# Simple Apps Making Big Money

**URL:** <https://onehack.st/t/simple-apps-making-big-money/306446>\
**Category:** Money Making Methods & Guides\
**Tags:** tools, business, earn-money\
**Created:** [June 11, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/simple-apps-making-big-money/306446 "2025-06-11T17:43:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SRZ](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/srz/32/146132_2.png) [@SRZ](https://onehack.st/u/SRZ)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/simple-apps-making-big-money/306446/1 "2025-06-11T17:43:29Z")

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### Quick Intro

I found how some plain todo apps make $200K/month — and why it’s not as easy as it looks.

### Main Points

- **Grit app reportedly earns $200K/month** , Productive does ~$70K/month – from SensorTower/AppMagic data.
- These apps focus on simplicity, high polish, and daily utility — not groundbreaking features.
- Some users call out Grit’s **bad UI** , yet it’s still growing due to solving a real productivity need.
- **Marketing is critical** : TikTok viral videos, influencer marketing (CalAI), and App Store optimization drive growth.
- App Store launch can give a boost due to **algorithmic visibility** and higher intent users.
- One user noted **200 conversions from just 2K downloads** – showing how niche apps convert well.
- Creators discuss **gamification** ideas (like Clash of Clans for habits) as a way to increase user retention.
- Revenue ≠ profit. Many wonder how much these apps **burn on ads, marketing, and infrastructure**.
- Some suspect inflated revenue estimates — SensorTower data is **not always accurate** (disputed by devs).
- Several users cite **TikTok as a cheap growth hack** , especially for solo founders.
- Others remind: “There are thousands of todo apps. Only a few succeed.” Execution \> idea.
- Comments also debate whether **lifetime pricing ($50–$100)** or subscription model ($4.99/month) is better.
- Tools mentioned for low-cost scaling: **Vercel (hosting)**, **Supabase (DB)** — useful for \<100 users.
- ADHD users complain most apps are either bloated or too simplistic — room for better UX.
- Simpler SaaS = lower churn, higher long-term value — boring tools can be the most profitable.
- Big followings (e.g., Twitter) help launches. **One user said 100K followers = $10K in 2 weeks**.
- Even a basic tool like **Calendly (no API)** is worth $3B – showing UX + niche \> feature sets.
- Todo apps are described as **“Kanban memes”** , yet people still crave better brain-offload tools.
- One user reminds: “Clean execution still wins.” Another: “Solve one clear problem really well.”

### Extra Tips

- Use viral short-form video (like TikTok) with repeat tries — one hit can drive growth.
- B2C apps do better with founder-made TikToks than polished agency promos.
- Even small-scale projects can seed future businesses — use low-cost stacks to test.
- Gamifying simple tools increases perceived value, especially for habit-building apps.

### Warnings

- SensorTower/AppMagic numbers can be off — they are **estimates** , not financial reports.
- Revenue without profit is common — big ad spend can eat up all earnings.
- Building “yet another todo app” won’t work unless it truly stands out or markets well.

### Mixed or Disputed Info

- “Grit earns $200K/month” – **mixed** (AppMagic says yes, users question accuracy).
- “CalAI reinvests all profits” – **mixed** (some agree, some say they had external backing).
- “SensorTower is legit” – **mixed** (many devs report inaccurate app stats).