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).
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