A Black Marketplace is a directory app for discovering Black-owned businesses, enabling users to search by category and location on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the search friction for users specifically seeking to support Black-owned businesses, a task that requires manual filtering on generalist platforms like Google Maps.
For Consumers looking to identify and support Black-owned businesses in their local community or nationwide.
What does it look like?
Key features
Search and filter businesses by geographic proximity or category.
View business details including photos, operating hours, and contact information.
Submit feedback and ratings to support community visibility.
How much does it cost?
The app is currently free to use with no visible subscription or IAP gates, focusing on community growth and directory adoption.
Velocity
Dormant developmentnew contentperformanceUX improvementsShow more...
With only one release in the observed window and 291 days since the last update, the app is currently in a zombie state. Development has ceased, and there is no evidence of ongoing maintenance or feature expansion. The last update provided minor UI optimizations and business additions, but the lack of activity since late 2025 indicates the project is no longer actively supported.
Who built it?
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Not enough recent reviews to extract reliable themes yet.
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for A Black Marketplace
How's the Shopping market?
A Black Marketplace occupies a niche segment of the Shopping category, currently maintaining a 5.0-star rating on the App Store. The lack of recent updates over the last 292 days limits its ability to gain traction against high-frequency local search rivals.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for A Black Marketplace
Where is it heading?
The local directory market is consolidating around platforms that offer high-frequency utility and map-based search. A Black Marketplace remains exposed due to its lack of feature updates, which will likely result in continued low engagement as users default to more robust generalist tools.
- The nine-month update gap signals a lack of active investment, which leads to user churn as competitors iterate faster.
- The absence of map-based discovery forces users to rely on generalist search engines, reducing the app's long-term retention potential.
The SWOT
- Niche-specific directory structure creates a clear value proposition for community-focused commerce
- Integrating map-based discovery would align the app with standard local search expectations
Next best moves
Ship map-based discovery because it is the primary friction point for local business search → increase session frequency
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's biggest threat is not a rival directory…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The competitive assessment has evolved to prioritize the lack of map-based discovery as a critical failure point, while the strategic outlook now includes a formal recommendation to sunset the native application.
Bottom line
A Black Marketplace serves a clear mission, but the nine-month development freeze prevents it from building the network effects required to compete with generalist directories. The platform must pivot to a community-led content model to justify its place on a user's home screen.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is A Black Marketplace free to use?
How does A Black Marketplace compare to Google Maps?
Does A Black Marketplace have a map view for finding businesses?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated