AppEsteem
AppEsteem is a private Bellevue-based cybersecurity services company that certifies consumer apps against proprietary Application Certification Requirements and publishes Deceptor and Polluter app intelligence feeds for app developers, installers, and antivirus vendors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBellevue, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What AppEsteem does
AppEsteem is a private cybersecurity services company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, founded in 2016, that operates an application certification and compliance platform for the consumer software ecosystem. The company has developed Application Certification Requirements (ACRs), a detailed set of behavioral, monetization, installation, and consumer-protection criteria, in collaboration with leading cybersecurity companies. It reviews and certifies apps that meet these criteria, publishes a public Certified Apps list, and separately identifies and publishes Deceptor, Polluter, and Sham apps with documented evidence of violations.
The company monetizes primarily through per-app subscriptions: Premium Support at $1,300 per app per month with proactive monitoring, expedited services, and unlimited consulting, and Basic Support at $1,000 per app per month with email-based consulting, both requiring a six-month minimum commitment. A non-subscription Individual Review at $700 per app review is available for apps that do not seek certification, with add-on fees of $600 each for multi-language, affiliate distribution, and non-certified call-center monetization. It serves three primary customer segments: app developers seeking certification, installers concerned about brand damage from bundled deceptive software, and antivirus/security companies that consume App Intelligence JSON feeds containing certified and Deceptor app data, including file hashes and digital certificate details.
Beyond certification, AppEsteem runs the Deceptor Fighter Certification program — a monthly AMTSO Standards-based test for antivirus vendors — and an AppEsteem Insider program offering early visibility into requirement changes. Distribution is primarily direct via its website and customer portal, with public JSON API feeds under formal terms of use for cybersecurity integrations. The company claims its partnerships with leading cybersecurity companies help protect more than two billion people, while operating with a small team of 11-50 employees and no disclosed external funding.
AppEsteem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AppEsteem
- Legal name
- AppEsteem Corporation
- Website
- https://appesteem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AppEsteem is a private Bellevue-based cybersecurity services company that certifies consumer apps against proprietary Application Certification Requirements and publishes Deceptor and Polluter app intelligence feeds for app developers, installers, and antivirus vendors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AppEsteem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Application Compliance and Certification Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- App Security, Compliance & Review Automation Platforms (BPAMADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mobile Application Security (App Shielding, Anti-Tamper) (HDADACAL)
Keywords
Where AppEsteem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellevue
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
AppEsteem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- App Certification Services: Subscription-based app review and certification services with tiered support levels. Premium support includes proactive monitoring, compliance consulting, and certification logo rights. Basic support offers core review and reporting. Minimum 6-month commitment required.
- Individual App Review: One-time pay-per-review model for apps that do not lead to certification. Provides app report with ACR-specific compliance information.
- Add-on Services: Additional fees for multi-language app support ($600), affiliate distribution support, and non-certified call center monetization monitoring.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium Support - Best Value |
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Support |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Review |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
AppEsteem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AppEsteem provides application certification and compliance services by reviewing software apps against its proprietary Application Certification Requirements (ACRs), granting App Certification to compliant apps that are then shared with leading cybersecurity companies. The company also identifies and publicly lists deceptive apps (Deceptors) and polluting apps (Polluters), publishes Sham Definitions, runs a Deceptor Fighter Certification program for anti-malware vendors, and delivers App Intelligence data feeds used by AV companies to protect consumers.
Product overview
AppEsteem offers a suite of application compliance and certification services focused on protecting consumers from deceptive and polluting software. The core offerings include App Certification (reviewing apps against proprietary Application Certification Requirements), App Review, Compliance Consulting, and Detection Advisories. Supporting programs include the Deceptor Program (public listing of violating apps), Polluter Program, and Sham Definitions. The company also provides App Intelligence data feeds for security companies and runs a Deceptor Fighter certification program for AV vendors. Services are available at multiple tiers: Premium Support ($1,300/month/app with proactive monitoring), Basic Support ($1,000/month), and Individual Review ($700/app without certification).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Deceptor Fighters: A certification program for antivirus companies that tests their ability to detect Deceptor apps and not detect Certified Apps.
- AppEsteem Insider Program
- Better World Network
Products and services
- App Certification Certification program that reviews consumer apps against AppEsteem's Application Certification Requirements (ACRs); certified apps are publicly listed and shared with the world's leading cybersecurity companies. Available via Premium Support ($1,300/month/app) and Basic Support ($1,000/month/app) subscriptions, subject to compliance monitoring.
- App Review Expert review of an app against AppEsteem's ACRs to assess compliance issues, included in Premium and Basic subscription tiers and available as a one-time $700 Individual Review for apps that do not pursue certification.
- Compliance Consulting Unlimited compliance consulting support across an app's lifecycle to help developers achieve and maintain ACR compliance; included in all subscription tiers with Premium offering phone-based consultations and Basic offering email-based support.
- Deceptor Program Public program that identifies and lists apps violating Deceptor-level ACRs, supported by evidence of violations, and made available to cybersecurity companies via website and JSON feed.
- Polluter Program Program addressing applications that engage in polluting behavior, providing public indicators and a remediation pathway for app vendors to fix flagged issues.
- Deceptor Fighter Certification Monthly certification test for anti-malware vendors based on AMSO/AMTSO Standards, measuring an AV's ability to detect Deceptor apps and not detect Certified Apps; AVs passing receive Deceptor Fighter certification.
- App Intelligence Feeds Investigative intelligence data feeds for cybersecurity companies, providing JSON-formatted data on certified apps (company, product, file hashes, digital certificate, certification status) and ACR-based hints, licensed under AppEsteem's API Agreement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2 billion people protected through cybersecurity partnerships
Companies that use AppEsteem
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AppEsteem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AppEsteem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- World's Leading Cybersecurity CompaniescoreAppEsteem partners with the world's leading cybersecurity companies who helped create their certification requirements (ACRs) and Deceptor program. These companies rely on AppEsteem's App Intelligence to better protect their customers. Partnerships are built on shared values and unwavering commitment to protecting consumers from cybercrime.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AppEsteem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- OPSWAT: OPSWAT provides file security, application allowlisting, and compliance/attestation services (MetaDefender, OESIS Framework) for enterprise and critical infrastructure. Comparable to AppEsteem in providing app compliance and security validation, but serves a broader enterprise portfolio rather than focusing narrowly on consumer app certification.
- VirusTotal (Google): VirusTotal aggregates multiple AV engines and provides file/app reputation data — partially overlapping with AppEsteem's App Intelligence feeds in serving AV and security-researcher data needs. Owned by Google, it operates at vastly greater scale and could subsume narrower app-reputation niches.
- Microsoft SmartScreen / Defender Application Control: Microsoft's built-in application reputation and SmartScreen filtering services perform app trust assessment natively within Windows and Microsoft platforms. Represents a major disintermediation risk as it bundles similar deceptor/malicious-app identification into the platform itself rather than purchasing third-party intelligence.
- Lookout: Lookout provides mobile threat intelligence and app reputation analysis for consumers and enterprises. Adjacent to AppEsteem's mission of protecting consumers from deceptive mobile apps, but operating at broader mobile-security scope rather than certification-only.
Direct peers
- AV-TEST: Independent cybersecurity testing lab that certifies and rates antivirus and security products, similar to AppEsteem's Deceptor Fighter certification program for AVs. Both organizations run standards-based testing to validate detection capability, and both are positioned as neutral arbiters of app/security product quality.
- AV-Comparatives: Independent antivirus testing organization that evaluates security products against real-world threats and publishes certification-level results. Closely comparable to AppEsteem's AV certification activities, operating in the same neutral-testing niche with similar methodology and audience.
- StopBadware: StopBadware is a non-profit that reviews and publishes information about bad apps and websites, historically working with AV vendors and app stores. Functionally analogous to AppEsteem's Deceptor and Polluter programs — cataloguing deceptive apps and exposing bad actors — though StopBadware operates as a non-profit rather than commercial entity.
Others
- AMTSO: Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization that defines testing standards referenced by AppEsteem's Deceptor Fighter program. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent standards body whose methodology underpins AppEsteem's AV-side offering and shapes buyer expectations.
Emerging players
- Appdetox / Apptopia: Apptopia provides app market intelligence and analytics including publisher reputation data and app-store compliance signals. Comparable to AppEsteem on the data-feed side for app developers and security researchers, though focused more on market analytics than compliance certification.
- MetaCert: MetaCert provides URL and app reputation data feeds for security vendors, similar in form factor to AppEsteem's App Intelligence JSON feeds. Smaller and more focused on certain platforms, but operates in the same security-intelligence-as-a-data-feed niche for AV partners.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AppEsteem social profiles
Digital presenceAppEsteem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AppEsteem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
AppEsteem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AppEsteem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AppEsteem
What does AppEsteem do?
AppEsteem provides application certification and compliance services by reviewing software apps against its proprietary Application Certification Requirements (ACRs), granting App Certification to compliant apps that are then shared with leading cybersecurity companies. The company also identifies and publicly lists deceptive apps (Deceptors) and polluting apps (Polluters), publishes Sham Definitions, runs a Deceptor Fighter Certification program for anti-malware vendors, and delivers App Intelligence data feeds used by AV companies to protect consumers.
Is AppEsteem a public or private company?
AppEsteem is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AppEsteem founded?
AppEsteem was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AppEsteem based?
AppEsteem is headquartered in Bellevue, United States, in the North America region.
How does AppEsteem make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. App Certification Services are the primary driver. The others are individual App Review and add-on Services.
Who are AppEsteem's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are OPSWAT, VirusTotal (Google), Microsoft SmartScreen / Defender Application Control and Lookout. Direct peers are AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives and StopBadware. AMTSO is listed as an others. Emerging players are Appdetox / Apptopia and MetaCert.
Does AppEsteem have an API?
Yes. AppEsteem provides public API feeds for certified apps and deceptor lists. The certified apps API provides JSON data including company information, product details, file hashes, digital certificate information, and certification status. The ACR feed provides hints data. Both feeds are available under AppEsteem API Agreement and Terms of Use licensing. Developer documentation is at customer.appesteem.com/api/certified.
What industry is AppEsteem in?
AppEsteem's product category is Application Compliance and Certification Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMADAJ, App Security, Compliance & Review Automation Platforms, with a secondary code of HDADACAL, Mobile Application Security (App Shielding, Anti-Tamper). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.