The two kinds of account are different purchases
An empty account has an active developer membership but no live apps, or only app records that were never submitted. An account with apps adds app records, bundle IDs, version history and sometimes ratings, subscriptions and users. The first is a legal entity plus a registration date. The second is a product that has been running. Pricing logic, risks and handover items differ, so treating both as an aged account hides the real decision.
Age on an empty account is worth less than it sounds
A longer registration history does not make review easier. Approval depends on the app itself: its function, content, privacy disclosures and fit with the review guidelines at the time. What an empty aged account actually saves you is the enrollment stage, so you can start creating app records on an active membership. If a seller claims age improves approval odds or reduces risk, there is nothing behind that claim.
With an app, the question is whether you can take it over cleanly
The number of apps matters less than each app's state. In App Store Connect, check whether it is live, removed or taken down, whether the bundle ID and SKU match what you plan to keep, whether privacy information is complete, whether in-app purchases or subscriptions are still valid, and what the last review result was. An app that was removed or rejected may carry unresolved issues, and those become yours after handover.
Whole-account handover and single-app transfer are separate routes
If you only want one app, Apple offers app transfer between developer accounts, subject to conditions on both accounts and the app, as described on Apple's pages at the time. So you may not need the whole account. Whole-account handover fits when several apps are tied closely to the entity. Transfer is usually cleaner when you want one app and already hold a compliant account, since you avoid inheriting everything else.
User data and subscriptions are the most underestimated part
An app with users comes with a privacy policy, data collection disclosures and subscription relationships. The new operator carries those responsibilities. Ask what data the app collects, whether the privacy policy URL is valid and editable by you, whether subscriber renewals are affected by the change, and who owns the backend and third-party SDK accounts. If the backend or keys stay with the previous operator, the app may not work even after you receive the account.
Choose by purpose and set stop conditions
For a brand-new app, an empty account is usually enough; verify membership status and entity type and do not pay a premium for existing apps. To continue an existing product, choose an account with apps, or consider transferring the single app, provided its status is healthy and data and backend can be handed over together. Stop if the seller cannot show app status and role permissions in the console, hides takedown or violation records, cannot explain how subscription revenue is collected, or prices by app count instead of app condition. Fees, agreements and policies change, so rely on Apple's current pages and what the console actually shows.
FAQ
Is an account with apps always safer than an empty one?
No. Apps bring review history, data obligations and possible leftover issues. Safety depends on the app's status and whether data and backend can be handed over, not on the app count.
Do I need the whole account if I only want one app?
Not necessarily. Apple's app transfer feature can move a single app to your own developer account when conditions are met. Check Apple's current requirements for the app and both accounts.