Grand Prize
For the app with the strongest traction and growth momentum.
The world's biggest mobile hackathon for people who actually ship.
Shipaton 2026 is RevenueCat's global hackathon for builders launching real apps to real stores, competing for big prizes, and showing the world what they shipped.
Win cash, a Times Square billboard, and more
- $700k+ in cash prizes
- Invitation to App Growth Annual in NYC
- Your app featured on a giant Times Square billboard
- Shippy trophy
- Blog feature plus 9to5Mac and 9to5Google spotlight
Live on stage
Trophy moments
Times Square
Winning app billboard
9 categories, one big reason to ship.
Shipaton rewards more than one kind of builder. Growth, games, social good, design craft, ads monetization, student projects, build-in-public storytelling, and RevenueCat-powered revenue all have a path to win.
Best Game Award
For the best mobile game shipped during Shipaton.
RevenueCat Peace Prize
For the app with the biggest positive impact.
RevenueCat Design Award
For exceptional product craft, design, and animation.
Catvertising Award
Celebrates the most creative and effective use of ads as a monetization method.
Next Gen Award
For student builders submitting a video and open-source code.
#BuildInPublic Award
For the most compelling build-in-public journey.
HAMM Award (Help Apps Make Money)
For the smartest use of RevenueCat to drive revenue.
Conflict of Interest Award
For the best eligible submission from RevenueCat or sponsor employees.
Next Gen gives student builders their own path to win.
Next Gen gives student builders their own path to win.
This year we're making Shipaton more accessible than ever to students across the world with the Next Gen Award: a prize category exclusively for students. Participants submit a video and source code, removing the requirement for a paid Apple or Google developer account.
Schools, clubs, and university programs can host Shipaton IRL campus events to bring students together, hand out Shipaton swag, and help classmates build toward their submissions.
Shipaton IRL brings builders together around the world.
Shipaton is online, but it does not have to feel remote. Last year, builders brought Shipaton in person from Tokyo to St. Louis, Seoul to Barcelona, and London to Delhi. This year will be even bigger.
Tokyo
Seoul
London
Thank you to our sponsors
This year's Shipaton is going to be bigger and better than ever thanks to the help of our amazing sponsors!
Pre-register before the challenge opens.
Pre-register on Devpost for Shipaton 2026 updates, rules, registration details, and submission dates.