Ahead looks like just another mindfulness app.

But instead of making onboarding smooth, they deliberately add friction.

The result? Only serious users stay.

And those who stay, pay.

Here’s the playbook:

Onboarding That Pushes You Away

Most apps remove barriers to entry. Ahead adds them.

• Calming background sound → “take a deep breath.”

• Make a check mark.

• Login authentication.

That’s 3 hurdles before you even start.

If you’re still here, you’re committed.

Situational Questions That Hook Emotion

Ahead doesn’t ask for data – it asks for reactions.

“How would you react if…?”

These emotional questions pull you in, even if you came for another reason.

By now, you’ve invested mentally, not just with clicks.

Ratings + Faces + More Friction

Midway through onboarding, you’re asked:

• For an App Store rating.

• To draw a happy face.

• Many more “Yes” or “No” queries

• Notification prompts.

Finally, after 30+ screens, the hard paywall hits.

But it doesn’t feel tedious – it feels like a guided journey.

App Store Domination

Ahead ranks Top 3 for 300+ high-intent keywords like:

• “anger management app free”

• “emotion apps”

• “AI stress”

This organic base fuels steady installs daily.

Paid Ads at Scale

But the real driver is paid.

• ~10,000 ASA keywords (blanketing the category).

• 1,600 TikTok video ads.

• ~200 Facebook ads – including static images (rare in this niche).

Ahead doesn’t just advertise. It floods every channel.

The Ahead Playbook

→ Filter users with friction.
→ Hook emotions through situational onboarding.
→ Lock-in with a hard paywall after 30+ steps.
→ Scale installs with ASA + TikTok + FB.

Ahead looks simple.

But underneath, it’s a masterclass in turning resistance into revenue.