Review Your Side-Job Prep as a Solo Developer After Apps in Toss's October 22 Exposure Overhaul
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Key Takeaway
From October 22, Apps in Toss adds recommended exposure based on a mini app's polish and user response. Solo developers can be candidates, but launching alone guarantees no Toss home spot or income.
Where do users find you once you launch?
The notice Toss published on October 6 divides mini apps into three tiers. A launched mini app that passes review keeps the basic traffic paths, such as search and share links. Missing the recommendation criteria does not make these paths disappear.
| Tier | What is evaluated | Extra placements |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | Passing launch review | Toss search, share links, Google search, preview exposure |
| Recommended | UX, usage metrics, reviews, performance | Personalized recommendations in the All tab, store curation, priority in search |
| Boosted | Top usage metrics in the same category, plus editorial selection | Recommendation space at the top of the Toss home and All tab |
Source: Apps in Toss official blog, date checked 2026-10-10.
What should a small team prepare first?
The official notice says it looks at user response within the same category rather than company size. In the early launch period you can gauge response through preview exposure, and evaluation does not start only after you gather a large number of users.
If you are preparing a mini app as a side job, first pick one action users should complete. An action that shows the app's purpose, such as checking a calculation result or saving a record, works well. The order that matches the official preparation items is to register that action as a conversion metric in the console, then fix the inconveniences that keep coming up in reviews.
Can you count wider exposure as income?
There are too many variables to count it that way. The recommendation tier changes on an ongoing basis, and it guarantees neither ad income nor payment conversion. You also have to look at operating costs and user acquisition costs separately. If you carry the beta exposure comparison in the official material over as a revenue multiplier for your own app, your judgment will drift.
When weighing profit and loss, make a table that separates expected income from server, content, and maintenance costs. Until real metrics build up, it is better not to put an exposure multiplier in the income column.
What should you check before October 22?
Go through the public UX checklist, the conversion metrics in the console, and your ratings and reviews, in that order. It is also worth checking that login or notification consent does not block the first action. The policy start date and operating criteria are based on the official notice checked on 2026-10-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I apply for boosting separately?
According to the official notice, a mini app automatically becomes a candidate once it meets the recommendation criteria and the category usage metrics, and the editorial team makes the selection.
Does a recommendation last once I get it?
Selection happens on an ongoing basis, and your tier can change based on the criteria.
If I am not recommended, are share links blocked too?
No. The official notice says the search and share link paths for launched mini apps stay in place.
Sources & Verification Date
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.