u/Lopsided_Nerve1652

Hi everyone,

I’m an indie iOS developer and I’ve built 5 iOS apps so far. I’ve handled everything myself: coding, Design, UI/UX, App Store screenshots, metadata, ASO, paywalls.

Across all 5 apps, I’m still at around $2 MRR.

Developer page: App Store

I’m not posting this to complain. I’m trying to understand whether the main issue is ASO, positioning, screenshots, product-market fit, monetization, or just lack of distribution.

Things I’ve tried so far:

• Basic App Store keyword optimization
• Different screenshots
• Competitor research
• Subscriptions and paywalls
• Small UI/UX improvements
• Regular app updates
• Building multiple app ideas instead of focusing on only one

At this point, I’m wondering if I’m optimizing the wrong things.

For anyone who has more ASO or indie app experience: when you look at a developer page like this, what would you generally check first?

Any high-level thoughts would be appreciated. I’m not expecting a full audit, even a quick observation about what seems weak or confusing would help me think more clearly.

Thanks.

Hi r/iOSApps,

I’m the developer of Horaly: Planetary Hours, a clean and modern astrology timing app designed specifically for iOS and Apple Watch.

Answer (What problem it solves)

Many planetary hour and moon trackers are cluttered with complex charts that overwhelm beginners who just want to understand daily energy shifts. Horaly solves this by offering a clean, real-time calculator that translates seasonal shifts, sunrise times, and moon phases into straightforward, actionable insights for your daily routine.

Better (Why it beats named alternatives)

Compared to traditional alternatives like TimePassages or older web-based planetary hour calculators, Horaly includes a unique, built-in Meeting Planner. Instead of just showing your local hours, it allows you to compare the quality of planetary hours between two different cities using four dedicated views (Week Heatmap, Best Slots, Timeline, and Compare Now) and add those windows directly to your Calendar, something standard calculators do not offer for remote work or international calls.

Other core features include:

- Live planetary hour countdowns and day/night schedule flows.

- Detailed moon tracking (phase, illumination, zodiac sign, degree, and age).

- Rich Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets to check the hours at a glance.

- A fully native Apple Watch app with complication support.

I am also currently working on the next update, which will bring full support for both Simplified and Traditional Chinese, while also improving translations for currently supported languages, particularly across the widgets and the Apple Watch app.

Cost (Pricing, IAP, and Link): Horaly is a Freemium app. It is free to download and use for basic tracking. Advanced features like custom alerts and premium widgets require Horaly Pro, which is available via optional in-app purchases:

- Weekly Subscription: $1.99

- Yearly Subscription: $12.99 (includes a 1-week free trial)

- Lifetime Purchase: $24.99

Download: App Store LInk

I would really appreciate your honest feedback on the interface and functionality. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Thank you!

Built on traditional astrology principles, the app helps you track planetary energy, day rulers, and moon phases so you can find optimal timing for your daily activities. Whether you want to plan important meetings, find focus windows, or simply live more in sync with cosmic rhythms, Horaly brings ancient calculations into a sleek, modern interface.

One of the biggest highlights of Horaly is its rich Widget support, making it easy to glance at the cosmic weather without even opening the app.

The app includes 5 different Home Screen widgets, covering everything from the current planetary hour, daily timelines, and moon phases to smart recommendations for the best activity windows today. It also supports Lock Screen widgets to keep your setup cohesive.

Key Features:

Accurate Calculations: Automatically adjusts based on your local sunrise/sunset and season.

Apple Watch App: Full support for watchOS and complications so you can track planetary hours right on your wrist.

Beginner-Friendly: Designed to be useful for advanced astrologers while keeping the interface intuitive for beginners.

The app is available on the App Store here:
Horaly: Planetary Hours

I built 5 apps, spent way too much time on coding, design, App Store review, screenshots, ASO, subscriptions, paywalls, and refreshing RevenueCat.

Result: $2 MRR

Meanwhile every other post here is “Reached $100 MRR in 2 weeks.”

So I have to ask: are you all marketing geniuses, or did I miss the hidden “make users pay” button in App Store Connect?

Anyway, posting this for balance.

See you at $3 MRR.

My App Store portfolio, if anyone wants to roast the apps too

I’m the developer of Horaly: Planetary Hours, a clean and modern astrology timing app designed specifically for iOS and Apple Watch.

The app is built on traditional astrology principles to help you track planetary energy, day rulers, and moon phases so you can find the optimal timing for your daily activities. Whether you want to plan important meetings, find focus windows, or simply live more in sync with cosmic rhythms, Horaly brings these ancient calculations into a sleek, modern interface.

One of the biggest focuses of this app is its rich Widget support. I wanted to make sure you can glance at the cosmic weather without even opening the app.

The app comes packed with 5 different Home Screen widgets, covering everything from the current planetary hour, daily timelines, and moon phases, to smart recommendations for the best activity windows today. It also supports Lock Screen widgets to keep your setup cohesive.

Key Features:

• Accurate Calculations: Automatically adjusts based on your local sunrise/sunset and season.
• Apple Watch App: Full support for watchOS and complications so you can track hours right on your wrist.
• Beginner-Friendly: Designed to be accessible for advanced astrologers while keeping the interface intuitive for beginners.

The app is available on the App Store here:
Horaly: Planetary Hours

Since I am constantly working to improve the app, I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts. Please check it out and share your feedback, feature requests, or any questions in the comments below!

Thanks everyone, hope you enjoy the app!

I built zZz Widgets for one specific reason: to create a friction-free way for people struggling with sleep, including insomniacs, poor sleepers, or anyone with a sleep disorder, to log their rest and gain useful insights.

If you struggle with sleep, the last thing you want is a bloated app or the need to wear an Apple Watch. zZz Widgets lets you track every step of your sleep flow directly from your Lock Screen or Home Screen widgets, right when you are already using your phone.

The core idea is instant, minimal-effort logging. By making the process effortless, you are more likely to track consistently. This gives you a clearer picture of your nightly routine and helps you identify patterns that may improve your sleep hygiene.

The Friction-Free Sleep Flow (Fully Configurable)

You can customize the logging flow directly within the app and turn individual steps on or off based on your needs.

Ready for Bed (Lock Screen/Home Screen)
Tap the “Sleep” button on your widget to start your sleep session instantly.

Still Awake (Optional)
For those who need more time to drift off, this optional step lets you log that you are still awake. It can help you better understand your sleep latency.

Sleeping (Lock Screen)
A live widget displays your current sleep duration and lets you log your wake-up time instantly.

Review (Optional)
After waking up, this optional step encourages you to add a quick note about your sleep quality, dreams, or mood.

Key Features of zZz Widgets

- Configurable Widget Logging Flow: Tailor the entire sleep-tracking experience to your needs.

- Aesthetic Widget Library: Minimalist and clean widget designs for your Lock Screen and Home Screen.

- No Apple Watch Required: Perfect for anyone who does not own a smartwatch or prefers not to wear one to bed.

- iCloud Sync: Your sleep logs are automatically and securely synced across your iPhone and iPad through iCloud.

- Full Data Ownership: Export your sleep history anytime as JSON, CSV, or a Sleep Report in PDF format. You can also delete all your data instantly with one tap.

- Privacy-First and Secure: No account registration, no ads, and no invasive tracking analytics. Your health data belongs entirely to you.

- Native iPad Support: A fully optimized layout designed for larger iPad screens.

Perfect for anyone who:

• Owns an iPhone or iPad and struggles with consistent sleep.
• Prefers a simple, friction-free logging method.
• Wants to track sleep without a smartwatch.
• Values privacy and full ownership of their health data.
• Loves customizing their device with beautiful, functional widgets.

How to Claim:

The app is available on iOS: zZz Widgets: Sleep Tracker

If you enjoy the app or have any features you would like to see added, feel free to leave a comment or reach out to me directly. I would love to hear your ideas and feedback.

Thanks everyone

Just experienced the brutal emotional rollercoaster of indie hacking.

A few days ago, a user downloaded my B2C app and instantly upgraded to the premium tier. It was my first ever sale for this app. No hesitation. I was over the moon, thinking the value proposition was crystal clear.

Then the analytics updated. I logged in to see a sharp drop: -$17 in daily proceeds. They actually used the app, and then requested a refund.

It definitely hurts a bit. Going from the excitement of your first validation to a refund right after is a weird feeling. Now I'm just trying to figure out if my premium features didn't meet their expectations, or if it was simply a misclick.

Since Apple keeps refund data anonymous, there's no real way to know. Just wanted to share the reality of the launch phase with people who get it.

I built zZz Widgets for one specific reason: to create a friction-free way for people struggling with sleep-insomniacs, poor sleepers, or anyone with a sleep disorder to log their rest and gain insights to improve.

If you struggle with sleep, the last thing you want is a bloated app or the need to wear an Apple Watch. zZz Widgets lets you track every step of your sleep flow directly from your Lock Screen or Home Screen widgets, right when you are already on your phone.

The core idea is instant, minimal-effort logging. By making the process effortless, you're more likely to track consistently, giving you a clear picture of your nightly routine and helping you identify patterns to improve your sleep hygiene.

The Friction-Free Sleep Flow (Configurable!):

You can customize the logging flow directly within the app, turning steps on or off based on your needs:

1. Ready for Bed (Lock Screen/Home Screen): An instant 'Sleep' button on your widget to start your session.
2. Still Awake (Optional Step - Turn On/Off): For those who take time to drift off, an optional step to log that you are still awake. Great for gaining insight into your sleep latency.
3. Sleeping (Lock Screen): A live widget that shows your current duration and lets you log your wake-up time instantly.
4. Review (Optional Step - Turn On/Off): After waking up, this optional step encourages you to add a quick note about your sleep quality, dreams, or mood.

Key Features of zZz Widgets:

• Configurable Widget Logging Flow: Tailor the entire tracking experience to your exact needs.
• Aesthetic Widget Library: Minimalist, clean widget designs for your Lock Screen and Home Screen.
• No Apple Watch Required: Perfect for anyone who prefers not to wear a watch to bed.
• Sync with iCloud: Your sleep logs are automatically and securely synced across your iPhone and iPad via iCloud.
• Full Data Ownership (Export & Delete): Your data is yours. Easily export your sleep history anytime as JSON, CSV, or a Sleep Report (PDF). There is also a one-tap option to delete all your data instantly.
• Privacy-First & Secure: No account registration required, no ads, and no creepy tracking analytics. Your health data belongs entirely to you.
• Native iPad Support: Fully optimized layout for a gorgeous experience on larger iPad screens.

Perfect for anyone who:

• Owns an iPhone/iPad and struggles with consistent sleep.
• Prefers a simple, friction-free logging method.
• Wants to track their sleep without a smartwatch.
• Values privacy and wants full ownership over their health data.
• Loves customizing their device with beautiful, functional widgets.

How to Claim:

1. Download zZz Widgets from the App Store: App Link
2. Comment "zZz Widgets" below.

As a solo indie dev, your feedback on this initial version means everything to me so I can improve it. I’ll be adding many more meaningful features in upcoming updates. Thank you! 🙏

To celebrate my app launch, I set my Lifetime IAP to $0 for a giveaway.

Both App Store Connect and RevenueCat show a steady flood of $0 transactions, except for one user who was charged full price.

Here is the mystery: I checked the transaction history on both dashboards, and there are multiple successful $0 purchases from other users in the exact same region, right before and right after this specific user's transaction. This completely rules out propagation delay.

I didn't know Apple had a "tax the chosen one" feature for free giveaways

Have you ever noticed that some hours of the day are perfect for smashing your goals, while others feel completely drained, uncreative, or just chaotic?

In traditional astrology, there’s an ancient time-blocking system called "Planetary Hours." Instead of just tracking standard clock time, it calculates how natural, cosmic energies shift throughout the day based on your exact location.

The problem is that most existing apps tracking this look like they were designed in 2012, or they overwhelm you with complex charts that scare away anyone who isn't a professional astrologer.

So, I decided to tackle this app idea with a minimalist approach called Horaly.

Who did I build this concept for?

• Creators & Writers: Who want to schedule their deep-work, brainstorming, or creative writing during peak planetary hours.
• Entrepreneurs & Professionals: Looking to find the optimal "vibe" to pitch clients, launch products, or simply avoid stressful team conflicts.
• Mindful Techies & Students: Anyone who wants to live in sync with daily rhythms using clean Home Screen widgets or a quick glance at their Apple Watch.

The core features packed into the design:

• Real-time Planetary Tracking: Instantly showing the active day ruler, current planetary hour, and its specific meanings, alongside live moon phases and zodiac context.
• Interactive Timeline: A scrollable view that lets users preview the upcoming planetary hours for the entire day or night.
• Apple Watch Integration: Accessing cosmic timing with dedicated complications and an optimized watch interface, making it effortless to check the energy of the moment right from the wrist.
• Aesthetic iOS Widgets: Bringing the daily cosmic rhythm directly to the Home Screen with clean, minimalist widgets that blend perfectly with a modern setup.

The cool stuff under the hood:

• Dynamic Calculations: Because planetary hours shift based on the season and sunrise/sunset times, syncing this logic flawlessly between iOS widgets and Apple Watch Complications without killing the battery was a fun engineering puzzle.
• The "Beginner-Friendly" Layering: I stripped away the fluff. The concept translates complex data into 3 simple, understandable layers: the Day Ruler (the overall daily tone), the current Planetary Hour (the immediate vibe), and the Moon Phase (the emotional context).

I’m building this project in public to iterate based on real-world feedback. If you love clean UI, functional widgets, or are just curious about the concept of aligning your workflow with cosmic cycles, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this approach!

Hi everyone,

I made a clean, modern astrology timing app for iOS called Horaly: Planetary Hours. It is made for anyone who wants to track planetary energy, day rulers, and moon phases to find the optimal timing for daily activities.

Right now, I'm running a free lifetime offer for the next 48 hours, so you can grab full access without paying anything later.

The app is based on traditional astrology. Each layer works together: planetary hours shift by season, the day ruler sets the overall tone, and the moon adds phase and zodiac context.

You can use it for: Planning important meetings / Finding focus windows / Choosing creative hours / Avoiding stressful conflicts / Tracking moon phases on your phone / Setting home screen widgets / Monitoring hours via Apple Watch...

I tried to keep it easy to understand, so beginners can start without feeling lost. It can be useful for astrologers, students, creators, or anyone who wants to live in sync with cosmic rhythms.

The app is available on iOS:
Horaly: Planetary Hours

Please also share your feedback in the comments so I can improve the app in future updates.

Thanks everyone

Hey everyone,

I’m so hyped right now: I finally got my very first paying user! 🚀

It took me 4 different apps and countless hours of coding to get here. I didn't just crank out soulless, rushed code; I poured my heart and soul into every single one of them. I built them using Swift/SwiftUI, Flutter, and React Native to solve my own problems and build a solid portfolio to land better freelance jobs.

But as a dev, I loved building and hated marketing. I thought if the app was crafted beautifully enough, people would just find it. Spoiler: They didn't. My first 3 apps got zero traction because I just left them on the store.

For my 4th app, I forced myself to promote it on social media. And guess what? The first paid user arrived almost immediately.

Seeing that notification was surreal. It taught me a tough lesson: building a great product is only half the battle. Moving forward, I’m going to spend way more time on marketing.

If you're currently building in silence: Stop coding for a second and go talk about your app!