👉 Join my community of app founders & get full access to ALL my courses (including the Trending Keywords Method): Skool.com/AppSuccessIn this special episode, we dive into the entire journaling app category — one of the most fascinating and competitive spaces on the App Store.We cover the OGs of journaling like Reflectly (where I worked for 3 years), Day One, Daylio, and Stoic, and explore what made them successful. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories of how some of these apps were built and scaled, along with the strategies that fueled their growth.We also look at the new wave of journaling apps: from Rosebud AI to emerging audio-only and video journaling apps that are reshaping the space. With insider knowledge, real numbers, and a breakdown of what’s working in 2025, this episode is packed with lessons for anyone building in consumer apps.🎙️ What you’ll learn: • The growth story of Reflectly and how it shaped the category • Why apps like Daylio and Day One continue to dominate • How Stoic carved out a niche with its unique positioning • The rise of AI journaling apps like Rosebud AI • What’s trending now: audio journals, video diaries, and AI reflections • Key monetization and growth strategies working todayWhether you’re an app founder, a journaling enthusiast, or just curious about where this space is going, this episode will give you fresh insights into the past, present, and future of journaling apps.
Ready to grow your app? Join our community for app founders & indie devs. 🚀In this episode, we dive deep into the Rizz App and its fast-rising copycat competitor Plug AI—the surprising app that actually made more money than the original idea last month.We break down:🔥 The origin stories of both apps and how Rizz blew up through TikTok virality📱 Their onboarding flows and what keeps users hooked💸 Paywalls, subscription pricing strategies, and how Plug AI is cashing in🔍 A step-by-step reverse engineering of what worked (and what didn’t)⚡ Lessons you can apply to your own app to replicate this successWhether you’re an indie developer, an app studio founder, or just curious about how viral apps scale, this episode is packed with actionable insights.👉 Subscribe for more app breakdowns, ASO strategies, and growth hacks every week.#RizzApp #PlugAI #AppGrowth #IndieDev #AppMarketing
Join the App Success inner circle → http://skool.com/appsuccess
In this video we're using AppTweak, my favorite ASO tool. Use the promo code "Darius10" to get 10% off any plan.
Cal AI is everywhere right now — not just for their explosive growth, but because the founders have started something called the App Mafia with other young indie app builders… and the internet is going crazy. 🚀
In this episode of App Smash, we go deep on:
• The rise of the App Mafia and why it matters for indie founders
• The personal stories of Zach Yadegari and the Cal AI team
• How Cal AI is using TikTok for massive growth (with real examples)
• Their innovative influencer marketing strategies
• Our full breakdown of onboarding, paywall, and pricing
Whether you’re an app developer, indie hacker, or just curious about how the next generation of founders is changing the game — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
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👉 Take your app to the next level, join my App Growth Skool: http://skool.com/appsuccess👉 Get 10% OFF AppTweak (my #1 ASO tool) with code Darius10: ⸻This week we’re diving deep into Focus Friend by Hang Green, the productivity app that feels more like a game—and still managed to explode to over 1 MILLION downloads in its first month.What makes this launch so fascinating? • Zero paid ads or marketing spend • Growth fueled entirely by Hang Green’s social media following • A fresh gamified spin on productivity apps that users can’t put downIn this video, we break down:✅ The launch strategy that drove 1M downloads✅ The marketing practices that worked (without ads)✅ The growth techniques that made Focus Friend go viral✅ What you can learn & apply to your own app growthThroughout the breakdown, I’ll show you step-by-step insights using AppTweak—my go-to tool for App Store Optimization (ASO) and keyword research. Don’t forget, you can grab 10% off all AppTweak plans with my code Darius10.⸻💡 If you’re building and growing apps, this one is packed with insights you can steal and apply immediately.
This week, Muoyo and I break down Starla — the astrology app that shocked the App Store with an insane $124K in DAILY revenue using a secret TikTok strategy that no one’s ever revealed before.
In this video, you’ll learn:
✅ How Starla went viral with a simple TikTok content model
✅ Why this strategy works so well for apps in 2025
✅ Step-by-step breakdown you can copy for your own app
✅ The future of TikTok + app growth (and how to ride the wave)
If you’re an indie app developer, marketer, or just fascinated by how apps explode overnight, this case study is a must-watch.
📱 Grow your app with us: http://skool.com/appsuccess
Created by Darius Mora and Muoyo Okome, this week on App Smash, we dive deep into one of the most talked-about social apps of the year — Tea Dating Advice, the viral sensation that’s changing how people navigate the messy, thrilling world of modern dating.
What started as a niche idea for women to swap notes on potential partners has exploded into a cultural phenomenon, with millions of downloads and a passionate community that’s as devoted as it is controversial. But how exactly did Tea rise from obscurity to dominating app store charts in just months? And what lessons can any app creator take from their playbook?
In this episode, we unpack Tea’s story in detail:
The origin story: How the founders spotted a massive gap in the dating market and built an app around a deceptively simple concept — community-driven dating advice.
The growth spark: How Tea tapped into emotional virality — blending curiosity, fear, and the desire for connection to drive organic sharing.
The viral loop mechanics: The subtle but powerful design decisions that encouraged users to invite friends, share screenshots, and keep the app’s growth snowballing.
Monetization moves: How Tea is turning a free viral app into a sustainable business model, and what’s coming next.
The controversies: From privacy debates to the infamous “TeaOnHer” security hiccup, we break down the moments that could have sunk them — and why they didn’t.
Competitive landscape: Why other apps, like “Are We Dating The Same Guy?” by Spill the Tea, Inc., didn’t explode at the same scale, even with a head start.
Along the way, we reverse-engineer Tea’s marketing stack, ASO strategy, influencer playbook, and community engagement tactics — so whether you’re building the next viral app or just fascinated by the mechanics of digital fame, you’ll walk away with actionable takeaways.
Key Questions We Answer:
What role did TikTok and social-first content play in Tea’s meteoric rise?
How do you build a brand that’s both a safe space and a viral trend?
Can controversial press actually help an app grow faster?
What monetization strategies work best for fast-growing, community-based apps?
By the end of this episode, you’ll not only understand why Tea blew up but also how to adapt their strategies to your own app, startup, or side project.
If you enjoy the episode, please follow App Smash on Spotify so you never miss a deep dive into the world’s hottest apps. And if you want even more behind-the-scenes breakdowns, growth frameworks, and real-time app analytics, join our newsletter at [YourWebsite.com] — it’s where we share the stuff we can’t always talk about on the show.
