7
From 0 to 37 paid installs: My indie keyboard app journey so far....
r/indiehackers
7/12/2025
Content Summary
The author shares their journey of creating Fluxkey, an iOS keyboard extension that helps rewrite and rephrase text in real-time to improve writing confidence and conciseness. The app was born from the author's personal frustration with constantly switching between apps to use ChatGPT for rewriting. Since launch, Fluxkey has gained 320+ installs and 37 paid users, generating $742 in revenue. Key successes include the iOS keyboard format as an ideal delivery method and a pricing model offering both lifetime and subscription options. Challenges include positioning the product as a writing assistant rather than just a keyboard, App Store discovery difficulties, and lack of an Android version. Future plans include improving onboarding, exploring email-based solutions for non-iOS users, and seeking validation strategies.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream Opinions:
- The approach of building a product to solve personal pain points is highly praised and seen as inspiring.
- The keyboard format is recognized as a smart distribution strategy that meets users where they work.
Conflicting/Controversial Opinions:
- None explicitly conflicting in the provided comments, but the author mentions internal debate about product positioning (selling outcomes vs features).
Different Perspectives:
- The commenter suggests reaching out to power users to understand specific value-driving scenarios, offering an alternative validation approach.
- Another perspective questions whether content marketing could help solve App Store discovery challenges.
Debates:
- No heated debates in the provided content, but the positioning challenge (keyboard vs writing assistant) represents an ongoing internal debate for the creator.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluxkey | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-keyboard-fluxkey/id6739488963 | Writing Assistant | Keyboard extension to rewrite, rephrase, or review tone while typing within any app. No tab switching or copy-paste cycles. |
| ChatGPT | Not provided | AI Writing Assistant | Used for rephrasing messages to sound more confident and concise. Mentioned as the pain point that inspired Fluxkey. |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Spending too much time switching between apps to rephrase messages
- Difficulty sounding confident and concise in written communication
- Awkward copy-paste cycles when using writing assistants
- Cringy tone or poor grammar in messages sent under stress
Problems to Solve:
- Streamline the writing improvement process
- Provide real-time writing assistance without app switching
- Improve confidence and conciseness in written communication
- Prevent embarrassing grammar/tone mistakes before sending messages
Potential Solutions:
- Keyboard extension that integrates writing assistance directly into typing workflow
- Offering both lifetime and subscription pricing options
- Free trial to reduce friction
- Future email-based version for non-iOS users
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Building a product to solve personal pain points (scratching your own itch)
- Choosing an ideal delivery format (iOS keyboard) where users already work
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Leveraging App Store distribution (though discovery is challenging)
- Writing posts to share learnings and connect with other builders
Monetization & Product:
- Pricing: $49.99 lifetime or $2.99/week with free trial
- Most paying users chose lifetime option, especially early supporters
- Product-market fit indicated by unexpected user geography (US/Europe instead of non-English speaking countries)
User Engagement:
- Considering onboarding flow improvements to drive activation
- Engaging with community through posts and discussions