Software and apps side hustle ideas

A web app, SaaS, mobile app, browser extension, bot or API that people pay for or that earns from ads.

92 ideas, page 2 of 2

Software and apps
Small portfolio of Android apps
Publishes several Android apps on Google Play. One got an editor's pick, which boosted sales for a while.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2018
Software and apps
Browser synth app with paid desktop version
Built a web-based synth and drum machine that is free as a demo. Sells a downloadable desktop version without the restrictions.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Kanban task manager desktop app
Sells a cross-platform desktop task manager with a Kanban-style board, through a trial-based license on Gumroad and the Mac App Store.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Competitor price monitoring software business
A competitor monitoring product that began as a side project and grew into a systemised business with a team, so the owner now acts more like an investor.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
DNS change monitoring and alerting service
A subscription tool that watches DNS zones for changes and alerts the owner, keeping a revision history. Aimed at people who manage DNS for clients.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Encryption software for PHP code
Software for protecting source code with encryption, built to meet the owner's own need when existing products were very expensive. It has produced steady income for years with a small remote team.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Image optimization app for Mac designers
A desktop tool that shrinks images without visible quality loss. Offered as a free version with paid upgrades, plus plugins for design software.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Medical school entrance exam prep website
Built an online exam preparation platform for aspiring medical students together with a sibling. Once launched it needed very little upkeep and sold access to students.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Online multiplayer word game with ads
Runs a multiplayer Boggle-style game online. It earns from advertising and paid memberships.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Portfolio of native and HTML5 mobile games
Publishes native apps and games along with HTML5 games, earning from app store sales. Income has declined as the stores have changed.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Portfolio of small web learning tools
Runs a set of small web apps for learning music notes, non-Latin alphabets and languages with flash cards. Income comes from ads and paid premium plans.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Productivity app with organic word of mouth
Sells a productivity app that grows through users sharing it with friends, and is developing a related subscription product based on customer feedback.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Test prep sites for medical school exams
Built online prep resources for UK medical school entrance exams. Students pay for access, mostly in the months before the exams.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Update hosting for private WordPress plugins
Built a service that delivers updates for private WordPress plugins and themes, which developers otherwise find painful to manage. Customers pay for the service.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Automated website thumbnail service
A service that generates website thumbnails automatically. The owner bought it from another person, kept developing it, and earns from its customers.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Music notation training website
Runs a website that helps people practice music notation. It has earned steadily for years.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Software to launch your own community site
A tool that started as a way to create your own Hacker News style site and grew into software for creating, managing and growing online communities.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Older iPad game sold on the App Store
Sells a game for iPad through the App Store, which sold with almost no ongoing effort until app updates were needed for new platform requirements.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Real-time transit tracking app for commuters
Built a mobile app that tracks commuter rail trains in real time. Downloads spike whenever the transit system has service problems.
Online
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Royalties from programming books
Earns ongoing royalties from programming books written years ago, with little active work now.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2016
Software and apps
Address geocoding API and CSV upload service
Runs a self-serve service that converts US addresses to coordinates through an API or CSV upload.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Android app syncing with OmniFocus
An Android app that syncs with a task manager, sold on Google Play.
A few hours a weekOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
B2B SaaS app left running
Built a business software product that still brings in monthly revenue with little attention.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Disk cleaning app on the Mac App Store
Sells a Mac utility for cleaning disk space on the Mac App Store, with little marketing.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Email files to cloud storage service
A service letting users email files into cloud storage accounts, with premium paid accounts popular with realtors and lawyers.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Embeddable shared whiteboard plugin
A jQuery plugin and backend service that adds a shared whiteboard to websites, sold by subscription.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
iPad port of a PC game
Ported an older game to iPad, free to download with one in-app purchase unlocking the full version.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Personalized children's books app for iPad
Sells personalized kids books through an iPad app and is splitting it into individual book apps.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Printable bingo card software
Sells software for creating bingo cards, needing little support.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Role-playing game for preschool kids
Made an online role-playing game for young children that earns a modest monthly amount.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Simple Mac App Store app
Has a simple app in the Mac App Store that sells with no ongoing support.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Small ERP system sold to local businesses
Built a small ERP system sold to businesses on monthly fees.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Social game built with a partner developer
Runs a social game with a developer partner that earns steadily with little ongoing time.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Browser strategy game with niche audience
Created a web game that earns enough to live on while traveling.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Buy and redesign an existing iOS app
Bought an iOS sleep calculator app from its owner and redesigned the interface.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Educational 3D and 4D geometry iPhone app
Built an iOS app that teaches what a tesseract is and lets users manipulate it. People keep buying it in a small niche.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Mac web development app
A web development tool for Mac sold through the Mac App Store.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Marketing attribution software with affiliates
A subscription analytics product largely automated in onboarding and billing, with an affiliate program and agency customers that expand usage.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Membership club for premium WordPress plugins
Launched a membership offering premium WordPress plugins with support.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Press release distribution service for media
Runs a web service for sending press releases to media, used by customers promoting books and events, with a free tier for anonymous whistleblowers.
$1k to $10kOnline
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Proposal software for designers
Building a web service that helps designers create client proposals.
Online
Hacker News, 2014
Software and apps
Machinima tool sold inside Second Life
An application sold within Second Life that helps users make machinima, earning small sales long after launch.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2011
Software and apps
Paid card game for iOS
Wrote a card game for iPhone that sells steadily with almost no maintenance.
Hands-offOnline
Hacker News, 2011
Software and apps
Twitter scheduling app with freemium plans
Built a Twitter app that helps users share more links without flooding followers. Offers a free plan and paid monthly plans.
Online
Hacker News, 2011

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