Can a Non-Coder Build an App With AI?
AI has made app development much easier than before. Today, even someone who is not a traditional coder can build an application with the help of AI tools.
An app can generate significant revenue. In one example, the gross revenue of an app was shown at around ₹1,19,000 for the last 30 days.
But building the app is only one part of the process. Publishing it on the Play Store or App Store, setting up payments, maintaining the application, marketing it and generating downloads are all important parts of the business.
Also Read: How a 21-Year-Old Built a Digital Marketing Agency and Earns ₹7–8 Lakh Per Month
How Pradeep Kushwaha Started Building Apps
Pradeep Kushwaha belongs to Sonbhadra district near Banaras and is only 26 years old.
Along with his job, he builds applications and uploads them to the Play Store and App Store to earn money from them.
He is a software engineer by profession and completed his degree in 2022 in Computer Science.
He is currently working at an MNC, a Big Four consulting firm, while also handling his complete mobile app business portfolio.
From School to App Development
App development was initially a hobby for him.
He had an interest in building things from his school days. Even when he was in Class 12, he was interested in creating applications and learning these things.
After entering college, he was able to understand these things much better.
He completed his engineering degree in 2022 and then joined a company through college placement.
He has mainly focused on his apps rather than switching jobs frequently.
His current job package is around ₹22 lakh.
At the same time, his apps also generate a good amount of revenue.
His revenue for the last month was around ₹1.5 lakh.
APKPosh Category: Make Money Online
How Much Money Can an App Developer Make?
Along with application revenue, Pradeep has also sold an application.
He does not disclose the exact selling amount, but before the final sale, he had received an offer of $25,000, which he rejected at that time because he wanted to continue working on the application.
Later, he received an even better offer and decided to sell the application.
The AI Try-On App
The application was called TryOn AI.
The idea was very simple.
A user could upload their own photo and select another image showing something they wanted to try.
It could be clothes, shoes, jewellery or other products.
After selecting the item, the application would show how that item would look on the user’s photo.
The application could show the result in real time.
It took around 2–3 months to build the application.
The app had been built only around 7–8 months before it was sold.
The application was sold in the last week.
The exact amount was not disclosed, but because the first offer itself was $25,000, the final selling amount was higher than that.
How to Find App Ideas That Can Make Money
Before building an application, Pradeep first researches what type of applications are currently working.
The main objective is to understand which type of application can potentially generate more revenue.
After doing the research, he starts development.
AI-related applications are currently among the types of applications he has been building.
Recently, he has built around four or five apps, and most of them are related to AI.
Examples include an AI photo enhancer and an AI companion app.
The basic approach is to look at what is currently working and then build something around that area.
Also Read: How Nitesh Built a ₹3 Crore Digital Product Business From a Laptop
How Do Apps Make Money?
There are mainly two ways to generate revenue from an application.
1. Advertising
The first method is advertisements.
This is widely used, especially in India.
Many users may not know much about other monetization methods, but advertisements are commonly added to applications.
2. In-App Purchases
The second method is in-app purchases.
This can include subscriptions or digital products and services sold inside the application.
For example, a subscription can be offered to users who want access to additional features.
Another example is selling credits inside an application.
What Is an In-App Purchase?
Suppose you are using a service such as Netflix and purchase a subscription plan.
That subscription is an example of an in-app purchase.
Another example can be taken from the TryOn AI application.
Suppose the application gives a user one credit.
The user uses that credit for one generation.
After the credit is finished, the user needs more credits.
Instead of purchasing a subscription, the user can purchase additional credits.
For example, the application could offer 50 credits for ₹100.
That is also an in-app purchase.
In simple terms, if an application provides a free trial and then asks users to pay for additional services or features, that payment can come under in-app purchases.
How RevenueCat Helps With In-App Purchases
Google provides its own system for handling in-app purchases.
However, integrating the system into an application can become somewhat complicated.
If the complete process is handled manually, it can take a lot of time.
To simplify this process, several tools are available.
Pradeep specifically uses RevenueCat.
With RevenueCat, the integration becomes easier.
How Many Apps Has Pradeep Published?
Overall, Pradeep has published around 15–20 applications.
However, when it comes to serious applications that he has built specifically with revenue generation in mind, he has recently published around four or five apps.
His total revenue for the last month was around ₹1.5 lakh.
The TryOn AI application has now been sold, so its revenue contribution will eventually decrease.
However, the portfolio still has around $1,000 MRR.
How Long Does It Take to Build an App With AI?
Earlier, building an application from idea to final product used to take a lot of time.
It could take several months.
But after AI became available, the entire process became much faster.
Today, Pradeep can complete the entire process from the idea to the finished application in around one week.
Which AI Tools Does He Use?
For coding, he uses Claude because he finds it particularly useful for coding.
For research and analysis, he uses ChatGPT.
This combination helps him speed up both his job and his app development work.
Can a Non-Coder Build an App?
This is an important question because many AI and vibe-coding tools have now become available.
People can build applications without having traditional coding skills.
But building the application is only one part.
The bigger challenge starts after the application has been built.
A non-coder can potentially create an app using AI, but publishing it and making money from it requires several additional skills.
These include:
- Play Store listing setup
- App Store setup
- Payment integration
- Application maintenance
- Finding and fixing problems
- Understanding analytics
- Improving ranking
- Marketing
- User acquisition
So, AI has made building an application easier, but it has not made the entire app business equally easy.
Why Maintaining an AI-Built App Can Still Be Difficult
Someone can create an application with AI, but if something breaks later, understanding the problem can become difficult for a non-coder.
AI can help here as well.
If an error appears, the developer can give the error to AI and ask it to investigate and fix the problem.
AI can solve many such issues.
However, sometimes the problem is logical and exists outside the immediate AI context.
An application is not made only from code.
There are many logical elements involved, and AI may not always know what is happening outside the context it has been given.
That is where problems can appear.
Which Programming Languages Are Useful for App Development?
Knowing programming languages is an advantage, but it is not absolutely necessary today because AI can generate a lot of the code.
Pradeep uses Flutter.
Flutter allows developers to write code once and build applications for both Android and iOS.
This makes it a cross-platform technology.
If very high platform-specific performance is required, developers can use platform-specific technologies such as Swift for iOS and corresponding Android technologies.
Step-by-Step Process of Building an App With AI
Let’s take an actual application as an example.
Pradeep recently launched a breathing exercise app in only two days.
Step 1: Research the Idea
First, he researched whether this type of application should be built.
He found that applications in this category were already making good money.
So he decided to try it.
Step 2: Give the Idea to AI
Once the idea was finalized, he went to Claude or ChatGPT.
He explained the idea and told AI what the application needed to do.
AI then created the complete roadmap and plan.
Step 3: Give the Plan to the Coding Tool
The roadmap was copied into Claude, VS Code or whichever tool was being used.
The AI then created the application.
At this point, the basic application was ready.
Step 4: Set Up Payments
Building the application is not enough.
If the objective is to make money, payment systems need to be configured.
For in-app purchases, Pradeep uses RevenueCat.
After integrating RevenueCat and setting up payments, the application is ready for the next stage.
Step 5: Set Up the Store Listing
If the application is being published for the first time on Google Play, a Play Console developer fee is required.
The interview mentions a one-time $25 fee.
For Apple’s App Store, the developer program requires an annual membership.
Apple’s official developer resources provide the current details for App Store Connect and app publishing.
Do You Need GST to Earn From an App?
According to the discussion, GST registration is not automatically required simply because an app is published.
The discussion states that once revenue crosses the applicable GST threshold in India, GST requirements need to be considered.
The exact tax position depends on the individual’s or business’s circumstances.
How Much Commission Do Google and Apple Take?
The discussion explains that Google and Apple charge fees on digital transactions.
For Google Play, the standard 15% service-fee tier applies to the first $1 million of annual earnings for developers enrolled in the applicable program, with different rules and updated regional fee structures now applying in some markets. Google states that service-fee structures vary by program and market.
Apple’s App Store Small Business Program provides a 15% commission rate for eligible developers meeting its requirements, including the applicable $1 million threshold.
The interview describes the higher rate as 30% after the $1 million threshold under the then-discussed structure.
Can You Avoid Google and Apple Fees?
The discussion explains that there is no simple way to completely avoid these platform fees when using the applicable store billing systems.
There have been legal disputes around these fees, including in the United States, but the platform fee structure continues to exist.
Why App Store Listing Design Matters
Building an application is only part of the work.
The store listing itself can have a major impact on performance.
Pradeep explains that he has experimented with different app icons and found significant differences in conversion rates.
According to his experiments, simply changing an app icon created a difference of around 15% to 25% in conversion rate.
Google Play officially provides Store Listing Experiments that allow developers to test different graphics and text and determine which variants perform better.
Apple also provides Product Page Optimization, allowing developers to test different app icons, screenshots and previews.
Example of an App Icon Experiment
One of the examples discussed is an app called Apexa.
One version of the icon clearly communicates what the application does.
It shows a face and gives users an immediate understanding of how the image is being enhanced.
Another version simply uses a letter as the logo.
The result was that the result-oriented icon generated approximately 20–25% conversion, while the simple logo version had a much lower conversion rate.
The reason is simple.
Users do not already know the brand.
A large brand such as Google may be recognizable from a logo alone, but a new application cannot necessarily expect users to understand what it does from a simple logo.
Therefore, the icon should communicate the application’s purpose.
Why App Developers Should Test Everything
The mindset should not be that a design should be changed simply because it looks cool.
Every change should be tested.
For example, if a new logo is designed, it should first be tested to determine whether it performs better.
If it performs better, then it can be updated.
The same approach can be used for different listing elements.
The Play Console and App Store Connect provide options for testing and optimization.
Is App Monetization With Ads Difficult?
If an application has been built using AI and published on the Play Store, it can be monetized through advertisements.
There is no requirement in the discussion for a long waiting period before showing ads.
The ad system can be set up and advertisements can start appearing.
Compared with in-app purchases, advertising monetization is relatively simple.
In-app purchases are more complicated because payment and subscription systems have to be integrated properly.
Can AI Teach You the Complete Process?
According to Pradeep, almost everything can be learned with the help of AI if AI is used correctly.
Earlier, people focused on learning how to search Google properly.
Now, learning how to use AI properly can provide similar leverage.
If you do not know how to set up RevenueCat, ask AI.
If you do not know how to configure a payment system, ask AI.
If an error appears, give the error to AI and ask for a step-by-step solution.
The idea is not to be afraid of something simply because you do not know it.
Ask AI one step at a time.
How to Get Downloads for a New App
Building an app has become easier.
The difficult part is now getting users.
Because AI has made app development easier, more applications are appearing on the Play Store and App Store.
This means competition is increasing.
Therefore, standing out in the market has become extremely important.
According to Pradeep, one of the biggest areas developers should focus on is ASO, or App Store Optimization.
Why Organic ASO Is Important
If the organic ranking of an app is improved properly, there may be less need to spend money on advertising.
Another major advantage of organic traffic is that the users can have high intent.
For example, if someone searches for a photo enhancer or try-on app, they already have a requirement.
If your app appears in that search, the user is already looking for that type of product.
Paid advertising is different.
An advertisement can sometimes be shown to users who do not currently need the application.
That is why organic optimization is a major focus.
Once the listing has been properly optimized, it can continue bringing organic users over time.
How App Store Optimization Works
Many small things matter in ASO.
For example:
- Conversion rate
- Listing images
- Keywords
- App title
- Screenshots
- User downloads
- Ratings
- Reviews
- Retention
- User engagement
The same basic concept applies to the App Store as well.
If the listing performs well and more users download the application, the platform can receive a positive signal.
If users download the app and immediately uninstall it, that can be a negative signal.
Why App Retention Matters
The number of downloads is not the only thing that matters.
The platform can also observe whether users continue using the application.
If users download the app, use it and remain active for several days or a week, that can indicate that the application is useful.
If users download the app and immediately uninstall it, that can indicate that the application is not meeting expectations.
This can affect recommendations and ranking.
User engagement also matters.
The platform can look at how much time users spend inside the application and how frequently they use it.
Why Ratings and Reviews Matter
Ratings and reviews are another important part of app growth.
An application with good ratings and reviews can perform better in ranking.
Generally, an application with more positive ratings and reviews can have a stronger position than an application with poor ratings.
Therefore, developers should focus not only on downloads but also on user experience and retention.
How to Promote an App With Google Ads
Google also provides advertising options for applications.
Developers can run ads to promote an app.
However, app advertising is not limited to only Google Search.
Google can show app advertisements across its advertising ecosystem, depending on the campaign and available placements.
This can include:
- Google Search
- YouTube
- Websites
- Other applications
- Google advertising networks
For example, you may be using another application and see an advertisement for a different application inside it.
How Much Does One App Install Cost?
The cost per install depends on the location and the type of application.
The discussion gives an approximate Indian range of around ₹5–₹10 per install for some applications.
However, the actual cost can vary significantly.
A highly competitive application can potentially cost around ₹15–₹20 per install, while a lower-competition application may have a lower cost.
The exact cost depends on the application category and competition.
Which App Has Been the Most Successful?
Among the applications built for revenue purposes, TryOn AI was the most successful in terms of revenue.
However, another application performed particularly well in terms of downloads.
It is similar to Instagram in a simple way.
Instead of swiping through Instagram Reels, users can swipe through interesting facts from different categories.
The idea is very simple.
Users simply swipe and continue discovering different facts.
How the Facts App Works
The application contains preloaded facts across different categories.
These facts are updated from time to time.
There is also a dynamic facts option.
For example, if a user wants a fact from a particular category and it is not available in the application, the user can generate it directly using AI.
The experience is not like simply opening ChatGPT and reading a fact.
The application presents the information through a swipe-based user interface.
How the Facts App Is Monetized
The facts application uses both advertising and in-app purchases.
Some categories are locked for Pro users.
For example, high-demand categories such as the AI category can be placed inside the Pro section.
Free users continue seeing advertisements.
For example, after swiping through three or four facts, an advertisement may appear.
Pro users do not see those advertisements.
The application has crossed 500 downloads according to the discussion.
Its rating is above 4, with the discussion later showing a rating of around 4.4.
The application had previously crossed a higher download milestone, but Google periodically updates its systems and removes certain downloads or accounts where applicable.
Why Apps Need Regular Updates
Apps also need to be maintained regularly.
Policies can change.
SDK versions can change.
Google can send notifications asking developers to update applications.
If developers fail to comply with required policies or technical requirements, an application can potentially be delisted.
Therefore, even after publishing an application, the work does not end.
Why an App Can Be Delisted
Pradeep recently had two or three applications delisted.
The issue was related to app access.
When an application requires a sign-in method, the developer needs to provide the Play Console or App Store tester with the information required to test the app.
The developer had provided credentials, but the problem was that the tester did not have premium access.
Google’s policy required the tester to have full access to the application.
Some features had been blocked for the tester.
Because of this, the application was delisted.
After the access problem was corrected, the application came back.
This was not considered a major policy violation.
How to Find Profitable App Ideas
Pradeep has several applications, including TryOn AI, Fact, Fact Jaano, Cat Games for Cats, Pocket Mind and AI-related applications.
A major question is where these ideas come from.
The answer is market research and competitive analysis.
The first step is to understand what types of applications are currently working.
Researching the Play Store
The Play Store itself can be used for research.
Developers can look at applications that are already performing well.
They can study:
- Categories
- Keywords
- Downloads
- Reviews
- Ratings
- Competitors
- Application features
There are also tools available for deeper research.
Keyword Research With ASO Tools
For keyword research, Pradeep uses an ASO tool.
The tool helps identify:
- Search demand
- Number of searches
- Competition
- Keyword opportunities
The important point is that developers should not simply choose a keyword because its demand is extremely high.
If competition is also extremely high, ranking can become difficult.
Therefore, both demand and competition have to be considered.
Using Sensor Tower for App Revenue Research
Another tool is Sensor Tower.
It can provide approximate information about how much revenue an application is generating.
The figure is not necessarily the exact revenue, but it can provide an approximate understanding.
The concept is similar to using Social Blade to get an idea of someone’s online income or performance.
For applications, Sensor Tower can help developers understand which categories and types of applications are generating revenue.
Showing Real App Revenue
The audience also wanted to know whether the revenue being discussed was actually real.
The Play Console dashboard was opened to show the revenue.
After refreshing the dashboard, the gross revenue of one application showed approximately ₹1,19,000 for the last 30 days.
The application had approximately 20,000 downloads, although the Play Store publicly displays download ranges rather than the exact number in the way discussed.
The exact app name was not shown because there was concern that people could copy the application.
However, the app was one of the applications already listed on the developer’s website.
RevenueCat Dashboard and Monthly Recurring Revenue
The RevenueCat dashboard was also shown.
The Play Store revenue and RevenueCat revenue are not two separate amounts that should simply be added together.
The Play Store dashboard showed revenue from one application.
RevenueCat showed subscription revenue across the portfolio.
The dashboard showed around $1,000 MRR.
MRR means Monthly Recurring Revenue.
If subscribers do not cancel, that recurring revenue can continue into the next month.
However, MRR can increase or decrease as users subscribe or cancel.
The MRR had previously been around $700–$800 and had reached around $1,000.
The expectation was that it could reach around $2,000 by the end of the year.
How to Sell an App
The app that was sold was not listed publicly on a marketplace.
The buyer directly reached out through email.
The buyer had analyzed the application and contacted Pradeep.
After that, discussions and counteroffers continued.
Eventually, the offer was finalized and the application was sold.
How the Escrow Process Works
The payment was handled through an escrow service.
The buyer first sends the payment to the escrow provider.
The escrow provider holds the money as a third party.
After that, the seller transfers the application and related assets.
This can include:
- Play Console app transfer
- App Store transfer
- Firebase
- RevenueCat
- Other integrations
- Related project assets
Once everything has been transferred and verified, the escrow provider releases the payment.
The payment was received in dollars.
Also Read: How Arunabh Sinha Built a 900+ Store Laundry Business From an Underrated Idea
Three Important Lessons for New App Developers
1. Use AI Throughout the Workflow
The first recommendation is to use AI as much as possible.
AI can improve productivity and speed across almost every process.
Things that previously took months or years can now be completed much faster.
AI should be included in the workflow for:
- App development
- Research
- Launching
- Troubleshooting
- Content creation
- Other business processes
2. Focus on Your App Listing
The second important lesson is to pay attention to the app listing.
Many startups and developers have applications but do not pay enough attention to:
- Keywords
- Screenshots
- App icons
- Listing design
- Descriptions
All these things matter.
A better listing can improve conversion and organic ranking.
3. App Development Is a Long-Term Game
The third lesson is that app development is not a game where you build one application and immediately expect revenue.
You may need to build two, three or four applications before understanding:
- Which ideas work
- Which ideas do not work
- What users want
- What monetization model works
- What type of app can generate revenue
Therefore, developers need to give the process time.
Can You Copy a Popular App Idea?
If an application is popular and appears easy to build, the idea can be used as inspiration.
People are already doing this.
However, the important part is how the application is presented.
The application should be modified according to your own approach and should include unique features.
It should not simply be an exact copy of another application.
Is AI Taking IT Jobs?
AI is causing concern because many people believe that jobs, particularly IT jobs, may disappear.
But Pradeep says he is not afraid.
He has confidence that even if his job disappears, he will be able to do something else.
In his case, AI has actually increased his confidence.
He is already using AI to build applications and improve his workflow.
How AI Is Used Beyond App Development
AI is not only used for coding.
It is also used for other parts of the workflow.
For example, when creating videos, AI can help with:
- Titles
- Descriptions
- Research
- Content
- Other workflow tasks
He also creates content for YouTube and Instagram.
However, he is currently more active on Instagram.
According to him, Instagram currently provides better reach, while YouTube seems to have become somewhat slower compared with Instagram at this time.
How to Manage a Job, App Development and Content Creation
Managing all these activities becomes easier because app development is also a hobby.
He enjoys building applications.
He could spend the entire day building apps or coding without feeling that it is a problem.
AI also makes time management easier.
Because AI speeds up work, both job-related tasks and app-related tasks can be completed faster.
Many online activities also become faster with AI.
As a result, additional time becomes available.
Final Thoughts
The journey of Pradeep Kushwaha shows how AI has changed the process of building and launching mobile applications.
He completed his Computer Science engineering degree in 2022, works at a Big Four consulting firm and also manages a portfolio of mobile applications.
He has published around 15–20 apps, with around four or five serious revenue-focused applications.
His applications have generated around ₹1.5 lakh in monthly revenue, while the portfolio has reached around $1,000 MRR.
One application, TryOn AI, was sold for an amount higher than the previously received $25,000 offer.
His experience also shows that building an application is only the beginning.
The developer still needs to understand payments, store listings, ASO, marketing, user acquisition, analytics, retention, app updates and policy compliance.
AI can make many of these processes faster, but developers still need to understand what they are doing.
The biggest lesson is that developers should use AI throughout the workflow, focus on app listings and ASO, and understand that building a successful app business takes time.
You may need to build several applications before discovering the right idea, the right market and the right monetization model.
The important thing is to keep experimenting, learning and improving.