It happened. $500 MRR. 🚀
15 months ago I launched Steps & Beasts - a gamified step tracker in a crowded market.
Now 346 people are paying for it, and that still blows my mind.
This feels like just the beginning.
Where are you on your MRR journey?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #Flutter #MRR
Today’s user story reminded me why I build.
A user from France uses Steps & Beasts with her daughter and asked for a discount code.
I ended up gifting her daughter a lifetime subscription.
Asked for a review. Got two. One from mom, one from daughter.
Kindness wins. ❤️
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic
People love to play. People love to be involved. People love to impact the story. That’s probably why it works :)
I changed my onboarding - and revenue grew by 40%.
Instead of explaining the app, I added a storyline: pick an egg, hatch it at the end. A/B tested it.
Results:
+7% reach the paywall
+65% buy during onboarding
+100% trial conversion
Don’t guess. Test.
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic
Gut feeling is great - but numbers decide.
I’m A/B testing a new Steps & Beasts onboarding right now. I like the new version, but does it actually convert better?
Don’t guess. Test.
What are you testing next?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #ABTesting
Celebrating 100 US ratings for Steps & Beasts! 🇺🇸⭐️
Toughest market, huge competitors - but I’m here for the long run.
There’s a niche for a gamified step tracker, and social proof will get me there.
If I can grow organic US traffic, it’ll take off.
Let’s go. 🚀
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic
Had an amazing Black November for Steps & Beasts.
First time running a Black Friday sale: 17% off yearly, 33% off lifetime.
Results: lots of lifetime buys - even from long-time users who never paid before. Discounts work.
Will definitely do it again. 🤝
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #AppDev
Arabic, German, Chinese, English - my last four reviews. ❤️
I love reaching people around the world. If my little playful app makes someone smile, that’s everything.
Reviews matter a lot, so finding ways to encourage them is key.
How do you get users to leave reviews?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic
Running a 33% off deal on my gamified step tracker Steps & Beasts until the end of November! 🎉
If you’ve got a second, an upvote on my Reddit post would help me a lot:
www.reddit.com/r/AppHookup/...
Thanks for the support! 💜
Hey indie devs: are you paid subscribers of your own app?
There are workarounds (offer codes, skip buttons, @revenuecat.com entitlements), and financially it makes no sense.
But maybe you do it for conviction? Or the little dopamine boost in the stats? How do you handle it?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic
Thank you 💜 most of the downloads came from a promotional offer, but I’m still happy with constant organic reach :)
One year of Steps & Beasts — in numbers 🐾
9,000 downloads (half from lifetime free)
1,800 active users (30d)
165 subscribers + 43 lifetime purchases
$205 MRR • $3,267 total revenue
Built it for myself - now thousands enjoy it.
Grateful and excited for year two! 🚀
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #Flutter
Always remember: you are not your customer.
A new user spent $30+ in Steps & Beasts - just 40 seconds after installing. 🤯
I’d never do that myself… but that’s exactly the point: you are not your customer.
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #StepsAndBeasts #AppMarketing #UserBehavior #Flutter #RevenueCat
Will do! Thanks again for the inspiration 💜
Redesigned the Steps & Beasts paywall! 🎨
It now fits the app much better.
Also added social proof for the first time — everyone says it helps with conversions, so let’s see. 👀
Thanks @alekseyrozh.bsky.social for the inspiration! 🙏
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #Flutter #Paywall
1/ 📊 App Store data doesn’t have to feel like a jungle.
That’s what Malte Peters @ptrs.dev, one of our users discovered with his app, Steps & Beasts:
Update 1.3.7 is live! 🚀
Steps & Beasts now has a 3D tilt effect — layered Beasts, animated particles (like leaves 🍃), and a parallax motion that reacts to your phone’s tilt.
Took some time, but… tada! ✨
What do you think?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #StepsAndBeasts #Flutter #AppUpdate #3DEffect
Your app updates should be fun — not just functional.
This Monday, Steps & Beasts gets its first ever “What’s New” screen 🐾
A place to share personality, highlight features, and show I’m listening to feedback.
How do you highlight new features in your updates?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #Flutter
Thank you! I agree. Also in the more and more ai dominated world I think an eye for pixels would come in handy.
I’m not a UI designer.
But as an indie dev you can still build beautiful UIs.
Look at what you like → rebuild it → tweak it → repeat.
Focus on consistency. Iterate.
Bit by bit you’ll get faster, better — and proud of your designs. 🙂
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #UIDesign #StepsAndBeasts #Flutter
Wondering if you’re “good enough” as a dev? Start a personal project.
I’ve learned more from side projects than anything else - even the ones I never released. You touch every part: concept, design, code, release.
Doesn’t matter if it goes live. You’ll grow a ton. 🚀
#DevJourney #KeepBuilding #Dev
70% of my subs come right after onboarding.
Make users excited first (personal goals, motivation, personalization), then show a soft paywall - works especially well with a free trial.
Indie devs: Don’t forget to sell. 🙂
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #AppMarketing #Paywall #StepsAndBeasts #Flutter
300+ App Store ratings in 10 months 🎉
That’s ~1 per day — with a 4.8⭐️ average across 53 countries. 🌍
I ask right after a successful transaction, and again later if users skip. Works well for me.
Curious: how do you collect more (and better) reviews?
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #AppGrowth #Flutter
“I mean even God rested once a week.”
Got this as user feedback for Steps & Beasts — and it made me smile.
Listening to users is key. I’ve heard this request a few times now… so the next feature is set: Lazy Days. 🐾
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #StepsAndBeasts #AppDev #CustomerFeedback #Flutter
Paid user acquisition as an indie is tough.
Under €1 per install? Rare.
More like €2–3.
Which means: your revenue per user has to beat that.
Strong conversion and solid value are key.
Or… find a niche where installs are cheaper.
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #AppMarketing #UserAcquisition #PaidAds
Indie app life isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay.
I went full-time indie in 2014.
Built a lot, but growth was slow and pressure high.
Later that year I took on part-time freelance work — and suddenly, I enjoyed building again.
Security helps (my) creativity.
#BuildInPublic #MentalHealth
You are not your customer.
I’d never pay for an app without trying it. But many users do — right after onboarding.
That’s why I show the paywall early in Steps & Beasts. And yes, people buy. Even the €30 lifetime.
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #AppMarketing #Monetization #StepsAndBeasts #Flutter
Turned off cancellation & refund push notifications for my app.
Not ideal business-wise — but much better for my brain. 😅
I still check stats regularly, just on my terms. Dopamine is exhausting in both directions.
#IndieDev #BuildInPublic #MentalHealth #StepsAndBeasts #AppDev #Flutter
The best apps don’t win because of features — they win because of marketing. But as devs, we often focus too much on building and too little on visibility. Reminder: ship earlier, talk about it more.
#BuildInPublic #AppMarketing #IndieAppDev
I am building a cute step counter app: stepsandbeasts.app
🚀 Did you know you can A/B test your app icon? I’ve been running tests on the App Store to optimize conversions. My latest test proved me wrong—my original icon outperformed the new designs! A/B testing is powerful, so start experimenting today!
Try my app: stepsandbeasts.app #IndieAppDev #AppGrowth
