Hey Everyone!

This idea I've been sitting on for awhile, is really gaining traction! The iOS beta for Precursor: Hourly Screen Time has garnered over 200 beta testers in less than a week all organically.

If you want to test it out too, here's the link (all beta testers get Precursor+ for FREE for LIFE):
https://testflight.apple.com/join/ztGmutmP

Here is what i have learned so far:

1. You got to solve your own problems first, you have to be invested in the thing you're building. If you don't need it why should others use it?
2. You have to start early, not building, researching and understanding what's out there already, what gaps exist, why others haven't done what you're doing.
3. You need to get feedback, do not fall into the perfectionist trap. Build the core product to a steady state (Minimum Viable Product; aka MVP) and then get users to try it out and encourage people to critique your product don't be passive.
4. The internet is dead (dead internet theory), sorry you had to find out this way. And for the few of us that are actually humans, trust me that AI reply bot that you spent a whole day building to save you time is not sticking the landing. We can all "genuinely" tell that Claude or Chat GPT is managing your marketing, "Honestly, doing that was not the right call, and that's on you". LLMs can do a lot, but it can't be a person for you, you have to learn how to do that.
5. You have to try every channel to find your channel. Don't go all in on one marketing strategy at first, go with a shotgun approach, wait a week, see what's landing then reallocate your resources to the winners (that means time, money, and brain power).

That's all folks, would love to hear about any tips you all have had, I am really early in all of this too so don't be shy. When we share together we all grow together!

Feel free to drop links to your products too but also practice contributing to the conversation ᵕ̈

Does the functionality of the app come across from the screenshot without having seen it in action? The core mechanic is making you drag through a wave when you want to scroll. A bubble rises up when you pass a threshold, and then its scrolls for you on social media feeds.

Built a small habit-tracking app solo over about 6 months, nights and weekends around a day job. Did the standard app-marketing stuff, feature-highlight reels, clean UI walkthroughs, App Store screenshot montages set to music, the whole polished playbook everyone tells you to do. Some weeks two or three downloads, plenty of weeks literally zero. Six months in, total installs sat at 80. Eighty. I have more Reddit karma than that lol.

Had the removal request half-filled-out in App Store Connect, ngl I was fully ready to just quietly kill it. $0 MRR after half a year of nights and weekends felt like a pretty clear sign.

While looking into what to even do with about $60 of leftover ad credit before pulling the listing (didn't want to just let it evaporate), I got sidetracked watching other small app accounts instead, classic productive procrastination, and found this screen-recording video of someone using their own app for real, mid-mistake, absolutely losing it laughing at a bug that clearly just happened live on camera. 40-second video, maybe 200 views, nothing special on paper, but something about it stuck with me.

Had a genuinely annoying bug in my own app that same week anyway, so I screen-recorded myself hitting it and reacting exactly how I actually reacted, zero script, zero retake, closed my laptop and went to bed not thinking about it again.

Woke up to it sitting at 1.2M views overnight and just stared at my phone for a solid minute like this can't be real. By the end of that week: 14,000 installs. That's more than 175x every install I'd gotten in the previous 6 months combined. First real subscription revenue landed that same week too, about $340, first dollar this app had ever made after 6 months of absolutely nothing.

That removal request is still sitting there, unsubmitted, and honestly it's staying that way now. Every quiet, zero-download week before that clip is exactly why the bug reaction felt real instead of staged, you can't fake that kind of "oh no" on camera. It was never wasted time, it just hadn't found its moment yet.

TL;DR: 80 downloads in 6 months, one unscripted bug reaction video blew up to 1.2M views, 14,000 installs in a week, first revenue ever. Still processing it tbh.

I wanted a proper API client I could actually use on my phone, so I built HttpKit a native iOS REST and WebSocket client that’s fast and designed to feel like an Apple app.

Highlights:

• All HTTP methods + every body type (JSON, form-data, multipart, raw binary, etc.)
• Live {{variable}} placeholders and layered environment/collection/request variables
• Built-in auth: Bearer, API Key, Basic, AWS SigV4, JWT signing, OAuth 1.0a
• WebSocket editor with a live transcript
• Collections, folders, full-text search, and automatic request history

It’s free to download, with a paid upgrade for the power-user features.

I’d really appreciate feedback whether the feature set makes sense, what feels off, and what you’d want next.

Genuinely trying to make it useful, so don’t hold back.

1st ever app launched, officially launched June 1st the spike in first time downloads was due to a paid shoutout from a twich streamer.

No sales so far, the paid promotion actually did get one sale but I doubt that was because of a genuine interest in the app, but rather a way from a viewer to support the streamer that promoted the app.

the streamer shoutout got about 600 impressions not sure where the rest is coming from, I assume is from the organic content I have been posting daily on TikTok and IG.

How does this compare to your app launch? because this is my first app I dont have any metric to compare against.

Every time I had a “new” idea, I’d eventually discover three dead startups around the exact same thing. Usually after days :) So I built Déjà View. You describe an idea, and it researches its real-world predecessors: companies that tried it before, when they operated, when they shut down and who survived.
It’s live at https://dejaview.bsct.so Try it on your current idea and tell me if the report found anything you didn’t know about!

​TLDR; I gave away 50 promo codes with no return. I would not recommend.

Background

Last month I ran one of those “Claim your free promo code” posts on r/droidappshowcase . I decided to do this because my app downloads had plateaued and I didn’t want to spend $ on ads. The aim for doing this was to

1. get views on the Reddit post (free advertising?) with the hope of some virality
2. get feedback from users I knew had downloaded it
3. potentially get some ratings or reviews on the Play Store

The post

The post has since been removed (explained in Results) - I’ll put a screenshot in the comments below.

To qualify for a promo code the user had to:

1. comment and like the post (to drive virality)
2. DM me a screenshot of the app downloaded (to ensure they downloaded it as the app is only available in certain countries)

Results (good)

• The post got 10k views in the first 2 days and was the top post in the subreddit on the day it was posted
• It got ~ 100 comments asking for DMs but only 40 DM’d me
• Of those 40, 38 downloaded the app and used the promo code

Results (bad)

• I got shadow-banned on Reddit and all my posts (including the promo one) have since been removed.
• I was expecting more reviews from people that got a promo code
• After 5 days, I replied to all 38 DMs, asking users for some feedback. 8 replied with only 2 giving genuine feedback
• I got three 5-star reviews and one 4-star (?) review from these users

Final thoughts:

I was expecting more virality and feedback from running this campaign. Maybe that channel wasn’t the best place to post as it’s mostly other devs. But there isn’t really anywhere else to post on Reddit these days. Most people commenting on the post didn’t even read the details of the post. The saddest part was when giving people things for free they can’t even reply to a DM. Oh well, we move on and try something else.

I'm planning to build a mobile app for my business later this year, and after talking to a few agencies, I've realized that choosing a development partner is much harder than I expected.

Some companies promise unrealistically low prices, while others have impressive portfolios but mixed client reviews. I'm trying to avoid the common mistakes that lead to delayed launches or poor-quality apps.

So far, I've shortlisted a few companies, including Trangotech, WillowTree, and Utility, because they seem to have experience with custom mobile apps and different industries. I'm still comparing them and haven't made a decision yet.

For those who've actually worked with a development company:

• Which agency did you hire?
• Did they deliver on time and within budget?
• How was communication throughout the project?
• Would you hire them again?

I'd really appreciate honest recommendations—or even companies to avoid. Real experiences are far more valuable than marketing websites.

I've been making apps in my spare time using vibe coding (while juggling childcare), and I launched a vocabulary app on June 30th—so it hasn't even been a month yet. Unlike my big expectations, making just $0.01 a day with AdMob was honestly shocking. Yesterday, it seemed like I was the only person using the app...

I wondered if this is normal for everyone, but after reading posts on Reddit, it feels like this only happens to me and a small few, while everyone else seems to have users right upon launch.

I feel like the vocabulary app market is already saturated, making organic traffic really hard, and I honestly don't know how I should be doing marketing. I opened a YouTube channel and posted a few things on Reddit, but is this really how everyone promotes their apps?

Hi everyone,

I'm currently building an ambitious consumer mobile startup and I'm looking to connect with experienced builders who enjoy taking products from an idea to a scalable business.

The closest comparison would be Life360, but the long-term vision is significantly broader. I already have a fully functional MVP (frontend + backend), but it's currently a prototype built to validate ideas rather than a production-ready application.

I'm now entering the stage where I'm rebuilding the product with a strong technical and design foundation before preparing for public launch and fundraising.

I'm particularly interested in connecting with people who have experience in:

• Building and shipping production applications
• Scaling consumer products
• Early-stage startups
• Product thinking and technical leadership
• Working in distributed, international teams

Roles I'm looking for include:

• Senior Mobile Engineers (Flutter / React Native / Native)
• Senior Backend Engineers
• Product Designers / UI/UX Designers
• Product Thinkers
• Gamification / Engagement Designers
• Technical Leads / Architects
• Startup Advisors

I'm not looking for someone to simply execute a feature list. I value people who enjoy questioning assumptions, thinking strategically, solving difficult problems, and helping shape both the product and the business.

Current Stage

• Functional MVP completed
• Small core team currently being formed
• Legal foundations (NDA, IP agreements, etc.) being finalised before development begins
• No external funding yet

Because the project is currently self-funded, there is no upfront salary at this stage. Long-term collaboration would be structured around equity and/or future revenue sharing depending on the role, contribution, and commitment. Everything will be discussed transparently before any work begins.

If you've taken products from MVP to production, built startups, or have experience scaling consumer software, I'd genuinely love to connect. Even if you're not interested in joining, I'd still value your feedback and perspective.

Feel free to comment or send me a DM. Happy to share more about the product after an initial conversation.

Hi everyone,

So I realized the hard truth, I may have published an app, but I am very bad at distributing it. That's why I'm looking for a strong profile so we can collaborate and work together.

You distribute, I ship the tech you need.

You will be responsible for the entire marketing funnel, I'll provide initial capital needed. We will then invest 50% of the profit, you'll keep the other 50%.

If such proposal is of interest for you, contact me and we can discuss it further.

Hey everyone,

I'm a solo iOS developer and I've been building CVPilot, a small app that checks your CV/resume for ATS (applicant tracking system) compatibility. You upload your CV and it gives you a score, a breakdown across 5 criteria (with the exact lines it's reacting to), and concrete fixes you can actually apply.

I'm not here to sell anything — I genuinely want feedback from real people before I build the next features. Honest, even brutal, is exactly what I'm after.

A few things I deliberately did differently:

• No account, no sign-up — you just open it and use it.
• Privacy-first: your contact details (email/phone) are masked on your device before anything is sent for analysis.
• No fake locks or made-up "trusted by millions" claims — I really dislike apps that fake that stuff, so I tried hard to keep it honest.

You get 2 full analyses free — enough to analyze → apply the fixes → re-analyze and watch your score actually move. Matching your CV against a specific job description is the paid part.

What I'd love feedback on:

1. Does the score + breakdown feel trustworthy, or does it read like generic AI output?
2. Are the fix suggestions actually useful for your real CV?
3. Was there anything that made you hesitate to even upload your CV?

Link + screenshots below 👇 Thanks a lot for taking a look — every bit of feedback genuinely helps me decide what to build next. 🙏

I recently launched my first iOS app for retail investors like me who want to research and follow individual stocks. Im struggling on getting organic App Store discovery, especially for broad, competitive terms like stock news, investing, or AI. I’m testing Apple Search Ads and looking into ways to increase from impression to download.

Short app description:
----
The core problem I’m trying to solve: when a stock moves, the relevant context is fragmented across news, sentiment, insider filings, fund data, and market commentary. Sentex brings these together in one research workflow, including AI Market Intelligence, watchlist news, Sentex Scores, insider and congressional-trade alerts, and top-fund holdings.

Beyond understanding what is moving a stock, you can research any company using its Sentex Score. The model’s view of the stock at its current price—with a detailed explanation of the metrics and factors behind the score. You can also explore the day’s top 10 highest-scoring stocks to surface potential ideas for your next position.

-----

I’d love advice from people who have marketed consumer subscription apps:

1. Is “AI stock intelligence” clear positioning, too broad, or should I avoid emphasizing AI given how saturated the market is?
2. Would you lead acquisition with the “why is this stock moving?” use case, Smart Money alerts, AI-powered news sentiment, or stock research/Sentex Scores?
3. Which organic channels have worked best for a niche finance app early on?

At this stage, I’m focused on growing an engaged user base and learning which features create real repeat usage not maximizing revenue yet.

Happy to share what I learn as I test channels. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I have hit a milestone of 1,000 registered users, with steady growth every day, but I can’t seem to convert those users to paying. I thought I had a pretty strong funnel with a paywall appearing at the most opportune times within the app. The subscription is only 0.99 cents a month with a 3 day free trial, but still not many conversions.

I feel the value proposition to subscribe is quite high as you only get to see whether a parking spot is vacant with Premium, as well as advanced filters, and no ads.

What am I missing?

i used Expo + React Native cuz i thought that some day i could make my app

available on the playstore, but is it really worth it?

my app is live on ios only right now. solo dev, still

early on revenue. since the codebase is cross platform the build itself is

not the hard part, but from what i read the extra work is everywhere else:

push (fcm), store listing + screenshots again, a share intent that works

different than on ios, billing on google play, and then QA on a bunch of

devices instead of like 3 iphones.

so for the people who already did the jump:

did android actually move the revenue needle or was it mostly extra downloads with worse conversion? how much time did the port really take you, honestly? did support tickets explode?

im trying to figure out if i should do it now or keep pushing ios until it

pays for itself first.

So I released my first app recently, it's called ShiftWell, basically a shift work app. My idea was that shift workers (nurses, hotel staff, factory guys etc) have two problems, managing their roster and swap requests with teammates, and then the sleep mess that comes with night shifts. So I put both in one app. Shift scheduling, team swaps, shared notes, plus sleep timing and it tells you when to stop drinking coffee so you can actually sleep after a night shift.

Core features are free, there's an optional premium for some advanced stuff but you don't need it for daily use. No ads either way. Figured that would lower the barrier.

The weird part is people are downloading it but nobody says anything. No reviews, no emails, nothing. I have no clue if they open it once and delete it or actually use it daily. Flying completely blind here.

For those who launched before, how did you get your first real feedback? Did you just message users directly, put a feedback button in the app, something else? Any suggestion is appreciated.

It's on both stores if anyone wants to see what I mean:

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shiftwell/id6774994854

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.shiftwell&hl=en

I launched a period tracker app 22 days ago with zero marketing budget. I'm at 42 organic users total, and honestly, I'm hitting a wall on both App Store visibility and social growth.

Features:

• Period Tracker
• Meditation
• Magic Ball
• Daily Tarot
• Period Insight Cards
• Pet Care
• Games
• Partner Compatibility

It's a niche product combining wellness + spirituality. The dev and design work was brutal — we're proud of the actual product — but now I'm realizing that shipping something good doesn't equal people finding it.

Where we are:

• All 42 users came organic (no ads, no budget)
• Got positive feedback on product quality, but one constant note: font readability could be better
• We're posting on TikTok and Instagram, getting some engagement, but not translating to installs
• App Store listing is English-only (even though we have Turkish users reviewing)

Where I'm stuck:

1. ASO: Not sure if our keywords are wrong, if the listing just doesn't convert, or if 22 days is too early to judge
2. Social → App: How do people actually drive installs from TikTok/Instagram? We're posting, but the funnel breaks somewhere
3. Localization: We have Turkish reviews but no Turkish listing — should prioritize this?
4. Next move: Should we test Apple Search Ads with a small budget, or fix ASO first?

I'm not asking for viral growth, I'm asking for honest feedback on what's actually broken vs. what just takes time. If you've been in this spot before, I'd genuinely appreciate the blunt truth.

https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/period-tracker-moonville/id6766513532

After bitching about my product on here, here we go! First sale.

Hey, I’m trying to market my app through Reddit, but I don’t want to come across as spammy or get banned from any subreddits. Does anyone have advice on how to find the right communities, provide value, and promote the app naturally? I’d appreciate any tips or examples of what has worked for you.

Everyone here is selling their apps like hot cakes.
Here is a screenshot of my app that didn't do shit yet.

A lot of businesses spend time trying to convince people they need something.

But often, the best prospects are already out there asking for recommendations, complaining about a problem, looking for alternatives, sharing frustrations with existing solutions

Drop or DM:
- what you’re building
- who you help

I’ll look for relevant people who might be a good fit and share what I find.

If I don’t find anything interesting, I’ll tell you.

I launched my app Greenhouse quietly to the App Store just to get a baseline of what I could expect from organic reach. 

For the first few days, I was getting about 20 impressions and 1-2 downloads per day.

After about 5 days, my impressions started exploding. All of the sudden I was getting 12,000+ impressions each day and I had no idea why.

After investigating, I found that I had been featured in a 'new apps' category in the German App Store. 

My conversion was horrible. I was getting 10% conversion of page views to downloads. I attributed some of that to the fact that browse traffic from the front page of the App Store wouldn't convert as well as search traffic, but I also felt that my English localized app and listing were holding back my random influx of German users. 

I spent 3 days localizing my app, listing, and screenshot to German, and it spent 2 days in review. I was also ferociously fixing some minor (and one major) bug that the influx of users were uncovering at a rapid clip. 

After a full day with the localized listing, I am seeing a lot more sustained usage of my app by the German users. And 9 days after being listed, I'm still ranked #2! Also, one of these users converted from a free trial, so this burst also got me my first revenue.

I did not expect this at all. I didn't nominate my app to be featured or anything. I consider this an extremely lucky break and honestly it has just been a really fun few days of watching and working! My understanding is you are on these lists for about a week, so I consider myself on borrowed time now since I am on day 9, so I'm just enjoying it while I can, and hopefully I can keep the momentum going!