10 Mobile App Builder Success Stories [2024]
Want to turn your coding knack into a thriving business? Consider building a mobile app builder.
Essentially, a mobile app builder allows non-developers to craft, customize, and publish mobile apps with ease. By creating user-friendly platforms, you enable small businesses, entrepreneurs, and even hobbies to launch apps without needing to write code.
There's a growing demand for mobile solutions, and companies are willing to invest in tools that bring their ideas to life efficiently. The real work involves developing a robust, scalable platform, ensuring strong user support, and constantly updating features to keep up with tech trends.
By breaking down technical barriers, you open the door to a vast market of eager users looking to turn their mobile app dreams into reality. This business idea not only leverages your coding skills but also taps into a burgeoning industry with endless possibilities.
In this list, you'll find real-world mobile app builder success stories and very profitable examples of starting a mobile app builder that makes money.
1. Appetiser ($8.4M/year)
Jamie Shostak, the co-founder of Appetiser App Development, came up with the idea for the business when he met Michael MacRae, who had apps with millions of users but was looking for a new challenge. They both shared a passion for building and growing tech products, and saw a need for speed, data-driven insights, and top-level quality in the industry. After landing two great clients, they realized the importance of setting up predictable growth systems and started reaching out to prospective companies through outbound sales tactics. They are now on track to make over $8,000,000 annually with over 200 employees worldwide.
How much money it makes: $8.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 175
Appetiser App Development grew from a startup with $0 to now making over $8,000,000 annually with over 200 employees across the globe, serving clients that have billions in valuations like Pointsbet and Good Empire, by helping startups succeed with their app development needs.
2. Thunkable ($6.12M/year)
Arun Saigal and his co-founder, Wei, came up with the business idea while studying at MIT. The pair were motivated by the goal of streamlining software development. They recognized the challenges of software development and were passionate about empowering individuals to shift from being passive technology consumers to active creators.
They set out to create a tool that would simplify software development, make it accessible even to children, and enable them to build any mobile app they desire.
Because at the end of the day, if people can be transformed from passive consumers of the technology into active creators, we believe that more problems will be solved, and the world will be a better place. — Arun Saigal (source)
How much money it makes: $6.12M/year
Arun Saigal created Thunkable, a no-code app development platform, with the goal of empowering individuals to become active creators, leading to revenue of $510k/month and $6.12M/year since its start in 2016.
3. Imaginovation ($1.2M/year)
Imaginovation has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since its founding in 2011. They have won several credible tech awards and have been featured in top publications. The company has a strong local presence and a focus on building SEO-optimized websites to establish an online presence. The future looks bright for Imaginovation as they continue to attract and retain customers with their client-centered approach and innovative technology solutions.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How many people on the team: 35
Imaginovation, a technology and app development company in Raleigh, NC, was recently named one of the Top Technology Companies in North Carolina by Clutch and has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since it was founded in 2011 by co-founders Michael Georgiou and Pete Peranzo.
4. Cobuild Lab ($1.08M/year)
Angel Lacret, the founder of Cobuild Lab, started the company 5 years ago after moving to Miami from Venezuela. As a software engineer with previous experience in creating products for startups and government organizations, Lacret saw the need to help entrepreneurs succeed by providing them with custom software solutions. Over the years, Cobuild Lab evolved its product development process, focusing on sustainable software development and establishing a strong customer service approach. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company adapted its strategy and saw significant growth, doubling its revenue and staff in 2021. Cobuild Lab's future goal is to continue expanding its sales and lead generation efforts, aiming for a 2x growth in 2022.
How much money it makes: $1.08M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
How many people on the team: 45
Cobuild Lab's CEO and Founder Angel Lacret shares his journey of starting a custom software solutions company, starting from $20k and growing to a team of over 50, and offers insights on attracting and retaining customers through a strong digital marketing campaign and building personal relationships, as well as emphasizing the importance of product market fit and sales.
5. Choicely ($840K/year)
Kaius Meskanen, founder of Choicely, came up with the idea for his business while playing around with SMS and voice call voting during a TV show. Realizing the need for more user-friendly engagement tools, he founded Choicely in 2015 and later pivoted to focus on building a mobile app builder that enables businesses to easily create high-quality mobile apps. With $70,000 monthly revenue and a client list that includes ITV Studios and the International Judo Federation, Choicely has experienced rapid growth and success in the media, sports, and entertainment industries.
How much money it makes: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1M
How many people on the team: 15
Choicely is a no-code app builder that offers a simple, fast, and affordable platform for companies to build and maintain high-quality mobile apps, bringing in a monthly revenue of $70,000 with clients being leaders in media, sports & entertainment.
6. TRIARE ($300K/year)
Boris, the founder of TRIARE, came up with the idea for his software development company after working as a project manager for a German startup. When the company closed down, Boris decided to keep the team and build a business together. With just a $500 investment, they started providing software development services and eventually evolved into a full-cycle service provider. Through word of mouth and various marketing tools, TRIARE has attracted and retained customers, with their website receiving 22,000 unique visitors and generating dozens of leads.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How many people on the team: 60
Ukrainian software development company TRIARE, with a current annual turnover of $500,000, shares how personal and collective responsibility, paired with patience and consistency, can help build a profitable business.
7. Mobapp Creator ($120K/year)
Leonardo, Germán, and Sebastian, the three co-founders of a No-code app builder solution called MobAppCreator, came up with the idea after years of working on various projects in the tech industry. They saw the potential of mobile apps after the launch of the original iPhone and noticed the similarities in their customers' requirements. They built a framework to develop no-code mobile apps and received a grant of 100K after participating in a product competition for entrepreneurs, which allowed them to dedicate all their time to the project and launch their business.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 2
This case study features a team of three co-founders who provide a No-code app builder solution for small businesses and resellers, generating $120k per year while their running costs are only 10% of their overall COGS.
8. UniqueSide ($120K/year)
Manoj, frustrated with seeing aspiring founders struggle to bring their ideas to life, quit his job and launched UniqueSide.io, a founder-friendly MVP-focused software development service. In just 8 months, he scaled the business to $65K in revenue, serving clients from the US, UK, Mexico, and Singapore.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 1
Aspiring founder successfully grows software development service, UniqueSide, to $65K in revenue within 8 months, working with 9 founders from 4 countries, leveraging personal branding on Twitter for customer acquisition and retention.
9. Sync2Sheets ($108K/year)
Leandro, a former freelance software developer from Buenos Aires, pivoted from freelancing to building Sync2Sheets, a tool syncing Notion databases with Google Sheets. Launched rapidly in just two weeks, the product now boasts $9k MRR and over 400 paying customers, including Canva and Wix.
How much money it makes: $108K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
A Software Engineer turned SaaS founder shares the journey of building Sync2Sheets, a Google Workspace Add-On that syncs Notion databases with Google Sheets, generating $9k MRR with over 400 paying customers, strategic marketing tactics, and plans for expansion into other services.
10. Panda Wish ($90K/year)
Mohammed Khonizi came up with the idea for Panda Wish after struggling to book a massage while traveling in the Philippines. He saw the need for a platform that would make it easier for clients to request beauty and spa services, while also helping massage therapists earn a good income. After conducting market research and piloting the app in Naga City, it quickly gained traction and attracted hundreds of therapists and clients.
How much money it makes: $90K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 1
Panda Wish, an on-demand beauty and wellness platform, built by Mohammed Khonizi, a Wayne State University MBA graduate, earned over $7.5k per month, following its successful pilot in the Philippines in 2019.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
