How Lean AI, a Calorie Tracker App, Makes $70K/Month in 90 Days

By

Three months ago, a new fitness app entered the crowded calorie-tracking space.

No influencers. No virality. No hype.

Just solid execution – and $70,000/month in revenue already.

Here’s how Lean is scaling, step by step.

Onboarding Builds Trust and Data

Lean starts with an onboarding flow that’s longer than most apps – and that’s by design.

It walks users through:

Fitness goals and habits
Current lifestyle and routines
Meal timing and preferences

This not only builds trust but also helps tailor the product experience right away. Smartly, it also prompts users for a rating during onboarding – helping it build App Store credibility fast.

🚀 Turn your app from “Launched” to “Growing” in just 3 weeks.

✅ Trusted by 50+ App Founders ✅ 17 Proven Playbooks ✅ Weekly Founder Calls

The Paywall Is Subtle, but Aggressive

Lean uses a soft paywall – you can technically skip it, but nearly every action routes you back to pricing.

The pricing page shows two options:

Weekly plan: around 10× more expensive than yearly
Yearly plan: discounted and framed as the best deal

The design nudges users toward the annual plan without forcing it – a strategy that’s optimized for cash flow and retention.

They’re Buying Intent With Apple Search Ads

Lean doesn’t wait for organic discovery.

They’ve gone all-in on Apple Search Ads (ASA) – targeting over 400 high-intent keywords like:

MyFitnessPal
calorie counter
macro tracker AI

Rather than compete on App Store Optimization (ASO) upfront, they buy intent from day one and let their conversion funnel do the rest.

A Quiet Flywheel at Work

Here’s the repeatable engine behind Lean:

ASA brings in high-quality users
Onboarding earns App Store ratings
Ratings improve search visibility and trust
Better rank = lower acquisition costs
Lower CAC = more ad spend efficiency

No social hacks. No viral giveaways. Just pure funnel optimization and media buying that scales.

Growth Hacks Used By Lean AI

High-Intent Keyword Targeting (ASA) : Used Apple Search Ads to bid on competitor and intent-based keywords like calorie counter and macro AI.

Onboarding Rating Prompt: Asked for App Store reviews inside onboarding to build early social proof and boost ASO performance.

Psychological Pricing Framing: Offered a high-priced weekly plan to make the annual plan look like a bargain.

Funnel Re-entry Triggers: Even though it’s a soft paywall, most actions push users back into the pricing page – increasing conversion opportunities.