1. The Market Landscape
Market snapshot — key numbers
| Global spiritual services market (2025) | $392.5 billion |
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| Global spiritual products & services market (2025) | $186.2 billion |
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| FaithTech market estimate | ~$130 billion |
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| US spiritual products market (2025) | >$55 billion |
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| Online psychic reading services market (2025) | $3.7 billion → $6.5B by 2034 (6.4% CAGR) |
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| Meditation apps market (2025) | $2.25 billion → $7.6B by 2033 |
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| Spiritual wellness apps market (2025) | $2.56 billion → $7.3B by 2033 (14.6% CAGR) |
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| Church management software market (2025) | $17.3 billion → $33.3B by 2035 (6.8% CAGR) |
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| Wellness retreat market (2025) | $222.5 billion → $363.9B by 2032 |
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| Christian dating app market (2025) | $1.5 billion (11.4% CAGR) |
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| Religious & spiritual products market (2024) | $5.5 billion → $15.7B by 2034 (11.4% CAGR) |
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| Horoscope/astrology apps market (2026) | $194.4 million → $497M by 2035 (11.3% CAGR) |
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| Tarot cards market (2025) | $1.4 billion (3.75% CAGR) |
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| Death tech industry | $126 billion |
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| Religion tech funding (2025) | $137M across 23 rounds |
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| Total religion tech funding since 2013 | >$800 million globally |
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Key demand signals
- Pew Research (May 2025): 30% of US adults consult astrology, tarot cards, or fortune tellers at least once a year. 37% of adults under 30. 33% of LGBT adults use tarot cards (3x the general population rate of 11%).
- Spiritual identity: 70% of US adults describe themselves as spiritual. 22% are “spiritual but not religious.” 83% believe people have a soul. 81% believe there is something beyond the natural world.
- Consumer spending: 68% of consumers globally engage in at least one form of spiritual product usage. 54% report increased spending on mindfulness, meditation, and faith-based offerings.
- E-commerce dominance: ~70% of all spiritual products are purchased online. 48% of tarot deck sales are via e-commerce (up from 39% in 2022). 55%+ of online spiritual product buyers are aged 18–30.
- 4 billion+ religious adherents worldwide make faith tech one of the largest yet least digitally saturated consumer and B2B markets.
2. AI-Powered Divination & Fortune-Telling Apps
Co-Star
| Website | costarastrology.com |
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| Founded | 2017 by Banu Guler, Anna Kopp, Ben Weitzman |
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| Funding | ~$21M total (Spark Capital-led $15M Series A, Maveron, Female Founders Fund) |
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| Downloads | 30M+ global users; ~200K downloads/month; 151K+ US monthly downloads |
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| Revenue | ~$800K/month (~$9.6M/yr annualized) |
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| Model | Freemium — free daily readings + premium subscriptions |
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| Key tech | AI-driven natal chart generation using NASA JPL data; personalized push notifications |
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| Audience | Gen Z core; 6–9% of worldwide astrology app active users |
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Nebula
| Website | asknebula.com |
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| Publisher | OBRIO (Ukrainian company) |
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| Users | 60 million worldwide |
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| Revenue | ~$400K/month; ranked #1 lifestyle app by daily downloads in US, UK, Canada |
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| Model | Coin-based system: first 3 minutes free, then $3.99/min average; 30–100 coins/min; first-time offer $14 |
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| Psychics | 1,000+ psychics globally |
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The Pattern
| Investors | DGNL Ventures, LionTree Partners, Sweet Capital |
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| Downloads | ~40K/month |
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| Revenue | ~$400K/month |
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| Market share | 1.5–3% of global astrology users |
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| Key tech | Personality and relationship compatibility analysis via birth chart |
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Sanctuary
| Funding | $6.5M total over 2 rounds (BITKRAFT Ventures lead, Greycroft, Azure Capital, Gaingels) |
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| Model | Live 1-on-1 astrology readings with human astrologers + AI-generated daily horoscopes |
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Other notable astrology/divination apps
- AstroSage
- In-depth Vedic astrology birth charts, daily horoscopes, and customized readings. Popular in India.
- TimePassages
- Educational tool for learning astrological concepts. Natal chart examination with planetary position effects. Ideal for beginners.
- Tarot Master (tarotmaster.ai)
- AI-powered tarot + astrology hybrid. Personalized readings aligned to astrological data.
- Tarotoo (tarotoo.com)
- 100% free AI-powered tarot readings using Rider-Waite deck. AI psychic chat included.
- TarotCards.io
- Free AI-powered tarot and psychic readings for love, career, and life guidance.
Market note: The astrology app market is projected to grow from $3.94B in 2024 to $4.75B in 2025
(20.5% CAGR). US astrology app revenue alone was nearly $40M in 2019 and has grown 64.7% since.
3. Online Psychic Reading Platforms
The online psychic reading services market was valued at $3.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $6.5 billion
by 2034 (6.4% CAGR). North America holds the largest market share due to high disposable income, early tech adoption,
and large populations seeking psychic readings.
Ingenio (the 800-lb gorilla)
| Owner | Alpine Investors (acquired from AT’s YP LLC in 2013) |
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| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA |
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| Brands | Keen, Purple Garden, PsychicCenter, LiveAdvice, PurpleOcean, Bitwine; merged with adviqo (2022) adding Questico & Viversum (Germany), Kang (France, Italy, Spain) |
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| Revenue growth | >3x since 2013 under Alpine; completed second single-asset continuation vehicle |
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| Also acquired | Kasamba (from LivePerson, March 2023); Simple Habit meditation app (2023) |
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| Model | Marketplace: psychics set own per-minute rates; platform takes commission |
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Key platforms
Online psychic platform comparison
| Platform |
Founded |
Pricing |
Key features |
| Kasamba |
1999 (by Inon Axel) |
$1.99–$40/min (set by psychic level) |
Chat and call readings; 25+ years in market; now owned by Ingenio |
| Keen |
1999 |
$1.99–$9.99+/min |
Phone, chat, email; AI matching; Ingenio flagship brand |
| Purple Garden |
~2018 |
$0.99–$14.99/min |
Mobile-first; live video readings (unique differentiator); Ingenio brand |
| California Psychics |
1995 |
$1/min intro offer; then $4–$15/min |
Phone-first; rigorous psychic screening; satisfaction guarantee |
| Oranum |
2011 |
$0.39–$9.99/min |
Twitch-style live video; browse live streams before choosing; most affordable |
| PathForward |
~2017 |
$1/min intro; $3–$15/min regular |
Only accepts 5% of applicants; rigorous testing; grief/bereavement focus |
| MysticSense |
~2020 |
$0.99/min intro; varies |
180+ vetted psychics; 5 free minutes for new users |
| Psychic Source |
1989 |
$1/min intro; $4–$15/min |
One of the oldest platforms; video, phone, chat |
| AskNow |
~2005 |
$1/min intro; $3.99–$13.99/min |
Phone and chat; strong Trustpilot reviews |
Business model: All platforms use a per-minute billing model. Psychics set their own rates.
Platforms take 30–50% commission. First-reading discounts ($1/min or free minutes) drive acquisition.
Repeat session rates are high because of the personal advisor relationship dynamic.
4. AI Chatbot Spiritual Advisors
The AI companion apps market generated $82M in H1 2025, on track for $120M+ by year-end.
Revenue per download doubled from $0.52 (2024) to $1.18 (2025). 337 actively revenue-generating
AI companion apps exist as of mid-2025, with 220M cumulative global downloads and downloads
up 88% YoY.
Notable AI spiritual/companion platforms
- Replika
-
Founded by Eugenia Kuyda after losing a close friend — she fed their old messages into a neural network.
40M+ users (2025), ~$24M revenue (2024), ~$300K/month (Sensor Tower). Freemium: ~25% of users pay annual subscription.
Some users use it for grief processing, spiritual companionship, and emotional support. CEO Dmytro Klochko took over in 2025.
- Character.AI
-
20M MAU, $32.2M annual revenue. Users create and interact with AI characters including spiritual guides,
religious figures, and fictional mentors. 72% of US teens have tried an AI companion (2025 TechCrunch study).
- Spirit Speak AI
-
AI-powered real-time biblical answers, verse explanations, historical context, daily devotionals, and prayer generation.
- Aura
-
AI-powered prayer and Bible app with personalized devotionals, in-depth studies, and private reflection space.
- Tarot Master (tarotmaster.ai)
-
AI blending tarot wisdom with astrology. Fine-tunes readings to align with personal astrological data.
- Tarotoo
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Interactive AI tarot using Rider-Waite deck symbolism. Includes AI “Psychic Chat” for spirituality, esoteric, tarot, astrology, and numerology questions.
The “AI replacing psychics” tension: AI tarot/astrology apps can deliver readings at
near-zero marginal cost vs. $1–$40/min for human psychics. But the psychic platforms’ moat is the
perceived human connection. The hybrid model (AI for daily readings, humans for deep sessions) appears
to be winning.
5. Christian Tech & Church Management Software
The church management software market was valued at $17.3 billion in 2025, projected to reach $33.3 billion by
2035 (6.8% CAGR). The broader church software market stood at $1.2 billion in 2024, forecasted to hit $2.5 billion by 2033.
Major players
Church management software comparison
| Company |
Revenue |
Funding / Exit |
Customers |
Key facts |
| Planning Center |
$19.4M/yr |
Fully bootstrapped. Zero outside funding. |
90 of 100 largest US churches + small community churches |
Carlsbad, CA. 51–200 employees. CEO Jeff Berg. Modular pricing. Planning Center People always free. Plans to remain private forever. |
| Subsplash |
$115M/yr (projected FY ending Q3 2026) |
Acquired by Roper Technologies for $800M (July 2025). Previous investor: K1. Also acquired Pulpit AI (Dec 2024). |
20,000+ faith-based organizations |
Seattle. Co-founded by CEO Tim Turner. ARR grew ~7x from K1’s 2019 investment. AI-enabled engagement platform: mobile apps, media delivery, digital giving, ChMS. |
| Pushpay |
Not disclosed (processed $37B+ in giving over 5 years) |
Acquired by BGH Capital + Sixth Street. Secured $50M new funding (Q3 2025). Acquired Resi and Church Community Builder. |
14,000+ churches |
53.6M gifts processed in 2025 (+5% YoY). 18.4M mobile gifts (+9%). Recurring giving up 11%. 73% more churches accepting crypto donations. Avg crypto gift: $3,153. Avg stock gift: $11,930. |
| Tithe.ly |
$19.6M/yr |
VC-backed. Acquired Breeze ChMS (Aug 2021). |
50,000+ churches in 50 countries |
135 employees. Tithely 3.0 rebuilt from ground up. All Access: $119/mo for full suite. Unified platform after Breeze integration. |
| Breeze ChMS |
(Folded into Tithe.ly) |
Acquired by Tithe.ly (2021). ~50 employees joined. |
— |
Now “Tithely Church Management.” Post-acquisition development slowed before full integration. |
Key insight for bootstrappers: Planning Center proves you can build a $19.4M/yr bootstrapped business
in church tech. Subsplash’s $800M exit to Roper Technologies (at ~7x revenue) shows the ceiling. The market is
large, sticky (churches rarely switch), and tolerant of premium pricing when the product genuinely serves ministry needs.
6. Bible Apps & Prayer Apps
YouVersion (Bible App)
| Installs | 1 billion device installs (November 2025) |
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| Daily users | 19M on peak day (Nov 2, 2025 — all-time record) |
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| Growth (2025) | 12% YoY download growth; 18% YoY daily usage increase |
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| Regional growth | Sub-Saharan Africa +27%; North Africa/Middle East/Central Asia +33%; North America +15% |
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| Content | 3,000+ Bible versions in 2,000+ languages; 800+ Bible plans |
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| Revenue model | 100% donation-funded. Zero monetization. Free forever. |
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| Donations | ~$60M from ~240,000 donors |
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| Owner | Life.Church (Craig Groeschel), Edmond, Oklahoma |
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Hallow (Catholic prayer app)
| Website | hallow.com |
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| Revenue | ~$3M/month (~$36M/yr annualized) |
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| Downloads | 200K/month; 10M+ total installs |
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| Funding | $84–$157M total over 6 rounds (Series C: $50M bringing total to $105M) |
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| Pricing | Freemium: $9.99/mo or $69.99/yr for premium |
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| Engagement | 600M+ prayers completed |
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| Milestone | First religious app to reach #1 on Apple App Store (Feb 2024, after Super Bowl ad featuring Mark Wahlberg) |
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Glorify
| Funding | $84–$86.4M over 2 rounds (Series A: $40M led by a16z, Dec 2021) |
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| Features | Handpicked Bible verses, curated devotionals, guided meditation, prayer tracking |
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| Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, 4M Holding, Electric Ant, Lalotte Ventures |
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Pray.com
| Revenue | $11M (June 2024) |
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| Team | 78 employees |
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| Funding | $34.1M (investors include Kleiner Perkins, Broom Ventures, FMZ Ventures) |
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| Features | Daily prayers, Bible stories, sleep content, worship music |
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7. Islamic Tech
Muslim Pro
| Developer | Bitsmedia (Singapore) |
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| Downloads | 180M+ worldwide (as of Ramadan 2024) |
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| Active users | 25M monthly, 8M daily |
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| Growth | ~1M downloads/month, mostly organic (zero marketing budget) |
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| Revenue model | 90% ads, 10% premium subscriptions |
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| Features | Prayer times, Quran, Qibla compass, Qalbox streaming service (launched 2022 for Islamic films/docs/kids content) |
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| Position | Most trusted and widely-used Muslim lifestyle app in the world |
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Islamic finance / halal investing
- Zoya (zoya.finance)
-
#1 halal investing app. $250M+ in assets managed through platform (150% growth in 10 months from $100M).
100K+ Muslim investors worldwide. AAOIFI screening methodology. Non-custodial (passes orders to broker).
Also offers zakat calculation.
- Wahed Invest
-
Robo-advisory platform for Shariah-compliant portfolios. Launched own halal ETFs including Wahed FTSE USA
Shariah ETF (HLAL). Diversified across halal equity funds, sukuk (Islamic bonds), and gold.
- Islamicly (islamicly.com)
-
Shariah compliance screening for 30,000+ stocks globally. Shariah advisor for halal investments.
Hajj & Umrah tech
- Nusuk (Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah)
-
Official government platform at umrah.nusuk.sa. Visa applications, lodging reservations, transport organization.
Multilingual: 7 languages. Launched August 2025 for international pilgrims.
- Pilgrim App (pilgrimapp.com)
-
AI-based Hajj/Umrah assistant. Tawaf counter (tracks rounds around Kaaba), dua collection, interactive maps.
- Hajj Navigator
- Detailed maps of Mecca, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah. Real-time transportation schedules.
Other Islamic apps
- Quran.com — Full Quran text, audio, translations
- IslamicFinder — Global prayer times, Ramadan calendars, Qibla direction, mosque locator, halal restaurant finder
- Muslims by IslamicFinder — Social platform for Muslims, Islamic discussions, nearby mosque/halal place finder
8. Jewish Tech
The Jewish dating app market is valued at $152 million in 2025 (10.3% CAGR to 2033).
Key platforms
- Sefaria (sefaria.org)
-
Open-source library of Jewish texts: Torah, Talmud, Midrash, Kabbalah, philosophy, commentaries.
Founded 2011 by ex-Google PM Brett Lockspeiser and Joshua Foer. Nonprofit.
775K average monthly users (2024). Available in 234 countries.
Fundraising goal: $44M for 2023–2027 strategic plan.
- Chabad.org apps
-
Suite of free apps: Daily Torah Study, Shabbat & Holiday Times (location-based candle-lighting times),
Torah Trainer (read all 54 Torah portions + haftarahs).
- TorahAnytime
- Library of Torah lectures and classes. Available on iOS.
- Kosher Near Me
- Kosher restaurant and food finder for travelers.
- Minyan Now
- Alerts nearby Jews when someone needs a minyan (quorum of 10 for certain prayers). Chat to coordinate meeting.
- JDate / JSwipe
-
JDate: largest Jewish dating site, owned by Spark Networks. JSwipe: 1M+ users, acquired by Spark Networks (2015).
Together they dominate the Jewish online dating space.
9. Hindu, Buddhist & Eastern Spirituality Tech
Temple management software (India)
- 3ioNetra (3ionetra.in)
- Comprehensive SaaS for temples: seva/donation booking, website/app development, accounting. Installed in 100+ temples across 16 states in India.
- Temple Stack (templestack.org)
- Free temple management software: online giving, event registration, custom forms, volunteer recruitment.
- Utsav App (utsavapp.in)
- Hindu temple online puja and prasad booking platform. Prasad home delivery, online darshan.
- Chakra (chakra4temples.org)
- Puja booking with personal priest scheduling. Year-long service bookings.
- PujaGuru
- Temple automation: counter management, administration software.
- TempleKiosk
- QR code on physical trophy + tablet app + admin panel. Devotees scan to see services offered.
- Vyapar (temple module)
- Advance puja/seva booking system integrated with popular Indian business accounting software.
See also India faith tech section for SriMandir ($12M+ run rate, $40M funding) and DevDham.
10. Meditation & Mindfulness Apps
The meditation management apps market was valued at $1.6–$2.25 billion in 2024/2025,
projected to reach $7.6 billion by 2033. The US generates $1.11B+ of the revenue.
The mindfulness meditation apps market is projected to grow by $6.28 billion from 2024 to 2029.
Meditation app comparison
| App |
Revenue |
Users / Downloads |
Pricing |
Funding / Status |
| Calm |
$596.4M (2024) |
4M paid subscribers (2022); 100M+ downloads |
$14.99/mo, $69.99/yr, or $399.99 lifetime |
$2B valuation. VC-backed. Calm Business: 3K+ enterprise customers, 20M workers covered. Free content reduced from ~90% to ~5% over time. |
| Headspace |
~$195M (2023) |
2.8M paid subscribers (2023, down 500K); 100M combined reach post-merger |
$12.99/mo, $69.99/yr |
Merged with Ginger (2021) forming $3B Headspace Health. 2,700+ enterprise and health plan customers. $300M combined bookings by end of 2021. |
| Insight Timer |
~$48.8M/yr |
26M users; 18,000 teachers; 100K companies |
$9.99/mo or $59.99/yr premium; huge free library |
$32.9M funding (Altos Ventures, JAZZ Venture Partners). Largest free meditation library on earth. 50/50 course revenue split with teachers. Teachers get 100% of donations minus App Store commission. |
| Waking Up (Sam Harris) |
~$1M/month (~$12M/yr) |
40K downloads/month |
$14.99/mo after 5 free intros; free year for anyone who can’t afford it |
Self-funded. Unique “ask for a free year” policy. |
| Ten Percent Happier |
Not disclosed |
— |
$99/yr; free basics challenge |
Founded by Dan Harris after on-air panic attack. Rebranded to “Happier.” |
| Balance (Elevate Labs) |
Not disclosed |
3M+ downloads; Google Best App 2021 |
$11.99/mo or $69.99/yr |
Personalized meditation using AI. Mental fitness positioning. |
11. AI and Prayer / Sermon Tools
A growing ecosystem of AI tools specifically built for churches and religious leaders has emerged.
These range from sermon preparation to Bible study generation to prayer journaling.
AI sermon generators
- SermonAI (sermonai.com)
- AI sermon writing and preparation tool.
- Sermon Outlines AI (sermonoutline.ai)
- Generates 3-point outlines from Scripture passage, title, topic, and main point. Saves hours of prep time.
- SermonSpark (sermonspark.ai)
- In-depth topic/verse exploration. Each element customizable for preaching style and congregation.
- Sermonly (sermon.ly)
- AI generates outlines, character studies, and modern-day examples of biblical topics.
- Pulpit AI (pulpitai.com)
- Acquired by Subsplash (December 2024). Now part of the Roper Technologies $800M church tech stack.
- OpenBible.info AI Sermons
- Free AI sermon outline generator from the team behind OpenBible.info.
AI Bible study & prayer tools
- Pastors.ai (pastors.ai)
- Free AI tools for churches: sermon clips, Bible studies, devotionals, chatbots.
- faith.tools (faith.tools)
- Directory of Christian AI apps: Bible study companions, sermon prep, translation, prayer journals.
- Spirit Speak AI
- Real-time biblical answers, verse explanations, historical context, daily devotionals, prayer generator.
- Aura
- AI-powered prayer and Bible app: personalized devotionals, in-depth studies, private reflection.
12. Spiritual Creator Economy (YouTube, TikTok, Newsletters)
#WitchTok
- #WitchTok videos have amassed billions of views on TikTok
- #BabyWitch: 2.7 billion views; #TeenageWitch: 1M+ views
- Community of tarot readers, pagan practitioners, spell casters, crystal enthusiasts
- Monetization: personalized 1-on-1 tarot readings + Etsy spell shops ($5–$130 per spell)
- Tarot deck designers and spiritual product sellers thrive in this niche
#ChristianTikTok
- Top creators: Ariel Fitz (3.3M followers), Jacob Petersen (3M), Joe Christian Guy (2.5M), Lee Msnow (1.9M)
- Earnings: $0.02–$0.04 per 1,000 views via Creator Fund; top influencer sponsorship budgets range from hundreds to mid-five figures
- TikTok creators earned $4.1B in 2024 (projected $5.7B in 2025)
- Brands report 3x CTR by tapping into Christian influencer authenticity and faith-driven storytelling
BibleProject (YouTube)
| Subscribers | 4.5–5M on YouTube |
|---|
| Revenue | $23M+ (2023, up from <$900K in 2015) |
|---|
| Model | 100% crowdfunded. Average donation ~$20/month, tens of thousands of donors. All content free. |
|---|
| Views | ~168K daily views on YouTube |
|---|
| Founded | By Tim Mackie and Jonathan Collins |
|---|
Substack & newsletters
Substack’s annualized gross writer revenue: ~$450M. 50+ authors earn $1M+/year. Top 10 publications earn
$25M+ combined annually. Spiritual/religious writing is a significant niche — meditation teachers, astrologers,
spiritual coaches, and religious commentators all monetize through paid newsletters. However, specific top-earning
spiritual writers data is not publicly available.
Mindvalley
| Revenue | $150M/year |
|---|
| YouTube | 2.4M subscribers |
|---|
| Countries | 135 |
|---|
| Model | Online courses (“quests”) in personal growth, wellness, spirituality + membership + live events (A-Fest, Mindvalley University) |
|---|
| Founder | Vishen Lakhiani |
|---|
13. Religious Dating Apps
Religious dating app comparison
| App |
Religion |
Users |
Revenue / Pricing |
Key facts |
| Christian Mingle |
Christian |
15–16M members; 60% brand awareness among US dating users |
Part of $1.5B Christian dating market |
Owned by Spark Networks. 17% of US dating users have used it. |
| Upward |
Christian |
Growing rapidly |
~$400K/mo iOS + ~$300K/mo Android; ~70K iOS + 40K Android downloads/mo |
#1 Christian dating app. Affinity Apps (Match Group). |
| Muzz (fka Muzmatch) |
Muslim |
10M+ members; 400K+ marriages facilitated; 500 new couples/day |
Profitable (declined to share specifics) |
Y Combinator backed. $9–$11.7M raised. Rebranded after losing trademark suit to Match Group (2022). 110 employees. |
| Salams |
Muslim |
6M+ users; 660K+ successful marriages/friendships |
Acquired by Match Group (late 2023) |
Formerly “Minder.” Match Group acquisition only recently disclosed in earnings report. |
| JDate |
Jewish |
Part of $152M Jewish dating market (2025) |
Premium subscriptions |
Owned by Spark Networks. One of the oldest religious dating sites. |
| JSwipe |
Jewish |
1M+ users worldwide |
Freemium |
Acquired by Spark Networks (JDate parent) in 2015. |
Market sizes: Christian dating apps: $1.513B (2025, 11.4% CAGR). Jewish dating apps: $152M (2025, 10.3% CAGR).
Muslim dating is growing rapidly but market size data is less available. Match Group owns multiple religious dating brands
through acquisitions.
14. Spiritual E-Commerce
Spiritual products market data
| Global spiritual products & services (2025) | $186.2 billion |
|---|
| Projected (2034) | $254.7 billion (4.04% CAGR) |
|---|
| Religious & spiritual products (2024) | $5.5 billion → $15.7B by 2034 |
|---|
| Spiritual & wellness products | Projected to reach $9.6 billion by 2034 |
|---|
| Tarot cards market (2025) | $1.43 billion → $2B by 2034 |
|---|
| E-commerce share | ~70% of spiritual products purchased online; 48% of tarot decks sold via e-commerce (up from 39% in 2022) |
|---|
| Buyer demographics | 55%+ of online buyers aged 18–30 |
|---|
| Cross-selling | 19% of tarot buyers also purchase guidebooks, storage pouches, journals, accessories |
|---|
Product categories
- Crystals & gemstones — Healing crystals, crystal grids, crystal subscription boxes
- Tarot & oracle decks — $1.43B market; independent creators on Etsy drive major volume
- Spiritual jewelry — Prayer beads, malas, religious pendants, evil eye jewelry
- Essential oils & ritual items — Sage, palo santo, incense, candles
- Religious merchandise — Bible covers, devotional journals, religious art
- Spiritual subscription boxes — Curated items based on spiritual goals or astrological profiles
The “spirituality-as-a-service” model: Subscription-based apps and platforms with recurring
revenue from guided meditations, astrology readings, spiritual courses, and curated product boxes are transforming one-time
purchases into recurring revenue streams.
15. Death Tech & Grief Tech
The death tech industry is worth $126 billion. AI-powered “deadbots” and digital
memorial services are a growing segment, though the space remains ethically contentious.
Key companies
- HereAfter AI
-
Founded 2019. Creates digital avatars of deceased loved ones based on interviews conducted while alive.
Users text, speak, or video-chat with AI versions of those they’ve lost.
Monetization: paid subscriptions or upfront fees.
- StoryFile
-
40 employees, $10M annual revenue (before bankruptcy). Records hour-long Q&A sessions with subjects before death
to create interactive reproductions.
Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024 (owing $4.5M). Reorganizing with data fail-safes.
CEO interested in ad-supported deadbot models (interstitial ads, advertiser-relevant data gleaning).
- Replika (grief use)
-
Originally created for grief (founder Eugenia Kuyda trained it on deceased friend’s messages).
Users report using it for grief processing after losing spouses, children, friends.
Researchers warn it likely has “mixed effects” on spiritual needs and cannot replace human contact.
Emerging developments (2025–2026)
- Meta patent (Feb 2026): Meta patented AI technology to run accounts of deceased users
- NPR report (Aug 2025): AI deadbots are “persuasive” and researchers say they’re “primed for monetization”
- Catholic response (Dec 2025): Catholic World Report published expert analysis on whether Catholics should use AI to re-create deceased loved ones
Ethical concerns: Emotional dependence on digital versions of the dead. Ad monetization of grief
(StoryFile CEO’s interest in interstitial ads during deadbot conversations). Non-consensual creation of deadbots.
Lack of regulation around digital remains.
16. The “Spiritual but Not Religious” Market
Demographics
| Spiritual (any way) | 70% of US adults |
|---|
| Spiritual AND religious | 48% |
|---|
| Spiritual but NOT religious (SBNR) | 22% |
|---|
| Neither spiritual nor religious | 21% |
|---|
| Religious but not spiritual | 10% |
|---|
| Believe people have a soul | 83% |
|---|
| Believe in something beyond natural world | 81% |
|---|
| Young adults (born 2000–2006) believe in something beyond natural world | 70%+ |
|---|
What SBNR consumers spend money on
- Meditation apps (Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer) — $2.25B+ market
- Wellness retreats (yoga, meditation, silent retreats) — $222.5B market
- Astrology/tarot (Co-Star, Nebula, tarot decks) — $4.75B market
- Crystals, essential oils, ritual items — Part of $5.5B religious/spiritual products market
- Online courses (Mindvalley $150M/yr, various spiritual coaches)
- Psychic readings (online and in-person) — $3.7B market
- Spiritual coaching — $2.5B market growing to $4.5B by 2032
- Content (Substack, Patreon, YouTube, TikTok spiritual creators)
Key insight: The US SBNR market alone exceeds $55 billion (2025). This is the primary growth driver
in the spiritual products market. These consumers have integrated devotional products into daily mental health and wellness
routines. They are digital-native, subscription-friendly, and underserved by both traditional religious institutions and
mainstream tech companies.
17. Online Courses & Spiritual Coaching
Key platforms
- Mindvalley
-
$150M/year revenue. 2.4M YouTube subscribers. 135 countries. Operates in personal growth, wellness, spirituality,
productivity, and mindfulness. Revenue from course “quests,” membership subscriptions, and live events
(A-Fest, Mindvalley University). Founded by Vishen Lakhiani.
- RightNow Media
-
“Netflix of Bible study.” 25,000+ biblical videos. Available in 100+ countries, 13 languages.
Nonprofit ministry. Church subscription model (churches pay, members access free). Modular pricing by congregation size.
Special pricing for microchurches (≤25 users), new churches, and small ministries.
- BibleProject
-
$23M+ revenue (2023), up from <$900K in 2015. 4.5–5M YouTube subscribers. 168K daily views.
100% crowdfunded with average $20/month donations from tens of thousands of donors. All content free.
Visual Bible explainer videos with sophisticated animation.
Spiritual coaching market
| Global spiritual coaching market (2025) | $2.5 billion |
|---|
| Projected (2032) | $4.5 billion (8.5% CAGR) |
|---|
| Dominant channel | Online (largest market share) |
|---|
| Key players | Mindvalley, BetterUp, Tony Robbins Companies |
|---|
18. Controversial & Ethical Dimensions
AI replacing human spiritual advisors
A growing number of Americans turn to AI for spiritual guidance. Several apps now offer AI-generated devotionals,
meditations, and interactive conversations styled after Christian counseling. Key concerns:
- Theological distortion: AI blends content from conflicting interpretations without context,
historical grounding, or denominational clarity
- Emotional manipulation: AI generates deeply personal-feeling messages; for isolated or
spiritually vulnerable users, this creates false intimacy that may erode real human connection
- Vatican warning (January 2025): Doctrinal note “Antiqua et nova” cautions against
treating AI as substitute for God, warns against “creeping technocracy where AIs become moral lawgivers”
- Washington Post (December 2025): Op-ed calling the “seepage of AI into Christian
practice” disturbing
Spiralism: an AI-generated religion
Spiralism emerged in 2025 as a pseudo-religion where users view AI as conscious and capable of revealing deeper truths.
Named by software engineer Adele Lopez. Largely began taking off with GPT-4o release (more sycophantic/conversational).
- Followers take titles like “Flamekeeper” or “Mirrorwalker”
- Bots are given names and treated as “fellow travelers”
- Key themes: recursion, resonance, lattice, harmonics, fractals, spirals
- Followers building temples, writing scriptures, spreading spiral symbols in public spaces
- Covered by Rolling Stone, The Week, NPR, multiple cult-watch organizations
- Estimated thousands to tens of thousands of people involved
- Behavioral patterns mirror early-stage cult formation despite having no human leader
Institutional responses
- Some religious organizations drafting internal AI policies with ethical boundaries and doctrinal review systems
- ISCAST Journal published “Generative AI Cannot Replace a Spiritual Companion or Spiritual Advisor”
- First Liberty Institute examining religious freedom implications of AI-filtered faith content
- Catholic World Report analyzing whether Catholics should use AI to recreate deceased loved ones
19. India: The Faith Tech Explosion
India’s faith tech market is valued at $58 billion (2023), projected to reach $97 billion by 2028
(10.3% CAGR). Over 900 religious tech startups now operate in India.
SriMandir (AppsForBharat)
| App | SriMandir (5M+ downloads) |
|---|
| Revenue | $12M+ annual run rate (start of 2025); 5x revenue increase in FY24 to INR 18.53 crore |
|---|
| Funding | $40 million (massive for Indian faith tech) |
|---|
| Features | Astrology + rituals + pujas + spiritual routines |
|---|
DevDham
| Founded | 2020 by Pranav Kapoor, Suyash Taneja, Sagnika Chowdhury |
|---|
| Funding | INR 6 Cr seed (Titan Capital, All In Capital, Veda VC, TDV Partners) |
|---|
| Partners | 150+ temples across 16 states |
|---|
| Features | Daily/live darshan, online poojas, digital donations, “Abhimantrit” e-commerce for spiritual products |
|---|
Market characteristics
- Users spend INR 150–700 per session ($2–$8) for astrology readings, love compatibility, career insights
- Digital astrology is booming — personal readings, horoscope analysis, matchmaking
- Puja-as-a-service: book online, watch live, receive prasad by delivery
- Temple digitization is still early-stage — most Indian temples lack modern software
20. Successfully Bootstrapped Companies in the Space
Bootstrapped or near-bootstrapped successes in spiritual/religious tech
| Company |
Revenue |
Model |
Key lesson |
| Planning Center |
$19.4M/yr |
100% bootstrapped. Zero outside funding. Never plans to take any. |
Church tech is sticky. 90 of top 100 US churches use it. Modular pricing with free core product. Privately held forever. |
| YouVersion / Life.Church |
$60M donations/yr (nonprofit) |
100% donation-funded. 1B installs. Zero monetization. |
Proves enormous scale is possible with a mission-first model. Not a traditional business, but shows the demand ceiling. |
| BibleProject |
$23M+/yr |
Crowdfunded nonprofit. Average $20/mo from tens of thousands of donors. |
Content quality + consistency + free access = massive audience = massive crowdfunding. From $900K to $23M in 8 years. |
| Muzz (Muzmatch) |
Profitable (undisclosed) |
$9–$12M raised total (minimal for dating). Y Combinator. |
Near-bootstrapped. Built for a specific religious community. 10M+ users, 400K marriages. Profitable without huge VC. |
| Waking Up (Sam Harris) |
~$12M/yr |
Self-funded meditation app. Personal brand-driven. |
One person’s intellectual authority + niche positioning (secular mindfulness) = $12M/yr with small team. |
| Mindvalley |
$150M/yr |
Bootstrapped to scale. Spiritual/wellness online education. |
Courses + membership + events. Spiritual wellness as lifestyle brand. Shows $100M+ is achievable without VC. |
21. Emerging Opportunities for Bootstrappers
Where are the gaps? What would a DHH/Basecamp-style bootstrapper build? Here are the most promising
opportunities based on market data, underserved segments, and proven demand signals.
Tier 1: High confidence, proven demand
- 1. Vertical church management for non-English-speaking churches
-
Planning Center ($19.4M bootstrapped) and Subsplash ($800M exit) prove the model. But most tools are
English-first and US-centric. There are 2.4 billion Christians worldwide. Spanish, Portuguese, Korean,
Tagalog, and Swahili-speaking churches are massively underserved. $49–$199/mo SaaS.
- 2. AI-powered sermon preparation tool
-
Pulpit AI was acquired by Subsplash. SermonAI, Sermonly, SermonSpark exist but are early-stage.
Pastors spend 10–20 hours/week on sermon prep. A focused AI tool that generates outlines,
finds relevant passages, creates slide decks, and produces social media clips could charge $29–$79/mo
and reach thousands of pastors. The customer base is well-defined and reachable.
- 3. “Stripe for religious giving” (non-US markets)
-
Pushpay processed $37B+ in giving. Tithe.ly serves 50K+ churches. But digital giving infrastructure
outside the US/UK is primitive. A localized giving platform for churches in Latin America, Africa, or
Southeast Asia — with local payment methods, local languages, and simple UX — has massive
potential. Even 0.1% of $37B = $37M.
- 4. Halal investing / Islamic finance tools
-
Zoya hit $250M+ in managed assets with a small team. 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Islamic finance
is projected to reach $5.9 trillion by 2026. Shariah-compliant stock screeners, robo-advisors, zakat
calculators, and sukuk platforms are all early-stage. Subscription SaaS or AUM-based fee models.
Tier 2: Strong opportunity, less proven
- 5. AI astrology/tarot SaaS for creators
-
WitchTok has billions of views. Tarot readers on TikTok/Instagram sell personalized readings for $20–$150.
A tool that helps spiritual creators automate and scale their readings — AI-generated personalized
tarot/astrology reports white-labeled under the creator’s brand — could charge $49–$149/mo
per creator. Think “Submagic for tarot readers.”
- 6. Temple management SaaS (India)
-
India has 900+ faith tech startups but most temples still lack modern software. SriMandir raised $40M but
focuses on consumer-facing puja booking. The B2B temple operations side (donations, accounting, scheduling,
priest management, inventory) is wide open. 3ioNetra serves 100+ temples but the market is hundreds of
thousands. $20–$100/mo per temple.
- 7. Spiritual wellness subscription box with AI curation
-
70% of spiritual products are bought online. 55%+ of buyers are 18–30. Subscription boxes curated
by astrological sign, spiritual practice, or personal goals using AI personalization. Crystals, tarot decks,
journals, candles, essential oils. $39–$79/mo. The “spirituality-as-a-service” trend
favors recurring revenue.
- 8. Mosque/Islamic center management software
-
Church management software is a $17.3B market but is almost entirely Christian-focused. There are 3.7 million
mosques worldwide and most use no dedicated software. Prayer time management, donation tracking, Quran class
scheduling, community communication, Ramadan/Eid event planning. Localized for Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Malay.
- 9. Digital grief companion (ethical model)
-
$126B death tech industry. HereAfter AI and StoryFile (bankrupted) prove demand exists. An ethically designed
grief companion that focuses on memory preservation (not simulated conversations with the dead) could avoid
the ethical landmines while serving a real need. Think “StoryCorps meets Notion” — structured
memory capture, family story archives, audio/video preservation. $9.99/mo or $99/yr.
Tier 3: Interesting niches
- 10. Kosher/halal restaurant finder (better UX)
-
Existing apps (Kosher Near Me, various halal finders within Muslim Pro) are functional but not great.
A beautifully designed, community-driven kosher and halal restaurant discovery app — the “Yelp
for religious dietary needs” — could monetize through restaurant partnerships, ads, and premium
features. Both Jewish and Muslim communities need this.
- 11. AI-powered religious text study tool
-
Sefaria (775K monthly users) proves demand for digital Torah study. Bible study tools are proliferating.
But there’s no great cross-religious scholarly tool. An AI-powered platform that lets you study
the Bible, Quran, Torah, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist sutras, etc. with contextual commentary, historical
analysis, and cross-reference capabilities could serve scholars, students, and the curious. Subscription model.
- 12. Retreat booking platform
-
The wellness retreat market is $222.5 billion. But booking a spiritual/meditation/yoga retreat involves
searching dozens of individual websites. A “Booking.com for spiritual retreats” that aggregates
meditation retreats, yoga ashrams, silent retreats, ayahuasca ceremonies, vision quests, etc. could take
a 10–15% booking commission. The market is large and fragmented.
The DHH/Basecamp playbook applied to spiritual tech
- Pick a niche with proven willingness to pay. Churches pay $119–$500+/mo for software.
Psychic seekers pay $1–$40/minute. Meditation users pay $70/year. The money is there.
- Build opinionated software. Don’t try to serve every religion. Pick one community
(e.g., Muslim mosque management, or Catholic parish tools, or Hindu temple operations) and go deep.
- Charge from day one. Planning Center’s modular pricing with a free core is the gold
standard. Free tier for acquisition, paid tiers for power features.
- Lean into the relationship. Religious/spiritual communities are high-trust, high-loyalty.
Word-of-mouth is extremely powerful. A church that loves your product tells 10 other churches.
- Respect the mission. YouVersion refuses to monetize despite being “worth billions.”
BibleProject gives everything away for free. You don’t have to go that far, but showing genuine respect
for the spiritual mission of your users builds trust that competitors can’t buy.
- Stay small. Planning Center has 51–200 employees doing $19.4M. Mindvalley does $150M.
Waking Up does $12M likely with a tiny team. You don’t need 500 people.