Everyone wants to make money with apps these days. And why not? Who doesn’t love the idea of building something once and getting paid over and over? But here’s the thing – most app ideas suck. They’re either copied versions of existing apps or solutions to problems nobody actually has.
I’ve been in the app development game for years, and I’ve seen what works and what flops. Let me share some real ideas that have actual potential, not just the same old recycled stuff you read in generic “how to make money online” articles.
Local Service Marketplace Apps
Think Uber but for random stuff people need done. Not rides. Services.
Here’s the thing about local markets – they’re underserved. Sure, there’s TaskRabbit and Thumbtack, but they’re huge national platforms. A hyper-local version that focuses on specific cities or neighborhoods could absolutely work.
Ideas to consider:
- Elderly assistance: grocery runs, prescription pickups, tech help for seniors
- Pet services: dog walking, cat sitting, pet taxi to vet visits
- Home maintenance: gutter cleaning, lawn care, minor repairs
- Vehicle help: jump starts, tire changes, moving help
The key is trust and verification. Background checks, reviews, maybe insurance. People aren’t letting strangers into their homes or cars without some assurance they’re safe to deal with.
I know a guy who built a simple app for college students to help other students move in/out of dorms. Made decent money during peak seasons with almost zero competition.
Niche Fitness and Wellness Apps
The fitness app market is crowded, but most of them are generic. Generic workout plans, generic meal tracking, generic everything. Niche down and you might actually stand a chance.
Some angles that aren’t saturated:
- Postpartum fitness (huge underserved market)
- Seniors and mobility issues
- Desk worker posture and stretch routines
- Mental wellness for specific professions (nurses, teachers, truck drivers)
- Recovery from specific injuries
The trick is targeting people who feel ignored by mainstream fitness apps. Someone recovering from knee surgery doesn’t want generic “leg day” workouts – they need something designed for their situation.
Monetization can be subscription-based, but here’s a secret: one-time purchases work better for niche markets. People will pay $50 once for a specialized program but might hesitate at $10/month forever.
Skill-Based Learning for Specific Industries
Generic learning platforms like Udemy and Coursera are great, but they’re too broad. Industry-specific training apps are where the real money is.
Consider:
- Construction safety certifications
- Medical coding and billing
- Restaurant management training
- Real estate exam prep by state
- Cosmetology license renewal courses
These people need to learn specific things for their jobs. They’re willing to pay because it directly affects their income. Plus, businesses will often reimburse employees for job-related training.
I’ve seen someone make six figures just creating an app for HVAC technicians to study for their certification exams. Simple interface, good content, recurring revenue from annual renewals.
Subscription Box Management
Subscription boxes are everywhere these days. What’s missing? A unified place to manage all of them.
Build an app that:
- Tracks all your subscriptions in one place
- Reminds you when they’re shipping
- Lets you skip months or cancel easily
- Shows you how much you’re actually spending
- Recommends alternatives based on what you like
Monetization through affiliate partnerships. When someone cancels a box and tries a new one through your app, you get a cut. Win-win.
The hard part is getting data on all the different subscription services. But once you build the database, the app basically runs itself. Users stay because it’s genuinely useful, not because they’re trapped.
Micro-Task Apps for Gig Workers
Not everyone wants full gig work. Sometimes people just want to make $20-50 here and there. Create an app for micro-tasks that take 5-30 minutes.
The key is keeping it simple. Nobody wants to watch a 10-minute training video to earn $5. Quick tasks, quick payment.
Potential task categories:
- Data entry and transcription
- Photo verification (take a picture of a storefront, verify hours are correct)
- Simple user testing (try a website for 5 minutes, give feedback)
- Price checking (go to stores, verify prices)
- Mystery shopping (but streamlined, not the old-school lengthy reports)
Payout needs to be instant or near-instant. The gig worker apps that succeed are the ones that don’t make people wait weeks for their money.
Food Waste Reduction
This one’s actually doing something good while making money. Create an app that connects restaurants, grocery stores, and individuals who have excess food with people who want it.
Think “Too Good To Go” but for your local area. Businesses post discounted meals or groceries about to go bad. People grab them at steep discounts. You take a percentage.
The environmental angle is great for marketing. Plus, people genuinely love getting good food cheap. It’s not charity – it’s smart economics.
I’ve seen this work really well in college towns. Lots of pizza places, lots of broke students. Match made in heaven.
Local Tourism and Experience Booking
People visiting new places want authentic experiences, not tourist traps. Build an app that connects visitors with locals who offer unique experiences.
Examples:
- Local food tours (not the generic ones)
- Photography tours with local photographers
- Hidden gem recommendations from actual residents
- Cultural experiences (cooking classes, craft workshops)
- Adventure activities off the beaten path
The locals make money, visitors get authentic experiences, and you take a booking fee. Everyone wins.
The challenge is quality control. You need to vet your hosts carefully. One bad experience can ruin your reputation. But if you get it right, word travels fast.
Hobby and Craft Supply Sharing
Hobbyists buy a lot of stuff they don’t use often. Expensive tools, specialized equipment, materials that go to waste. Create a platform where people can rent or share these things.
Think:
- 3D printers and laser cutters
- Photography equipment
- Sewing machines and sergers
- Woodworking tools
- Musical instruments
Monetize through rental fees, listing fees, or a combination. The peer-to-peer model works well here because trust is established through the platform, not individual relationships.
I’ve seen this work exceptionally well in urban areas where people don’t have space for hobby equipment. Someone wants to try woodworking? Rent a saw for the weekend instead of buying one.
Parenting Coordination Apps
Parents are busy. Really busy. They’re juggling work, kids’ schedules, household stuff, and somehow trying to maintain their sanity. Any app that makes their life easier is going to find users.
Ideas:
- Shared family calendars that sync with everyone’s schedules
- Babysitter and nanny coordination
- School event reminders and sign-ups
- Carpool scheduling
- Meal planning and grocery list sharing
The sweet spot is making it stupid simple. Parents don’t want another app to learn. They want something they can figure out in 5 minutes while making breakfast.
Monetization through premium features works well here. Basic functionality free, advanced stuff paid. Parents will pay for features that genuinely save them time.
Career Transition Support
People change jobs and careers more often now. There’s a huge market for tools that help with career transitions.
Build something that helps with:
- Resume building and optimization
- Interview prep with industry-specific questions
- Salary research by role and location
- Portfolio development
- Networking advice for career changers
The key is personalization. Someone transitioning from retail to tech needs different guidance than someone moving from accounting to marketing. Generic career advice is everywhere. Targeted help is not.
You can also offer premium one-on-one coaching through the app. Upsell from self-guided materials to personalized support.
The Real Key to Success
Here’s what nobody tells you about app ideas: execution matters way more than the idea itself. The ideas I’ve listed? None of them are revolutionary. The ones that succeed will be the ones built well, marketed intelligently, and actually solving real problems.
Focus on:
- Solving a specific problem for specific people
- Building something that works well and doesn’t frustrate users
- Marketing to the right audience, not everyone
- Listening to feedback and adapting quickly
- Being patient – real apps take time to build and grow
And here’s something else: start small. Don’t try to build the perfect version of your app from day one. Build an MVP (minimum viable product), get it out there, and improve based on real feedback.
I’ve seen too many people spend months or years building their “perfect” app only to launch and realize nobody actually wants it. Better to launch with something imperfect and learn what people actually need.
Making Money From Your App
Let’s talk money. How do these apps actually generate income?
Popular models:
- Freemium: Basic features free, premium features paid
- Subscription: Monthly or yearly recurring revenue
- One-time purchase: Pay once, own forever
- Transaction fees: Take a cut of every booking or sale
- Advertising: Free app with ads (works with high volume)
- Freemium + ads: Basic version with ads, paid version without
Which model works depends on your app and your audience. Productivity tools often work well with subscriptions. Games and entertainment often use ads. Marketplaces and booking platforms usually take transaction fees.
The key is choosing the right model for your specific app, not copying what everyone else does.
Getting Started
Want to actually build one of these? Here’s how to start:
- Validate first. Before writing any code, talk to potential users. Do they actually have the problem you’re trying to solve? Will they pay to solve it?
- Start simple. Build an MVP – the bare minimum that solves the core problem. Everything else can come later.
- Launch early and iterate. Get real users, real feedback, real data. Improve based on what you learn, not what you assumed.
- Market like crazy from day one. Great apps that nobody knows about don’t make money. Your marketing is as important as your development.
- Be prepared to pivot. Your original idea might not work exactly as planned. That’s fine. Adjust based on what you learn.
The Bottom Line
Making money with apps isn’t magic. It’s about solving real problems for real people and executing well. The ideas in this article are starting points, not guaranteed wins.
Pick something that interests you. Build it. Launch it. Learn from it. Then either double down or try something else.
Nobody’s first app is perfect. Nobody’s first app makes millions. But you have to start somewhere.
Now go build something. The world is waiting for your good idea to become a reality.