Mobile applications have become an inevitable part of our everyday life.
In 2024, it is estimated that the annual number of app downloads worldwide will amount to 299 billion, up from approximately 247 billion global app downloads in 2020.
- Statista
Today we have a mobile application for almost everything.
Mobile apps are so embedded in our lives today that there is literally an app available for everything.
From tracking workouts, meditation & health vitals to medicine & grocery delivery to booking flights, cabs & movie tickets to insurance, dating & yadda yadda yadda. Everything!
Does that mean that aspiring entrepreneurs like you have bleak chances of succeeding with another mobile app?
Not at all.
You will be surprised to learn about so many more simple, micro-niche ideas that are amazingly well.
If you're an aspiring solopreneur, appreneur, bootstrapped startup founder, or an indie hacker trying to experiment with ideas, this article is a must read for you.
Building a Mobile App the Traditional Way Vs the No-Code Way
There are two primary paths to creating a mobile app: using no-code platforms or opting for traditional development with a professional team. Each method has its advantages and challenges. Let's explore both approaches a little more closely.
The Traditional Way
Traditional mobile app development involves collaborating with a team of developers to create a custom app tailored to your specific needs. This method allows for high levels of customization and advanced functionality. This can be done in-house or with the help of a mobile app design services provider. Every aspect of your application is built from scratch
Pros:
- High Customization: Design a unique app that perfectly matches your vision and brand.
- Advanced Features: Access to sophisticated functionalities and integrations.
- Professional Expertise: Benefit from the knowledge and skills of experienced developers.
One of the most important aspects of creating a successful application today is choosing the right development environment. Flutter app development company services have gained tremendous popularity due to Flutter's ability to create high-quality, natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. This efficiency and versatility can significantly reduce development time and costs, making it an attractive option for both startups and individual developers.
Cons:
- Higher Costs: Development fees can be substantial due to the need for skilled professionals.
- Longer Development Time: Creating a custom app takes time, from initial design to final deployment.
- Dependency on Developers: Ongoing maintenance and updates require continued collaboration with your development team.
The No-Code Way
Building a mobile app using no-code platforms is like piecing together a puzzle with pre-made pieces. This approach is user-friendly and cost-effective, making it accessible even for those without technical expertise.
Pros:
- Speed: Launch your app quickly without waiting for lengthy development cycles.
- Cost-Effective: Save on the high costs of hiring developers.
- Accessibility: No need for coding skills; anyone can create an app.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: Your app might look similar to others, with fewer unique features.
- Scalability Issues: As your app grows, maintaining performance and adding advanced features may become challenging.
- Dependence on Platform: You're limited by the features and capabilities of the no-code platform you choose.
Now that you have an idea about the two primary paths to creating a mobile app, let's deep dive into the most profitable & suitable mobile app ideas for solopreneurs, bootstrapped startups & small teams.
Mobile App Ideas for Solopreneurs & Bootstrapped Startups
1. Find a Mentor App
Background:
As the future of jobs is changing, people are bending over to learn from their mentors. A mentor is a professional who has experience in that field and can save them from trial and error.
However, finding the right mentor is like looking for a needle in the hay.
An app to find a mentor enables the user’s to discover a mentor based on their needs, interests, and field.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- From students and employees to beginner entrepreneurs, everyone is trying to make their skills stronger. This is the demand for future employment.
But stacking up skills needs the help and guidance of an expert. - Research has shown that those with mentors have a 5x higher chance of getting promoted in a job than those without one. This is only just the tip of the iceberg.
- 70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive for five years or more, which is double the rate compared with non-mentored entrepreneurs.
- Hence, a mobile app to find the perfect mentor based on the user’s needs, interests and field might go a long way.
Possible business model/s:
- B2B2C
- D2C (Direct to Consumer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Subscription-based Model
- Freemium Model
- Premium Model
Examples: GrowthMentor, MentorCruise, TutorHunt
2. Progress Tracking App
Background:
We have tons of businesses and goals to adhere but keeping the track of our progress manually can be daunting. The piece of paper doesn't have visuals to excite us or deliver us reminders and we ultimately fall out.
A progress tracking app provides a real-time visual representation of the status of progress, so we know which page we’re on.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- When starting a new project or habit, it’s better to back yourself up with a progress tracker as monitoring our progress plays a huge role in sticking to the goal.
- Million Insights projected that the market for productivity applications will expand at a CAGR of 9.1% between 2021 and 2028.
- People love to play around with productivity apps cause it excites them and compels them to achieve their target.
- With several productivity apps in the market, we will advise you to build a niche progress-tracking mobile app.
Some ideas within this category:
- Goal Progress Tracking: Whether it be personal goals or professional, new year goals, or monthly goals, people often get out of line. Build goal progress tracking mobile app providing real-time data on how far the user has come. Example - Strides
- Project Progress Tracking: Business projects or personal projects, we often lose count of the progress we’ve made so far. Build project progress tracking mobile app for a niche user base. Example - Asana
Possible business model/s:
- D2C ( Direct to Consumer)
- B2B (Business to Business)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Subscription-based Model
- Freemium Model
Examples: Strides, Progress Bar, FitNotes
3. Punitive Reminder App
Background :
Thinking of starting a new habit doesn't cost us anything. But the real struggle arises in achieving the goal.
It’s tough to stay consistent, especially for the initial days.
Punitive reminder apps are built keeping in mind exactly that. Along with simple tracking, they have a "Punishment" feature. So you don’t easily fall out of place and stay consistent for the longest time.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- People build a master plan to achieve their goals and habits every new year, but we all know how that ends.
- Research by the University of Scranton has shown that 92% of people fail to achieve their goals. Most of them fail because they do not stick to the end and fall out midway.
- Building a mobile app that involves punishing the users for not adhering to their set goals and habits might prove to be a unique approach to productivity apps, making users accountable for their actions.
Possible business model/s:
- D2C ( Direct to Consumer)
- P2P (Peer to Peer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Freemium Model
- Subscription-based Model
- Free trial Model
Examples: Beeminder, Habitica, LifeRPG
4. Plant Care Guide App
Background:
Caring for a plant is more challenging than caring for a baby. Moreover, every plant has different needs based on several factors contributing to its growth.
A plant care guide app will help owners understand their plants better and provide guidance based on inputs from them.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- According to Data Bridge Market Research, the market for indoor plants was worth USD 17.93 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow to be worth USD 26.23 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.87% over the forecast period of 2022–2029.
- Greg, an application that employs machine learning to assist users in taking care of their plants, received $5.4 million in seed funding.
Now you know plant care guides are a real thing that you can build upon. - So if you love plants, build a mobile app that’ll guide other plant owners in caring for their house plants.
Possible business model/s:
- D2C ( Direct to Consumer)
- P2P (Peer to Peer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Freemium Model
- Premium Model
Examples: Greg, Planta, Plant parent
5. Local Sports Booking App
Background:
Whether it be e-sports or physical sweat-draining sports, finding the perfect place and partner can be cumbersome.
For people who just play on weekends, paying an exorbitant club membership fee might be a waste.
And don't even get us started on the hardship of finding the right sports mate.
A sports booking app will recommend players based on the user's interest and the nearest place they can meet up and start playing with their team.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- The global sports market size is expected to grow from $354.96 billion in 2021 to $501.43 billion in 2022 at a CAGR of 41.3% and is expected to reach $707.84 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 9%.
- As the market is growing, the competition is also increasing.
- So if you are about to create another gaming or sports-related app, you must understand the market and offer something unique to your users.
- Build a sports booking app allowing users to discover online or offline players based on their interest in games and sports.
Some ideas within this category:
- Book a Game App for Football: If you are already into football, you can understand your fellow players better. Build an app that makes booking the game easier where users can play alone or in a team. Example - Kickoff
- Book a Game App for Community Games: Build an app that will allow players planning to play a community or team game on the spot. Example - Playo
Possible business model/s:
- P2P (Peer to Peer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Freemium Model
- Free Trial Model
6. Book an Activity App
Background:
We all need an escape from the monotonous life. And everyone has their own comfort way of recharging themselves.
Whether it’s just an escape from reality or you want to challenge your abilities, indulging in recreational activities might prove to be the best way.
However, finding the right activity that suits you the best and also the perfect spot for the same, is tough.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- The online booking software industry is predicted to bring in $552.1 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 14.4%.
- The second most popular outdoor sport in the North American country was hiking with approximately 58 million participants in 2021.
- Not just hiking but there are thousands of recreational activities and sports that you can take into consideration while building your mobile app.
- Build a mobile app for discovering recreational activities based on users’ interests and booking an appointment for the activity that excites them the most, that too at their nearest spot.
Some ideas within this category:
- Book an Adventurous Activity: Create a mobile app that would allow people to book an adventurous activity, some being - hiking, diving, fishing, horse riding, etc. Example - Fishing Booker
- Book a Volunteer Activity: Some people want to take up some volunteer activity but aren’t aware of the NGOs near them. Build a mobile app where they can find a nonprofit organization near them and book a volunteer activity. Example - IamHere
- Book a Creative Activity: Creative activities like painting, cooking, and music are soothing ways to recharge yourself. Build a mobile app where users can book creative activities of their interest at their nearest spot.
Possible business model/s:
- D2C ( Direct to Consumer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Commission-based Model
- Subscription-based Model
Examples: Fishing Booker, IamHere
7. Find a Co-founder App
Background:
Startups are budding more than ever. 305 million startups are created each year, worldwide.
And to ensure your startup has a strong foundation, you can’t go wrong with a cofounder at any cost.
Only a solo founder knows the struggle of finding the perfect match with a cofounder that shares the same values and excitement as you.
It would be safe to say that, finding the ideal co-founder is harder than finding the perfect match for marriage (or at least the same)
Reasons why should you consider this:
- A co-founder can be the greatest asset for your business when they have complementary skill sets.
- According to First Round, cofounder teams outperform solo founders by a whopping 163%.
- However, an interpersonal conflict between the early startup team is the third most common reason for startup failure.
So it becomes even more important to pick a co-founder for your business carefully. - Build a mobile app to match startup founders and business owners with people eager to join a team as a co-founder, based on the requirements, skillsets, and industry.
Possible business model/s:
- P2P (Peer to Peer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Subscription-based Model
- Premium Model
Examples: CofoundersLab, Starthawk
8. Game Review App
Background:
The gaming industry is evolving with each passing year and this is because of the increasing number of extraordinary e-games and players putting a foot into the market.
With several options at our disposal, checking reviews of games before diving into them is a wiser option.
A game review app is a platform where players can review listed games based on their experience.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- The number of mobile gaming apps in the Google Play Store increased to around 478 thousand in the second quarter of 2022, a 6.34% year-over-year rise.
- With sooo many online games in hand, it eats up a lot of time for a gamer to find the best-suited and well-made app for himself.
- Building a game review app will help gamers pick the best one. Build an app with reviews and allow the game app creator to understand where they are lacking.
Possible business model/s:
- P2P (Peer to Peer)
- D2C (Direct to Consumer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Subscription-based model
- Freemium Model
Examples: MiniReview, GameTester
9. Mental Health Support App
Background:
Mental health is still a stigma people are trying to overcome. But now conversations are springing up more than ever.
As much as we need our physical health to remain at its best, the same should be the case for mental health.
However, people feel uncomfortable sharing their emotions and opening up about mental health problems.
A safe space for mental health support might be the breakthrough people need to understand they are not alone in this journey.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- When COVID-19 hit, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25% in its first year.
- So far, mental health has been less talked about, and even school fails to normalize it.
But there’s an increased acknowledgment of mental health issues in recent years, according to WHO. - With increased awareness, people need support and a safe space to consult and talk about their emotions, traumas, and sufferings.
Some ideas within this category:
- Mental Health Community App: Knowing you’re not alone in the journey can light up the weight on your shoulders. Build a peer-to-peer mental health mobile app where a community of people can connect and talk about their problems and issues.
- Mental Health Therapy and Consultation App: When mental health disorders boost, it becomes necessary to consult a therapist. Build a mobile app to discover the best therapists in town or online.
Possible business model/s:
- P2P (Peer to Peer)
- B2C (Business to Consumer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- One-off Model
- Subscription-based Model
Examples: Felicity, The STIGMA, VomitSpace
10. Spotify for ASMR
Background:
The acronym ASMR refers to the tingling, static-like, or goosebumps feeling that some people experience in reaction to specific triggering audio or visual stimuli.
Stress is something that the ordinary individual has to deal with daily, whether it be at a job, in traffic, or at home.
Because of their calming effect and ability to aid in managing stress and sadness, ASMR video and music have gained popularity worldwide.
Reasons why should you consider this:
- There are 2.3 million monthly searches for "ASMR" throughout the globe on Google. In addition, every month, ASMR generates 11 million searches on YouTube worldwide.
- But, downloading videos or apps can consume space. If you can build an ASMR app that can be integrated with Spotify, that would be something out of the box and striking.
Possible business model/s:
- D2C ( Direct to Consumer)
Possible revenue model/s:
- Freemium Model
- Subscription-based Model
- Free-trial Model
Before you go
There are a lot of moving pieces in the app world and you definitely don't want to lose sight of any of them!
Some of the best mobile apps ever created were originally inspired by a problem — consider Instagram, which was just a solution to a friend's photo editing frustration.
So if you want to develop the next great app, try building one that solves a problem. It can't hurt, and that way you'll also have some skin in the game.
With a plethora of applications available, it's clear that the uniqueness of your mobile app will play a crucial role in its success.
Now, if you have a great idea for a mobile app, it's time to take that app from concept to creation.
Wait. You have a really interesting idea in your pocket by now, but can’t code? No probs! There’s no-code to your rescue.
Now it’s your turn to start the mobile app development.
Pick one of the 10 simple mobile app ideas above and start building using a no-code app builder.
