Guides
Guides for app and game developers
Practical, honest advice for getting your app or game tested, reviewed and in front of real people.
Testing
How to get 12 testers for Google Play closed testing
New Google Play developer accounts need 12 testers opted in for 14 days before production. Here is how the rule works and where to find real testers.
· 5 min read
Publishing
Android app signing explained: Play App Signing, upload keys and backups
What Play App Signing does, the difference between your app signing key and upload key, how to back up your keystore and what to do if you lose it.
· 3 min read
Why apps get rejected on the App Store and Google Play (and how to avoid it)
The most common reasons the App Store and Google Play reject apps, from crashes and missing logins to privacy forms and misleading listings, and how to fix it.
· 5 min read
Google Play Data safety and App Store privacy labels, explained
How to fill in Google Play's Data safety form and Apple's App Privacy labels correctly, including SDK data, and avoid mismatches that cause rejections.
· 5 min read
How to publish your first app on Google Play: a step-by-step guide
Publishing your first Android app? Here is every step on Google Play: the developer account, app bundle, store listing, policy forms, testing and review.
· 5 min read
How to publish your first app on the App Store: a step-by-step guide
From the Apple Developer Program to App Review: every step to publish your first iOS app on the App Store, plus the mistakes that most often get apps rejected.
· 5 min read
How to write a privacy policy for your app
Both app stores expect a privacy policy link. Here is what an indie app's privacy policy should cover, how to write it plainly and where to host it.
· 6 min read
Building your app
App localization for indie developers: reach more people in their language
A practical localization guide for small teams: which languages to start with, preparing your code, translating well and localizing your store listing.
· 5 min read
Flutter, React Native or native? How to choose a framework for your app
Flutter, React Native, Kotlin Multiplatform or fully native: a practical way for indie developers to pick a mobile stack by skills, app type and upkeep.
· 3 min read
How to reduce your app's size and startup time
Smaller downloads and faster launches help more people install and keep your app. Practical steps for Android and iOS: measure, shrink, then speed up.
· 5 min read
How to ship app updates safely: staged rollouts, phased release and forced updates
Release updates without breaking your app for everyone: Google Play staged rollouts, App Store phased release, feature flags and a careful forced-update plan.
· 3 min read
Mobile app accessibility checklist for indie developers
A practical accessibility checklist for Android and iOS apps and games: screen readers, text size, contrast, touch targets, motion and testing tips.
· 5 min read
Push notifications users keep on: permission, timing and frequency
Ask for notification permission at the right moment, send fewer and better messages, and avoid the mistakes that make users turn them off or uninstall.
· 3 min read
Testing
Beta testing platforms for indie developers: TestFlight, Google Play and more
Compare TestFlight, Google Play testing tracks and Firebase App Distribution for beta testing your app, and learn where to find testers who give real feedback.
· 4 min read
Crash reporting for indie developers: Android vitals, Xcode, Crashlytics and Sentry
Most users never report a crash; they uninstall. Compare Android vitals, Xcode Organizer, Firebase Crashlytics and Sentry, and learn how to triage crashes.
· 5 min read
How to get 12 testers for Google Play closed testing
New Google Play developer accounts need 12 testers opted in for 14 days before production. Here is how the rule works and where to find real testers.
· 5 min read
Google Play internal, closed and open testing explained
Google Play has three testing tracks: internal, closed and open. Here is how each one works, who can join, the tester limits and when to use which track.
· 5 min read
How to test your app on many Android devices without owning them
Android runs on thousands of devices. Test yours with emulators, Firebase Test Lab, the Play Console pre-launch report, a few cheap phones and real testers.
· 5 min read
How to use TestFlight for beta testing your iOS app
Set up TestFlight internal and external testing, pass Beta App Review, share a public link and collect useful feedback before your App Store release.
· 3 min read
How to write a beta test plan for your app (with a simple template)
A one-page beta test plan gets you useful feedback instead of silence. Here is what to include: goals, testers, tasks, questions and timeline, plus a template.
· 5 min read
Feedback
How to handle bugs users report: triage, reproduce, fix, reply
A simple process for bugs users report: collect the right details, triage by severity, reproduce, fix, reply and write release notes people actually read.
· 4 min read
How to get honest feedback on your app (not just "looks great!")
Friends say "looks great". Strangers just leave. Here is how indie developers get honest, specific feedback on an app or game, and what to do with it.
· 4 min read
How to prioritize user feedback when you can't build everything
Too many feature requests and not enough time? A simple system to collect, group and prioritize user feedback so you fix what matters most for your app.
· 5 min read
How to respond to negative app reviews (with reply templates)
A calm, practical way to answer one-star and critical app reviews: what to say, what never to say, and reply templates for bugs, missing features and rants.
· 5 min read
How to run an in-app survey users actually answer
Ask the right people one or two short questions at the right moment. How to design an in-app survey, avoid biased questions and turn answers into fixes.
· 3 min read
How to run a usability test for your app in one afternoon
Run a five-person usability test for your mobile app in one afternoon: who to recruit, the script to use, what to watch for and how to turn notes into fixes.
· 5 min read
How to write a helpful app or game review
For players and users: how to write an honest app or game review that developers can act on, with what worked, what could be better and clear bug reports.
· 5 min read
Launching
App launch checklist: what to do before, during and after launch
A practical launch checklist for indie app developers, from beta testing and the store listing to launch day and the first month, without an ad budget.
· 5 min read
How to build an email list before you launch your app
An email list gives you people to message on launch day. Here is how indie developers collect sign-ups before launch, what to send and how to keep it legal.
· 5 min read
How to relaunch your app after a quiet first launch
Your launch went quietly? Find out why, fix the real problem, and plan a second launch around a meaningful update, with a new story and a better audience.
· 3 min read
How to write a launch post that people actually read
How to write a launch post for your app or game: a simple structure, a real example, how to adapt it for each community and the mistakes that get posts ignored.
· 5 min read
What to do after launching your app: the first 30 days
Launch day is the start, not the finish. Here is what indie developers should do in the first 30 days after launch to fix problems, keep users and grow.
· 4 min read
Where to launch your app: launch boards and communities that work
Where to launch an app or game: Product Hunt, Hacker News, Reddit, Indie Hackers, BetaList, TrueLaunch and niche communities, and how to approach each one.
· 5 min read
Growth
App metrics that matter for indie developers (and how to track them privately)
Downloads alone don't tell you if your app works. These are the few metrics indie developers should track, where to find them and how to respect privacy.
· 5 min read
App retention: how to keep users coming back after day one
Most users try an app once and leave. Learn how to measure retention, fix the first session, and give people real reasons to come back, without dark patterns.
· 3 min read
How to ask for app store reviews the right way
Use Google Play's In-App Review API and Apple's review prompt correctly: when to show them, how often, and why you must never gate, steer or reward ratings.
· 5 min read
How to build a community for your app or game
A small, active community gives you feedback, testers and word of mouth. How to start one with Discord, an email list and devlogs, and keep it alive.
· 5 min read
How to build a landing page for your app that people actually use
A simple landing page helps people find, trust and install your app. Here is what to put on it, in what order, and how to keep it fast and findable.
· 5 min read
How to get press coverage for your app or game as an indie developer
Journalists get hundreds of pitches a week. Here is how indie developers find the right writers, build a press kit and send a short pitch that gets read.
· 4 min read
How to get your first 100 users for a new app
Your first 100 users won't come from ads or the store algorithm. Here is a practical, step-by-step way to find them one by one and learn from every one.
· 5 min read
How to promote your app for free: 12 ideas that actually work
No marketing budget? Here are practical, free ways to promote an app or game: communities, content, short video, launch boards and your store listing.
· 5 min read
How to promote your app on Reddit without getting banned
Reddit can bring your first real users, or a ban. Here is how indie developers share an app or game on Reddit by following rules and adding real value.
· 4 min read
Why you should never buy app reviews (and what to do instead)
Bought, swapped or incentivized app reviews break Google Play and App Store rules and can get ratings or apps removed. Why it backfires and what works instead.
· 4 min read
Store listing (ASO)
App screenshots and icons that convert: a practical guide
Your icon and first screenshots decide whether people install. How to design them for Google Play and the App Store, and how to test which version works.
· 5 min read
App store optimization (ASO) for indie developers: the basics
ASO helps people find your app in Google Play and App Store search and decide to install it. The basics that matter for indie developers, field by field.
· 5 min read
Custom product pages and custom store listings: one app, many audiences
Show each audience the store page that fits them. How App Store custom product pages and Google Play custom store listings work and when to use them.
· 3 min read
How to choose an app name people remember and can find
A practical guide to naming your app or game: short and memorable, easy to spell, searchable, available in the stores and safe from trademark problems.
· 5 min read
How to research App Store and Google Play keywords on a budget
Find the words people really search for, pick ones you can rank for, and place them in your title, subtitle, keyword field and description without stuffing.
· 3 min read
How to write an app description that converts
Most people read only the first lines of your app description. How to write a store description that explains the app fast and turns visitors into installs.
· 5 min read
Monetization
Ads in mobile games done right: placement, frequency and consent
How to add ads to a mobile game without driving players away: rewarded and interstitial placement, sensible frequency, an ad-free option and user consent.
· 4 min read
Free trials for apps: length, timing and honest trial reminders
How long should a free trial be, when should you offer it, and how do you remind people before they're charged? An honest guide to app subscription trials.
· 3 min read
Google Play and App Store fees explained for indie developers
What Google Play and the App Store charge developers: account fees, commission on sales and subscriptions, reduced rates for small developers, and taxes.
· 4 min read
How to monetize a free app: the main models and how to choose
Ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions or a paid upgrade? Compare the main ways to make money from a free app and pick the one that fits what your app does.
· 4 min read
How to price your app: a practical approach for indie developers
Free, paid or freemium, and at what price? A practical way for indie developers to price an app or in-app purchase, test it and adjust by country.
· 4 min read
In-app purchases vs subscriptions: which should your app use?
One-time purchases, consumables or subscriptions? Learn how each works on Google Play and the App Store, when each fits, and how to avoid upsetting users.
· 4 min read
Game development
From game jam prototype to mobile release: a practical plan
Your game jam entry got great feedback. Here is how to decide if it's worth finishing, rebuild it properly and take it to Google Play and the App Store.
· 5 min read
How to balance game difficulty so players stay hooked
Too easy is boring, too hard makes players quit. Learn how to balance difficulty in a mobile game with playtests, simple data, difficulty curves and options.
· 4 min read
How to find playtesters for your indie game
Where indie developers find playtesters who actually play: your own circle, genre communities, devlog followers and discovery sites, plus how to run the test.
· 5 min read
How to launch an indie mobile game: a checklist for small teams
A practical launch checklist for indie mobile games: playtesting, store listing, a launch day plan and finding your first players without an ad budget.
· 4 min read
How to make a mobile game trailer on a small budget
Make a mobile game trailer that works on store pages and social media: show gameplay in the first seconds, keep it short, plan shots and export the right sizes.
· 5 min read
How to promote your indie game with short videos
Use TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels to grow an audience for your indie game: hooks, devlog ideas, posting habits and turning viewers into players.
· 4 min read
How to write a game design document for a small indie game
A short, living game design document keeps a small team focused. Here is what to put in it, what to leave out, and a simple template you can copy today.
· 5 min read
Mobile game onboarding: how to win the first five minutes
Most players decide in minutes whether a mobile game is worth keeping. How to design onboarding that teaches by playing, gets to the fun fast and avoids walls.
· 5 min read