I made an app and earned $3K in 4 months

I launched my first app earlier this year and managed to earn $3,000 in just four months. Here’s what worked:

  1. I used Flutter and Firebase to keep things simple and low cost (about $300 total). The minimum viable product was ready in two months.

  2. I shared the app in freelancer groups and on this forum and launched on Product Hunt. This brought in 300 downloads in the first week.

  3. I offered a free tier with limited features and a paid plan for $4.99 a month or $30 a year for more advanced options.

  4. When subscriptions alone weren’t enough, I introduced rewarded ads using Yango App Monetization. This helped integrate ads easily and boosted revenue from free users.

Results:

  • First-month revenue: $200.

  • By Month 4: $1,000 a month from subscriptions and ads.

  • Active users: 1,500, with 10% converting to paid plans.

Using this forum and niche groups is such a smart way to gain traction early on.

Wylie said:
Using this forum and niche groups is such a smart way to gain traction early on.

So true, now I get it! :thinking:

Please let us know which freelance groups you used.

Vick said:
Please let us know which freelance groups you used.

Mostly Facebook and LinkedIn groups for freelancers, plus some niche Discord communities.

Arun said:

Vick said:
Please let us know which freelance groups you used.

Mostly Facebook and LinkedIn groups for freelancers, plus some niche Discord communities.

I’m also into tech and looking for a group to validate my idea. If you can DM me the link to your LinkedIn and Discord groups, it would be really helpful.

@Vick
Count me in! I’d love to join.

How did you only spend $300 in two months of development? Assuming 160 hours a month and a net salary of $30 per hour, that would have cost you about $10k in development.

Blaise said:
Freemium models are perfect for early growth. We’ve also been successful with a useful but limited free tier.

That was the opposite for my product. I had freemium for a couple of years, and after switching to paid-only, my revenue doubled.

@Hux
I think it really depends on the product and the niche.

Rewarded ads in non-gaming apps? How did users react?

Ellis said:
Rewarded ads in non-gaming apps? How did users react?

I had concerns at first, but users actually responded well! Since the ads were optional and offered extra features, engagement was high. No major complaints, and it helped boost revenue without bothering anyone.

@Arun
I appreciate it when apps give that option. Smart move!

Tell us what your app does and if you created it alone. What are the operating costs?

Vick said:
Tell us what your app does and if you created it alone. What are the operating costs?

Sure! I built it solo. The app is a productivity tool that helps freelancers manage tasks and track time easily.

@Arun
Please share the link. There are a lot of productivity apps out there, what makes yours stand out?

Vick said:
@Arun
Please share the link. There are a lot of productivity apps out there, what makes yours stand out?

I’d rather not share the link here because I don’t want to get banned. But the main thing that made it work was keeping it super simple and actually useful. No fluff, just solving a real problem in a clean way. If you’d like, we can chat more in DM.

@Arun
There are endless free apps like that. I’m not buying your story.

What does the app do and what is the name? Did you do the development or hire someone?

Oren said:
What does the app do and what is the name? Did you do the development or hire someone?

I already answered that in this thread.