Make Money with AI Apps: A Guide to Prompt Programming

8/12/2025

Can You Really Make Money Selling Apps Built with AI Prompt Programming?

Honestly, the idea of building an app & making money from it used to feel like a far-off dream, reserved for Silicon Valley tech bros with years of coding experience. But here's the thing: the game has COMPLETELY changed. We're in a new era, one where "AI prompt programming" is not just a buzzword, but a legitimate way for everyday people to build & sell software. And yes, you can absolutely make money doing it.

I'm talking about creating a fully functional app by, in essence, telling an AI what you want. It sounds like science fiction, but it's happening right now. I've seen people go from a simple idea to a money-making app in a matter of days, sometimes even hours. This isn't about getting rich overnight, but it is about a massive shift in who gets to be a creator & an entrepreneur.

So, if you've ever had an app idea but thought, "I can't code," this is for you. We're going to break down how this whole thing works, from finding an idea to building your app with AI, & most importantly, how to actually make money from it.

The "Aha!" Moment: Finding Your Million-Dollar App Idea

First things first, you need an idea. But don't let that intimidate you. You don't need to come up with the next Facebook. In fact, the most successful no-code apps often solve a very specific, almost "boring" problem.

A great place to start is by "scratching your own itch." What's a problem you face in your daily life or work? Is there a tedious task you wish you could automate? Chances are, if you have a problem, other people do too. Pete McPherson, who's making over $100k with AI-coded apps, often builds things for himself first, & if they take off, that's just a bonus.

Another strategy is to look at what's already successful & find a new angle. You can use tools like Sensor Tower to see which apps are getting a lot of downloads & making good money. I'm not saying you should clone热门apps, but you can definitely draw inspiration from them. Maybe you can create a similar app for a different niche, or with a unique feature that the big players have overlooked.

The key is to be specific. Instead of a generic "to-do list" app, what about a to-do list app specifically for freelance writers, with features for tracking pitches & deadlines? The more niche your app is, the easier it will be to find your target audience & market to them effectively. A Redditor who made $300 in two days with his AI-coded app credits his success to getting "super specific" with his target group.

The Magic Toolbox: No-Code AI App Builders

Once you have your idea, it's time to build. And this is where the magic happens. No-code AI app builders are platforms that let you create apps with a drag-and-drop interface, & now, with the power of AI, you can often just describe your app in plain English & have the platform build it for you. It's pretty incredible.

Here are a few of the top players in the no-code space:

Glide: If you're comfortable with spreadsheets, you'll love Glide. It's known for its ability to turn data from Google Sheets or other sources into beautiful, user-friendly apps. It's perfect for creating things like directories, internal tools, or simple mobile apps. Their new AI features can even generate an app from a text prompt, which is a HUGE time-saver.
Bubble: Bubble is the powerhouse of the no-code world. It's a full-stack platform, which means you can build complex web applications with both a front-end (what the user sees) & a back-end (databases, workflows, etc.). If you have a more ambitious app idea, like a social network or a marketplace, Bubble is a fantastic choice. It has a steeper learning curve than some other platforms, but the trade-off is immense power & flexibility.
Softr: Softr is another excellent option, especially for creating client portals, internal tools, & websites. It's known for its ease of use & its ability to connect to various data sources like Airtable & Google Sheets. Like Glide, Softr also has AI capabilities that can help you generate an app from a simple description.

These tools are not just for building simple prototypes anymore. People are building real, scalable businesses on these platforms.

Let's Build! A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your First AI-Powered App

So, how does it actually work? Let's walk through the general process of building a simple app, say, a "Content Idea Generator."

The Prompt: You'd start by going to a platform like Glide or Bubble & finding their AI app generator. You'd then write a prompt like: "Create an app that helps content creators generate ideas. It should have a field where they can enter a topic, & then a button that generates a list of 10 blog post titles based on that topic."
The Generation: The AI will then get to work, building the basic structure of your app. It will create the input field, the button, & the display area for the generated ideas.
The Customization: This is where you come in. The AI gives you a starting point, but you can then customize everything. You can change the colors, the fonts, the layout, & add your own branding. You can also tweak the AI's logic to generate different types of content ideas.
The Integration: You might want to connect your app to a database to save the generated ideas, or to an API to get data from other sources. No-code platforms make this surprisingly easy, with visual workflows that let you connect different services without writing any code.

The most important thing to remember at this stage is to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Don't try to build every feature you can think of. Start with the absolute core functionality that solves the main problem for your users. Ship it fast, get feedback, & then iterate. This is how you avoid spending months building something that nobody wants.

Show Me the Money: Monetization Strategies for Your App

Okay, so you've built your app. Now for the fun part: making money. There are a few different ways you can monetize your creation, & the right one will depend on your app & your target audience.

Direct Monetization

This is the most straightforward approach: you charge users directly for your app.

Subscription Model: This is the golden goose of app monetization because it provides you with recurring revenue. Users pay a monthly or yearly fee to access your app. This works best for apps that provide ongoing value, like a productivity tool or a content subscription.
One-Time Purchase: Simple & classic. Users pay once to download or access your app. This is a good option for utility apps that solve a specific, one-time problem.
Freemium Model: This is a popular strategy where you offer a free version of your app with limited features, & then users can upgrade to a paid plan for more functionality. This is a great way to get a lot of users in the door & then convert them into paying customers.

Indirect Monetization

You can also make money from your app without charging users directly.

In-App Advertising: You can get paid to display ads in your app. This can be a good option for apps with a large, engaged user base.
Data Monetization (the responsible way): If your app collects a lot of data, you may be able to monetize it by selling anonymized insights to third parties. For example, a fitness app could sell anonymized data on exercise trends to a sporting goods company. Just be sure to be transparent with your users about how their data is being used.

You can also use a hybrid approach, combining different monetization models. For example, you could have a free, ad-supported version of your app & a paid, ad-free version. Setting up payments is also easier than ever with tools like Stripe, which integrate seamlessly with most no-code platforms.

The Hurdles & How to Jump Them: Overcoming the Challenges

Now, I don't want to paint an unrealistic picture. Building & selling an app, even with AI, is not without its challenges. But with the right mindset & strategies, you can overcome them.

The Saturated Market: There are a LOT of apps out there. The key to standing out is to find a niche & create a high-quality app that truly solves a problem for your target audience.
Technical Glitches & AI Limitations: AI is powerful, but it's not perfect. There will be times when the AI doesn't understand your prompt or generates something that doesn't work quite right. The solution is to be patient, experiment with different prompts, & learn the basics of how your chosen no-code platform works so you can manually tweak the AI's output.
The Cost Factor: While no-code platforms are generally more affordable than hiring a team of developers, there are still costs involved. Most platforms have a free tier, but you'll likely need to upgrade to a paid plan as your app grows. Be sure to factor these costs into your business plan.
User Acquisition & Marketing: This is often the biggest challenge for new app creators. You can build the best app in the world, but if nobody knows about it, you won't make any money.

Spreading the Word: Marketing Your AI-Built App

So, how do you get your first users? Here are a few strategies that are working right now:

Social Media: Platforms like TikTok & X (formerly Twitter) are incredibly powerful for marketing new apps. You can create short, engaging videos that show off your app's features, or share your building journey to connect with other entrepreneurs.
Content Marketing: Create a blog, a YouTube channel, or a newsletter where you share valuable content related to your app's niche. This will help you attract your target audience & establish yourself as an expert in your field.
Product Hunt Launch: Product Hunt is a website where new products are launched & voted on by the community. A successful Product Hunt launch can drive a ton of traffic to your app & get you your first users.
A Great Landing Page: Your app's landing page is its digital storefront. It needs to be clear, concise, & compelling, with a strong call to action that encourages visitors to download or sign up for your app.

Don't Forget the Humans: The Crucial Role of Customer Support

Once you start getting users, you're going to get questions. And bug reports. And feature requests. Providing excellent customer support is absolutely critical to your app's success. But as a solo creator or a small team, it can be tough to keep up with all the inquiries, especially when you're trying to focus on improving your app & marketing it.

This is where a tool like Arsturn can be a total game-changer. Arsturn helps businesses create custom AI chatbots that are trained on their own data. So, you could feed your chatbot all of your app's documentation, FAQs, & tutorials, & it would be able to provide instant, accurate answers to your users' questions, 24/7. This frees you up to focus on the bigger picture, while your users are still getting the support they need.

But it's not just about answering questions. You can also use an Arsturn chatbot to build a community around your app. Your chatbot can gather feedback from users, run surveys to see what features they want next, & even just engage them in conversation to make them feel more connected to your brand. This kind of personalized engagement can turn casual users into loyal fans who will help you spread the word about your app.

Your Turn to Build the Future

So, can you really make money selling apps built with AI prompt programming? The answer is a resounding YES. The tools are here, they're more accessible than ever, & there's a huge opportunity for anyone with a good idea & the drive to see it through.

It's not going to be easy. You'll face challenges, you'll make mistakes, & you'll have to learn as you go. But for the first time in history, you don't need to be a coder to be a creator. You just need a problem to solve & the willingness to try.

I hope this was helpful. Now go out there & build something amazing. Let me know what you think