Why Building an App for Your Startup Might Be the Worst Idea Yet

There are 4.3 billion smartphone users in the world, and the Apple App Store and Google Play Store generated $127 billion in 2024. But don’t bother creating an app to launch your startup. Here’s why:

The app market is oversaturated

2 million new apps are launched every day. Now ask yourself—how many apps do you actually use?

Social media dominance

Apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Facebook account for almost 90% of the time people spend on their phones.

Discovery is a massive challenge

Even if your app is amazing, standing out among 5.7 million apps (combined across the App Store and Google Play) is nearly impossible without massive marketing budgets.

Retention is tough

25% of users abandon an app after a single use. Getting users to download is one thing; keeping them engaged is another. High development costs: Building a high-quality app requires significant upfront investment, not to mention ongoing costs for updates, maintenance, and bug fixes.

Instead of launching an app, consider focusing on web-based platforms or leveraging existing ecosystems like social media, where your audience already spends their time. Apps can come later—after you've proven demand and built a loyal audience.

Launching a startup is hard enough; don’t let the crowded app market make it harder.