“It Came From a Personal Need”: An Interview With the Creator of the Get Adulting App!

As kids, most of us couldn’t wait to grow up so that we could eat whatever we felt like, dress however we pleased, and stay up as late as we wanted. The idea of being a “grown-up” felt like a blissful—and far away—fantasy. Well, the jig is up, and it turns out that adulting isn’t as fun (or half as far away) as any of us were expecting. So... now what?

In a perfect world, we would all have basic adulting skills imprinted upon us the moment we turn eighteen. Instead, many of us are left floundering, unsure of how to navigate seemingly simple tasks like cooking, scheduling doctor’s appointments, or managing a budget. It’s not all our fault—our parents had home ec and shop classes, and many of them were raised with stricter rules and more practical, hands-on guidance than a lot of us of the younger generation. But even if your parents did give you all the adulting knowledge that they learned as they grew up, the increasing complexity of today’s world means that there’s still gaps to fill.

So what do you do? If you’re like me, you cry because you’re too nervous to schedule a dentist appointment, and put it off for months. If you’re like Breanna Stone, you have to buy an entirely new car engine because you didn’t realize you needed an oil change. Luckily for us all, Breanna, the mind behind the solution to all this, envisioned a better way. She started chewing on an idea that became palpable; an idea that became Apple’s #1 Best New App this December: the Get Adulting app.

On a cold day in February, Breanna and I sat down to have a conversation about everything that’s happened since she first launched her app, and what she’s looking forward to in the future. 

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Breanna, thanks so much for talking with me today! This is actually our first time sitting down to chat like this—mind if I give some context about who I am and how I’ll be involved with the project?

Absolutely!!!

So my name is Rose, and I found Breanna’s app on a sleepless night when I was aimlessly scrolling through the app store. I immediately loved the premise and wanted to get involved. I sent her an email, she sent one back, and we struck up a plan pretty quickly! After seeing some of my past freelance writing, Breanna took me up on my offer to help out by writing posts on the blog, which I was super happy about! Needless to say, I can’t wait to dive deeper into all the amazing things that Get Adulting has to offer. I hope you’re as excited for this partnership as I am!

I am beyond excited!! You are truly so talented and I am so honored to have you working with me on my app Get Adulting! Very much looking forward to our continued partnership and thank you for taking the time to sit with me.

Of course!! Let’s go ahead and dive in. So, for those who don’t know a lot about your app, give us an overview of your initial idea, its development over time, and the app itself. 

Absolutely!! It all came from a personal need, and as you mentioned, an unfortunate expensive experience. I was struggling with navigating everything related to ‘adulthood’ and keeping track of my car maintenance, my health, my pets' health/food/cleaning, etc. At one point my car’s sensor for my oil change broke and it slipped my mind entirely. Months too late for an oil change, I ended up needing a whole new engine (about $3,000!). I thought it would be cool to have a tool that helped you track things like this, but also actually taught you things! That is why education is such a big part of it; it’s not just a tracker, but meant to be like that adult in your life that teaches you these things, like how to check your oil or when to go to ER vs Urgent Care and so on! So so much of the app is inspired by my own experiences, my partner, or user suggestions so it is all a very personal app that is constantly evolving!

That’s amazing. So, the app was launched in April 2025—that’s not even a year. And yet, it already has tens of thousands of downloads, it’s been praised by all sorts of different mental health orgs and colleges, and—coolest of all—it was recently featured as Apple’s #1 Best New App on the App Store. You’ve talked a little bit about that on the blog already, but give us a recap of what that means and how it felt when you found out?

It still feels absolutely surreal! Apple didn’t even actually notify me, it was actually a user who emailed me with praise + suggestions about the app. They mentioned in their email how they discovered the app and that is how I found out!! The feature lasted 5 weeks too, which is INSANE. I totally expected maybe a weekend feature, but it was in the #1 spot for 8 days and the #3 spot for the remainder. In total, 20 million people have seen the app via browsing. I can’t believe it.

You’re just getting win after win. In addition to that, you just released a big update for the app in February, is that right? Tell us about that.

I’d love to!!! Android has been my main focus, so a bigger iOS update is coming (hint: widgets!!!) but this next update includes Ellie the Astronaut (shoutout to The Last of Us if you are a gamer, it is my absolute favorite game ever and the astronaut scene makes me so emotional so it had to be named after her!). Tap the Adulting logo 5 times on the home page to open up the hidden game. Think Flappy Bird but space-themed—plus it matches your app color!! I love adding little easter eggs, so there’ll be more to come for sure. This update also includes a new Spin Wheel feature for your Lists!! This already exists for To-Dos, Daily Tasks, and Recipes, but now you can use the spin wheel for your own lists. I use mine for date night ideas, but other ideas include movies to watch, books to read, places to visit, bucket list plans, and more!

I love all the new features! While writing this, I actually tried to compile a list of all the app’s best features, but there are so many good ones it was difficult for me to decide. I have to say, though, I think the most helpful features are the “Got A Light?” section, which tells you what all the warning lights in your car mean; the “Recipe Adjuster”, which automatically converts your serving sizes to the measurements you actually need; and of course, my personal favorite, the “Scripts” section, which gives you a script for exactly what to say in potentially anxiety-inducing situations, like calling in sick to work, disputing a bank charge, or scheduling a doctor’s appointment. I also really love the “Life Guides”—the guides for recycling properly and donating blood make me smile every time, because I’m a big fan of both! What are some of your favorite features?

I agree that the scripts are a personal favorite!! ‘Got a Light’ was also personally inspired because I know nothing about cars (and yes, I still have to check my own app because I do not remember everything I built and have anxiety about whether I remembered something wrong, like, ‘am I actually remembering that right or am I imagining it’). I also really like the recipe spin wheel and the digital fidgets!! I truly just add whatever I want so long as it fits, but I also love throwing in fun features like the spin wheel, solitaire, and more!

Those are the best! I think the app is incredibly versatile already, and it’s amazing to see how much it’s grown over time. As far as plans for the future, I hear you’re planning on releasing Get Adulting on Android soon, is that correct?

Yes!! Closed testing is happening as we speak!

I know that’s something that current and future users would love to see. Do you have any other big updates or plans in the works?

My next big cross-platform update on my agenda for this year would be Widgets! Very excited to bring this highly-requested feature to life.   

Very cool! So, speaking of updates, is it true that your friends and followers have suggested ideas for Get Adulting that you added to the app? What features exist because of the suggestions of people who you maybe don’t know at all, but simply liked your app and wanted to suggest a feature?

Honestly, so many features came from complete strangers using the app and reaching out via email! I have a huge list here on my contact page because I want to shout out the ideas I get but also make it known that I actually implement what users want (because I use the app myself, and I know as an app user how important it is to make the app how you like!). Dark Mode, Calendar Syncing, and My Family were probably the biggest features that were user-requested. 

That is so cool. The fact that you’re the only person behind the Get Adulting app means that you can bring people’s ideas to life, which is amazing! And speaking of, I’m curious—what was the hardest part about building the app all by yourself? Do you regret doing it alone?

 I think it can be isolating to work on something like this and not be able to collaborate and bounce ideas off of a team, but my partner has been so so supportive, and there have been many pros to shipping alone: I have full control over updates, I can personally respond to emails, there isn’t pressure to increase pricing because $2.99 is sustainable, etc. The hardest part was getting my app in front of people, but incredible creators on TikTok really helped with visibility and users have been sharing with their friends. It’s been an incredible journey watching the app grow organically as it has!

I have to say, you’re such an inspiration. Most people wouldn’t remotely have the gumption to do something so difficult on their own without prior experience, and yet, here we are. Props to you!

Thank you so much!! It all still feels so surreal.

I think Get Adulting can really help people, and I’ve heard enough stories to prove it! Allow me to momentarily take you on a journey of stupidity and confusion... 

Go for it!

So, when my mom was younger, the most useful advice she got from her mom was to make sure she grilled outside. When my dad was younger and first got his credit card bill, he called the bank because he thought they’d done their math wrong when they charged him interest on an incomplete payment. And to make myself sound stupid, well—I didn’t realize that the dipstick was an actual part of your car until sometime last year; I thought it was just a rude name to call people.

Needless to say, we don’t all grow up getting great advice from our parents or instinctively knowing what to do about things, and adulting in general can be extraordinarily confusing and frustrating. Did anything happen to you in your early twenties that made you wish you had some sort of guide? And do you think that Get Adulting can be a lifeline for people who get thrust into adulthood without much knowledge of what to do?

Honestly, you are so real for that!! And that is so true. That is part of what inspired me too because there really isn’t a central guide, a universal helper, for things like this. There were times where I could call my mom and ask questions I had and there were times that I couldn’t, and that is kind of what inspired everything. Not everyone has adults in their life to rely on (or they do, but don’t have reliable information as you mentioned) so I wanted a starting point with literal, hand-holding education. It is something our generation didn’t get but honestly everyone can benefit from!

I completely agree. It’s also true that the app was designed with neurodivergent folks in mind, right? It’s been called a “really helpful tool” by the Autism Society of Dayton and a “great and very useful app” by the Autism Society of Colorado! What features or adjustments did you make specifically for the purpose of making Get Adulting accessible for neurodivergent individuals?

Honestly, I didn’t do anything specific or a bunch of additional ADHD/Neurodivergent research. I just built what made sense for my brain and how I wanted it to be organized.  Every feature I nitpicked personally (and use myself)! I fear that says a lot about my brain haha but I am so thankful that others relate to how the app is structured and how it works. I continue to add resources and tools (like digital fidgets, journaling, letters to your future self, customization beyond color, etc) that really resonated with me and I hope resonate with others. 

It’s clear that you care a lot about helping others, which is such an important trait to have! With that goal in mind, you just launched a sort of side project, which you’re calling the Get Adulting Foundation. I am so excited for this and I think it’s incredibly awesome—tell us about that!

I am so so excited too!! Part of my mission launching Get Adulting was truly to help people, because I built it to help myself, not to profit. I want to extend that mission by giving back app profits that I make. While the price is ethically priced at just $2.99/year, I am fortunate to have low operating costs and have opportunities based off of growth to give back, and that is exactly what The Get Adulting Foundation is! There are four funds I plan to offer: Diagnostic Funds, Emergency Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Women’s Dev Funds! I believe too many CEOs hoard their wealth, and while I in no means have made a ton of money, I want to give back with the proceeds I have made.

Amazing. Bree, there has been so much effort and hard work that has gone into the Get Adulting App and everything associated with it, like the Get Adulting website, the Get Adulting Foundation, and the Get Adulting blog. The fact that you did all this largely on your own just speaks to how dedicated you are. Before we wrap up today, is there anything else you’d like to touch on or talk about? 

Nope :)

Then thank you so much! I truly enjoyed our chat today and can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

Get Adulting is available on iOS now for $2.99/year with a 7 day free trial!