I Solo Built an App Because I Needed It. Then Apple Featured It #1 Best New App!

There isn't a guide to being an adult. You're just expected to know when to change your car's oil, when to schedule your annual checkup, how to budget your bills, and when your pet needs their next vaccine. And if you don't know? Google it. Ask someone. Figure it out. I couldn't figure it out. It all felt so overwhelming. Once I felt caught up on my car, I was behind on my health. It was never-ending! When was the last time I went to the dentist? Did I forget to pay my electric bill? What oil did I put in my car last? The mental load was crushing.

The Quest for a Solution

I tried every productivity app. Notion was too complicated for me. Todoist was too simple and manual. It felt like everything cost so much and tracked too much of my data. Nothing actually helped me adult better; it was just a tool or format to input the knowledge they expected me to know. But how do you organize when you already feel like you are falling behind and you also don't actually know what you don't know?

So, I learned how to code and how to build the app I needed. Months of testing, googling, and tweaking went into it.

Just eight months after launching, Apple featured Get Adulting as the #1 Best New App! I'm still processing that this is real.

What I Wanted in an App

I wanted an app that actually taught you how to adult. Not just a to-do list, but something that told you when things are due and why they matter. Car maintenance timelines. Health checkup schedules. Pet care reminders. Budget tracking. All the things you're supposed to know but nobody ever taught you.

And I wanted it affordable. And private. And simple.

I launched in April after months of testing and bugging my partner to get the app just right. It was surreal once it was finally live!

What Happened Next

Growth was slow at first. I cold emailed organizations, posted on Reddit, and gave out free codes to students who couldn't afford it.

Then in October, a wonderful TikTok creator I'd never met made a review video. It got 228,000 views! Downloads skyrocketed from a few hundred to thousands in just two weeks. I started getting emails. Lots of emails. Therapists said they recommend it to clients. People asked for features. Students sought help paying. I answered every single one. Personally.

Then in December, someone emailed me: "Congrats on being featured #1 by Apple!" I thought they were confused. I checked the App Store. There it was. Get Adulting. #1 in Best New Apps and Updates.

I cried. I called my partner, my parents, and shared the news with anyone who'd listen. I STILL can't believe it's real! Just 24 days later (as of today, Jan 4th), Get Adulting is #3 on the list for Best New Apps and Updates.

What Makes Get Adulting Different?

Most apps nowadays cost $10/month. Get Adulting is just $2.99/year. A lifetime option is also available. Apps that charge more are just greedy, and I refuse to do that.

Most apps use AI and track your data. Get Adulting doesn’t use AI at all, and everything stays on your device. Your information never gets uploaded to a server.

Most apps have premium tiers where you pay more to unlock features. Get Adulting gives you everything immediately. You can customize your app color, turn sections on or off, and sync to your calendar—all at no extra cost.

Most apps expect you to know what you're doing. Get Adulting teaches you. It has built-in education for car maintenance, health checkups, mental health resources, recipes with instructions, and budgeting guidance. It's not just tracking; it's teaching.

I built it for my brain. Turns out, thousands of other people needed it too!

Lessons Learned Along the Way

Through this whole process, I've learned so much! When I first had the idea for the app, I initially looked into Kickstarter as a solution. But I eventually wanted to make it myself and make it right. I realized I didn't need investors. I bootstrapped this with just $99 (the Apple dev cost), and it's fully profitable with minimal overhead. I have complete control, and I answer to nobody but my users, which I love to frequently add updates you can see here.

People are desperate for privacy. So many mention how much they appreciate that their data isn't being sold or tracked. Affordable pricing works. Everyone told me to charge more, but I refused. I was even told before I developed the app that it was "doing too much," but man, am I thankful I followed through with my idea!

I knew that my app was different. It wasn't just all-in-one; it was supportive and actually taught you how to be a better adult. It wasn't just a habit tracker; it was a lifeline. At least it has been for me. Solo development has actually been an advantage. I can respond to emails in 20 minutes. I can build features people request in days. I can give students free lifetime access because I remember being broke. It means the world to me that Get Adulting gives me that opportunity!

Download the Get Adulting app on iOS for just $2.99/year: apps.apple.com/us/app/get-adulting/id6744375132

Download via Google Play Store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getadulting.app&hl=en_US