Growth Hacking Lab

How CardiaLink Hit $200K/Month in 3 Months by Turning Health Checks Into Subscriptions

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CardiaLink promises to measure your heart rate, but under the hood, it’s running one of the most calculated onboarding flows in the health-tracking niche.

In just three months, the app has scaled to $200K/month, powered by precision onboarding, psychological paywalls, and Apple Search Ads done right.

Onboarding That Monetizes From the First Tap

CardiaLink wastes no time, the monetization funnel begins before users even explore.

Apple Health tracking permission appears instantly, the first screen after launch
Followed immediately by a soft paywall offering 7-day full access or a monthly subscription
This early exposure frames premium access as the default mode of using the app

The sequencing creates commitment from the first interaction, users are already choosing between free and paid before seeing any features.

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Permissions That Build Trust and Functionality

The app ties functionality to permissions, turning technical access into a sense of necessity.

Camera permission follows next, justified as required for scanning the user’s finger to measure heart rate
The permission is framed as essential, not optional, creating a perception of medical legitimacy
This flow blends utility with trust, reinforcing the app’s “health authority” tone

Each permission feels like progress keeping users moving deeper into the product while giving the app more data hooks.

Locked Insights That Drive Upgrades

Once the user completes their scan, CardiaLink leverages curiosity to convert.

Results screen displays BPM, HRV, stress, energy, and EKG graph
But HRV and stress insights are locked behind a “Get Pro” paywall
This staged reveal creates information FOMO, users see what they’re missing in real time

It’s a classic bait-to-upgrade strategy: deliver partial value, then sell completeness.

Review Timing That Amplifies Social Proof

CardiaLink times its review prompt perfectly, right after delivering the results.

Rating popup appears immediately after showing heart metrics
The use of heart icons fits the theme and emotional timing
Users are asked to rate the app when they’re feeling validated by the data

This emotional nudge turns into organic App Store proof.

Apple Search Ads as the Growth Engine

CardiaLink’s acquisition strategy is almost entirely ASA-driven with wide keyword coverage.

Bidding on thousands of terms like “Cardias,” “Cardiae,” and “health information”
Captures generic health and heart-monitoring queries
ASA ensures placement at the moment of intent, users already searching for solutions

This precision targeting minimizes wasted spend while dominating a high-trust category.