We studied the fastest-growing indie apps and found 7 proven strategies they’re using to add millions in revenue – without spending a dime on ads.
Here they are 👇
🧲 Turn Paywall Closes into Conversions
Most apps treat a closed paywall as the end of the road. The best apps treat it as the beginning of a conversion loop.
Give an offer after the user closes the paywall – this could be a discount or a limited-time deal to catch their attention again.
This is how Theo app does it.
You can do even better by setting up a flywheel that is set to hit Jackpot always. ShutEye app does it brilliantly.
If they opt for a free trial instead, keep a sticky bar at the bottom of the app with a clear upgrade call-to-action; the Dancefitme app does this really well.
🔔Get Users to Activate Notification for your App
During onboarding, show a quick product demo.
Ask users for input and begin generating the output – but make it clear that it will take a moment. Then say:
“We’ll notify you as soon as it’s ready. Enable notifications to get the alert.”
This builds anticipation, delivers value, and gives users a natural reason to opt in.
This is how Donna AI (a music creation app) nails this.
You enter a prompt. It starts composing your custom track.
And right when curiosity peaks, it says: “Please allow notifications. So I can let you know the moment your song is ready.”
Just a calm, timely nudge in a magical moment.
It’s smart. It’s contextual. And it works.
🎯 Ask for Ratings After a Small Win
Mobile games do this brilliantly.
Beat a level? Unlock something? Get a shiny badge?
That’s when they ask for a rating – because you’re in a good mood and likely to leave a glowing review.
This is how Color Pop, a drawing app, does it. They ask you for a rating after completing the first drawing.
Now apply that same logic to your app.
Not a game? Doesn’t matter. Just identify your “small win”:
✅ Finished generating an image?
✅ User just shared a result?
✅ Took a screenshot of your app?
That’s your moment. Prompt the rating.
🚀 Turn your app from “Launched” to “Growing” in just 3 weeks.
✅ Trusted by 50+ App Founders ✅ 17 Proven Playbooks ✅ Weekly Founder Calls
📊 A/B Test 2 More Sweet Spots for Rating
Don’t stop at just one moment. Try these too:
- Ask for ratings during onboarding.
If you have a hard paywall and onboarding to paid conversion is low, it is better to ask for a rating during onboarding.
Here, Lean AI, a calorie tracker app, asks for ratings during onboarding itself.
- While processing output
When you are processing output, gently ask for a review. A moment of idle time = a moment to gently nudge.
(“Hang tight, we’re working on it. Enjoying the app? Rate us!”)
Here is how the AI Garden App does it.
🚀 Turn your app from “Launched” to “Growing” in just 3 weeks.
✅ Trusted by 50+ App Founders ✅ 17 Proven Playbooks ✅ Weekly Founder Calls
📌 Add a Sticky Bar at the Bottom
If you’re driving traffic to your website, don’t waste your highest CTR zone.
Add a sticky bar at the bottom of the screen. It’s subtle, persistent, and performs.
Bible Chat has a sticky bar at bottom which asks you to download the app.
Earlier, we have shown how Dancefitme uses a sticky bar at bottom to nudge users to buy their subscription.
You can also test a sticky top bar – but bottom bars often win because they’re closer to the thumb on mobile.
✅ Use it for email capture
✅ Push a limited-time offer
✅ Highlight your app or product
One bar = constant conversion pressure, without being annoying.
🚀 Turn your app from “Launched” to “Growing” in just 3 weeks.
✅ Trusted by 50+ App Founders ✅ 17 Proven Playbooks ✅ Weekly Founder Calls
📲 Increase Notification Opt-In with Pre-Permission Education
Don’t drop users straight into the OS permission prompt. Warm them up first.Tie the notification benefit directly to the user’s goal or success.
Duolingo nails this by showing a reason: “I’ll remind you to practice so it becomes a habit!” and a clear CTA: “Remind me to practice”
Then seamlessly triggers the system dialog – where users are far more likely to tap “Allow”.
This approach:
- Sets context
- Reduces surprise
- Increases opt-in rates
🚀 Turn your app from “Launched” to “Growing” in just 3 weeks.
✅ Trusted by 50+ App Founders ✅ 17 Proven Playbooks ✅ Weekly Founder Calls
📈 Run In-App Events to Boost App Store Rankings
Running in-app events can give your app a visibility lift.
Apps with fewer ratings often outrank higher-rated ones during active event periods. Why? Because the App Store algorithm rewards engagement.
Here an app with just 76 ratings is ranked above an app with 458 ratings because the former runs an event now.
So, even if you’re behind on reviews, an event can push you ahead.
Use this to your advantage – launch something exciting in-app and promote it through an App Store Event listing.
