50 Mobile App Ideas for the Problem-Solvers Out There

Are you looking for the best mobile app startup ideas? If yes, you have come to the right blog!

Of course, there’s an app for that.’

When Daniel Kraft, MD, uttered these words about his digital stethoscope, he was neither exaggerating nor fooling around. After all, isn’t there an app for everyone and everything around? 

As per Statista, the Apple App Store has around 2 Million apps. Google Play Store lists over 3.3 million entries. And, despite occasional bursts of ‘app development is dying’ emanating from different corners of the tech world, the scenario remains as dynamically improving as ever.

But, How Can You Discover the Perfect Innovative Mobile Application Ideas?

Have you ever said ‘An app would be just the right thing for my brand at this point’, only to be met with reactions like ‘You can’t afford it’, ‘What if no one downloads it’, or ‘What’s the point’?

Generating mobile app startup ideas can be daunting, especially for first-timers. The seemingly endless uncertainties, the prospective popularity, the return on investment, the lack of a tangible result- there’s so much to worry about.

To ease that stress, I’ve curated fifty suggestions that you may find interesting. But first, let’s begin with the most important question!

How to Select the Right Mobile App Startup Ideas?

Landing on the perfect mobile app startup idea is not as easy as it seems, it requires a thoughtful approach. There are various considerations that you will have to take into account before starting to develop an app.

Understanding the Market and Your Target Audience

You need to start your journey by understanding the market dynamics. Do market research to understand what kind of apps people are looking for in your industry. You have to be very clear about which market segment you are targeting. It will help you throughout your app development journey. 

Finding the Problems of Your Target Audience

Once you have a pretty idea of the market and demand, you need to focus on problems or the pain points of your target audience. Once you have figured out the real-world problems, ideate on how you can solve them with your app.

Considering the Scalability and Sustainability Aspect

This is a very important factor for the long-term growth, scalability, and sustainability of all mobile app startup ideas. Analyze if this idea is scalable or not, will it be relevant for the users in coming years? Again, knowing this will depend on how thorough was your market analysis, so make sure you put maximum effort into market analysis.

Following a User-centric Approach

You always have to keep the needs of your users a priority. Once you have decided on the app idea and developed it, later you’ll require user feedback and preferences to see that app ideas align closely with user needs and expectations.

Knowing the Technological Requirements

Evaluate what kind of tech you will require for all mobile app startup ideas. You need to have a deep understanding of what kind of resources you’ll need, the infrastructure, the development team, and every minor factor should be considered. This part can make or break your idea. You’ll have to find skillful developers and experts whose vision aligns with yours.

Choosing a Monetization Strategy

You’ll have to create a strategy on how you are going to earn money from this app. The strategies will mostly be among in-app purchase, ads, or subscriptions. Choose whatever is most common for your industry and the users. 

Evaluating the Risks and Challenges

Consider the challenges and risks you might have to face in this journey of making the app. There will be many challenges in every phase, but if you have the right app development team, you will glide through it with ease. You can also get in touch with Imenso Software to get the best team of developers.

Best 50 Mobile App Startup Ideas for the Problem-Solvers out there

Well, finally here’s a list of the best 50 mobile app startup ideas you can choose from.

1. Help a Blind Person

Much like the ‘Be My Eyes’ app, create a dialogue between a blind person and a volunteer via a live video feed. Let the former access the app via voice commands. Let the latter sign-up, be notified accordingly, and get connected to someone in need via live streaming.

Features and considerations

• Voice-Activated Interface: It’s a must-have feature that will allow the user to use the app using voice commands.
• Online Assistant/Volunteers: Add this feature to allow the users to engage with volunteers via live video feeds for real-time help.
• Community Engagement: Try to build a supportive community within the app through forums and social networking features.
• Emergency Assistance: Add SOS alerts and location tracking features for quick access to help in case of emergencies.
• Continuous Improvement: Ask for users to give their opinions on any kind of problems they are having with the app and as per their feedback try to keep making required changes in the app.

2. Money Lending and Borrowing Records

While group outings are very common in friend circles, splitting the bill in six ways, for instance, and the casual lending that follows often ends up costing one friend more than their share.

This mobile app idea for students and groups everywhere, in general, can help people keep track of who owes them how much and what they owe to others.

Features and considerations

• Splitting Bills: This feature will allow users to easily split bills among friends and track individual spending.
• Transaction History: This app feature should give a transaction history to see who owes money and how much.
• Reminders and Notifications: This feature will send reminders and notifications to users about pending payments or overdue amounts.
• Group Management: This app feature will allow users to create and manage groups for seamless tracking of shared expenses.
• Secure Transactions: Use robust and trusted payment gateways for safe lending and borrowing.
• Customization Options: Offer customization options for adding notes or categories to transactions for better organization.
• Integration with Messaging Apps: Connect with messaging apps for convenient communication and coordination among group members.
• Budgeting Tools: Provide budgeting tools and insights to help users manage their finances effectively.

3. Uber for Personal Care

The on-demand services are flourishing.

Just like Uber for taxis, in the field of personal care, this app would ask beauty services to sign up and offer their services to customers with an at-home add-on. The user would select the beautician and get treated at their home for a fee. Like any other mobile app startup ideas, there’s one company that already exists that provides similar services, The Urban Company. You can analyze their strategy and come up with something unique.

Features and considerations

• A Range of Personal Care Services: You might consider giving a wide range of personal care services, like haircuts, massages, manicures, and facials, to serve to various customer needs.
• Geolocation Services: Add geolocation services to allow users to find nearby beauty specialists and make appointments.
• Appointment Scheduling: Add an app booking feature that will help users to book appointments based on their preferred date, time, and service provider availability.
• Rating and Reviews: Add a section for reviews and ratings for users to rate and review services based on their experience to maintain service quality and accountability.
• Secure Payment Gateway: Add a secure payment gateway in the app to help easy and hassle-free transactions between users and personal care service providers.
• Real-time Tracking: Add an app feature for real-time tracking of personal care service providers’ arrival time and location for a smoother experience.
• Notification and Alert Systems: Add a notification system to send reminders and updates to users about their upcoming appointments and booking confirmations.
• Customer Support: Add a reliable customer support platform in the app to attend to user inquiries, resolve issues, and provide assistance throughout the booking process.

Read the Blog: Why Choose India For Your Next Software Development Project

4. Plan a Vacation

It is one of the most successful mobile app startup ideas. Every information one may need when residing in a strange city, affiliated hotels, and restaurants, local sights and vendors, B&Bs, all of it wrapped up in an app with cost estimations and location-specific touring instructions.

However, I’d suggest you start small. Begin with an exhaustive guide for one city. Scale by adding entries.

Features and considerations

• Destination Guides: Give users detailed guides for popular tourist destinations, like information on attractions, hotels, restaurant options, and local activities.
• Interactive Maps: Add interactive maps with interesting locations marked, allowing users to travel to the destination easily and discover nearby attractions.
• Hotel Booking: Add a feature to hotel booking functionality, that will help users to search for hotels based on their needs and budget.
• Restaurant Suggestions: Add a hotel booking feature to help users search for hotels. They can choose hotels based on their needs and budget.
• Cost Estimations: Add app features to give cost estimations for activities, transportation options, food, and hotels, it will help users plan and budget their vacation effectively.
• Itinerary Planning: Add an app feature for users to create and make their travel itineraries, adding activities, attractions, and dining reservations according to their preferences.
• Local Insights: Add a section in the app for insider tips and recommendations from locals, providing users with authentic experiences and hidden gems off the beaten path.
• Multilingual Support: Add multilingual support in the app to cater to international travelers.
• User-generated Content: Add a platform in the app for reviews, photos, and recommendations, enriching the app with user-generated content and community insights.
• Offline Access: Add a feature in the app to offline access to essential travel information, including maps, guides, and itinerary details, ensuring functionality even in areas with limited connectivity.

5. The Toy Swap

As long as your child stays a toddler, he/she gets toys from relatives, friends, family, and visitors. But, children outgrow their preferences quite quickly.

This app is supposed to create a community of parents. It could let people organize exclusive groups for a neighborhood or friends.

Put up the toys your children no longer need/want and swap it with something from another user’s collections.

Features and considerations

• User Profiles: Add an app feature for parents to create profiles for themselves and their children, including age, preferences, and toy interests.
• Toy Listings: Add an app feature for users to list toys they no longer need or want to swap, including photos, descriptions, and condition details.
• Search and Filter: Add search and filter options in the app to help users find exact toys based on age, category, brand, or condition.
• Matching Algorithm: Create and add a matching algorithm in the app to suggest potential toy swaps based on users’ preferences, location, and past swap history.
• Private Groups: Add an app feature for users to create and join private groups for neighborhoods, schools, or friends, fostering a sense of community and trust among members.
• Messaging System: Add an app feature like a messaging system for users to communicate and negotiate swap details, including pickup or delivery arrangements.
• Rating and Reviews: Add an app feature in the app to rate and review swap experiences to maintain trust and transparency within the community.
• Safety Measures: Implement safety measures such as user verification and moderation to ensure the safety of users, especially when arranging swaps with strangers.
• Swap Events: Add an app feature to organize swap events or meetups where parents can exchange toys in person, fostering social connections and reducing shipping costs.
• Feedback System: Add an app feature for getting feedback from users to continuously improve the app’s functionality, user experience, and community engagement.

6. Keep the Night Alive

An app that uses your location to offer exact directions and food and beverage menu of the pubs and restaurants near you. And, the list is sorted in real time, making sure you only see the places that are still open for service.

7. Get Rid of the Unused Stuff

You’ve heard about eBay, Craigslist, and OLX, I’m sure.

This one offers a similar service, except it’s more like the giveaway section of Quickr. It’d be the app-equivalent of leaving your old sofa on the sidewalk so that anybody else can take it home.

8. The Temporary Employment App for Travelers

For a startup solving real problems, or at least intending to do so, this is a fine concept to explore.

Collect all the local businesses that are willing to hire people for a day, list the services on the app, and let people take up these temporary jobs to get paid.

It’d be especially useful for travellers who look forward to making some money on their way from one town to another.

Read the Blog: 10 mistakes to avoid while hiring IT outsourcing companies

9. Alcohol Intake Recorder and Driving Capacity Calculator

The app database would be filled with all types of alcoholic drinks, with information about how each affects a man or woman and for how long. The user can put in the drink name and the quantity they’ve had.

The app would calculate when the user can have their next drink and whether they should be allowed to drive.

10. Helping a Community Locate Criminals

You were mugged. The culprit got away. The police asked for your help to prepare a sketch. But, it was kept for internal investigation and never revealed to the masses.

Sounds plausible?

This app can be your solution. The concept- let a user describe the mugger, elaborate on how h/she looked, walked, talked, dressed, etc. The info is released to every user in and around the locality where the mugging took place.

Scale it by offering automated drawings fueled by the description. You could collaborate with state authorities on this one to ensure better results.

11. A Reverse Cookbook Chatbot App

What does it entail-

• A bot with multiple conversational flows, so that the user can hold a natural conversation with it
• A reverse calculator that uses ingredients as inputs and offers dishes that can be cooked with the available items as output
• A database with recipes to further assist the user

12. A Service to Send Greeting Cards

And, not the online kind.

Let a user pick from your selections of templates. Allow them to personalise the message and ask for the recipient’s details and address.

Print the greetings. Wrap and post them. Of course, the customer would have to pay online for the shipping and the convenience charges.

13. Medical Reminders

Before you can object with a ‘Don’t we already have plenty of similar apps, like Google Keep’, I urge that you hear me out.

This one is an exclusive application that demands inputs, like:

• Name of the medicine
• The number of dosage per day
• The time of each dose
• The course of the medication

As a user, you’d receive reminders with the least possible hassle.

14. Local Transportation Informer

In Apostle Island, Wisconsin, you take a ferry in the summer and an ice boat in the winter as the usual public transportation mode. In Wuppertal, Germany, people use the suspended monorail. Turkey uses underground funicular. In Vietnam, it’s a tricycle taxi that often takes people places.

The local modes of transportation vary across, cities, countries, continents. Create an app with well-detailed information about public commute specific to a region. Scale with time.

15. Translator Camera

The Google translation services offer a similar app, called the Word Lens.

However, you have to aim for higher accuracy, proper language integration, and offline access to direct translation upon capturing a picture that has words.

Start slow. Look into voice integration at a later point.

16. Delivery Peer-to-Peer

Let a user register and enter information about the parcel, including its destination, weight, size, contents, or any special instructions. Once they pay, pick up the package from the customer’s door and have it sent to the recipient’s.

While similar services exist, like PickParcel, they aren’t doing very well in the current market. Of course, you’d need some reasonably priced and trusted courier partners on board.

17. Receipt Keeper

Receipts are useful for many reasons. You need them for financial audits, to return the product, avail loyalty benefits, etc.

This app would let users store the digital copies of every receipt by scanning it with your phone camera. You may also offer better storage limit, sharing options, etc.

18. Find Live Parking Spots

This one is tricky to execute.

The concept- let people with the app allow access to their location. The app would spot open parking spots near them and inform the user.

How to execute it?

You can integrate with Parking all over the city to offer updated information. But, it’ll require significant manoeuvring to create an algorithm that works here, given the dynamically changing nature of the problem.

19. An Online 3D Printing Store

The app would accept designs, quote prices, and deliver the 3D printed result to the user’s door.

20. Chord Recognizer

It’s tough to pin down all the chords of a song by merely listening to it. Musicians may relate.

With a community of interested people, this app would offer chords for an entered song. The user would have access to discussion forums to improve on the already existing information about the chords for a particular song.

21. Packing Checker

Think along the lines of an AI-enabled visual search.

A user can make a list of stuff they need to pack. Once done gathering the items, they can take a picture, and the app would automatically connect different entities in the image to its description and check off that item in the list.

22.  The Dog Walker Network

Build a community of on-demand dog walkers. Arrange them by area. Let the users as well as professional service providers create an account and connect with each other. Additionally, offer points and loyalty benefits to the walkers. Employ ratings and reviews to weed off the bad ones.

23. Disaster Alert

Again, I am talking about chatbot integration.

Only, instead of asking people to install the app, it’d broadcast distress messages and calamity alerts to people’s phone. The communication would be direct, less complicated, and very useful in case of an emergency.

24. Homemade Food Delivery Service

The concept is a lot like the ‘Dabbawalas’ of Mumbai, except that it’d be a mobile application, exist online, with the possibility to be scaled globally.

You’d need a system to vet the food vendors, employ a reliable and fast delivery system in place, and ensure swift payment flow.

25. Rent-a-Luggage for Travellers

With a twist.

Let people rent the baggage space they are allowed by any airline. People with less luggage can help those with more. It’d help everyone save some money.

26. One Click Restaurant Reservation

The app would show the users the seating layout of the eatery, allowing them to check the availability of their desired tables as well.

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