalty. Payment solutions. Many Super Apps for Android and iOS include digital wallet and payment features, enabling users to make transactions and pay within the app.
- Super App Architecture: Building the Future of Digital Ecosystems ...
For users, super apps provide a convenient and seamless experience, allowing them to access multiple services and features within one app. This eliminates the need to switch between multiple apps, saving time and effort. For businesses, super apps offer a platform to reach a large user base, increase user engagement, and drive revenue through various channels. By integrating multiple services, businesses can create new revenue streams and enhance customer loyalty. [...] Turn your app into a super app with embedded Fintech Request a consultation to explore how SDK.finance can maximize your platform’s revenue potential Learn more The Future is Super ----------------------- Super apps are transforming digital interactions, offering users a one-stop solution for daily services. With embedded payments, financial services, and multi-service integration, businesses that adopt the super app model can unlock new revenue streams and scale faster. [...] A super app architecture is a design approach that integrates multiple services and features into a single platform, providing a seamless user experience and improving customer engagement. The key elements of a super app architecture include:
- What Is a Superapp? - Gartner
A superapp, super app or super-app is an application that provides end users (customers, partners or employees) with a set of core features plus access to independently created miniapps. The superapp is built as a platform to deliver a miniapps ecosystem that users can choose from to activate for consistent and personalized app experiences. [...] A superapp is the front end of a platform into which internal developers and third-party providers can publish miniapps (or miniprograms) for users to activate as needed. The core app, though, has functionality of its own. Superapps can replace multiple apps for customer or employee use and support a composable business ecosystem for enterprises. _This article has been updated since its original publication in August 2022 to reflect new events, conditions and research._