How Perplexity AI Supercharged My Indie App Development

As an indie developer, I wear many hats — research, design, development, marketing. Doing all of it well (and fast) is hard. Perplexity AI became a simple, reliable research assistant that helped me move faster and make better decisions while building my new app, SleepTracker. I built this during the RevenueCat Shipaton 2025 while iterating on the app’s landing page here: SleepTracker – Solve Your Sleep Riddle.

Below is exactly how I used Perplexity across the app lifecycle — with short, reusable prompts you can copy and adapt.

1) Market research and competitor analysis

I started by mapping the space: who the leaders are, how they monetize, and what users actually love or hate.

Sample prompt:

List the top 5 apps in [your app category]. For each, outline: core features, pricing model, target users, key strengths, and common user complaints.

Why it helped:

• Fast scan of the landscape without hours in app stores and review sites
• Clear gaps I could fill with simpler UX and clearer insights

2) Feature validation and feasibility

Before committing to a feature, I pressure-tested whether it was technically realistic and aligned with platform rules (privacy, permissions, accessibility).

Sample prompt:

Explain the technical feasibility of integrating [specific feature] on [platform, e.g., iOS]. Note HealthKit/privacy permissions, background limits, and accessibility considerations. List potential pitfalls and mitigations.

Why it helped:

• Saved me from dead ends and rework
• Kept features compliant and practical

3) Target users and personas

I wanted more than demographics — motivations, routines, comfort with technology, and what “success” looks like for them.

Sample prompt:

Create 3 user personas for an app targeting [your demographic]. Include: goals, habits, frustrations, tech comfort, purchase triggers, and what “wins” look like for them.

Why it helped:

• Sharper product decisions and copy
• Made it easier to say “no” to nice-to-haves

4) Content creation and user education

I used Perplexity to draft friendly, plain-English explanations for onboarding, support pages, and blog posts.

Sample prompt:

Draft a simple, jargon-free intro that explains the benefits of [your core concept], with one short scientific reference and a practical example.

Why it helped:

• Clear copy, quickly
• Consistent tone across landing pages, onboarding, and posts

5) Marketing strategy and positioning

To stand out, I explored angles, taglines, and content calendars tailored to my audience (e.g., 40+ users who prefer simplicity over dashboards).

Sample prompt:

Suggest 10 concise marketing angles and taglines for an app that helps users understand what affects their sleep (diet, stress, temperature). Target: 40+ audience who want simple, actionable insights.

Why it helped:

• Immediate options to test
• Focused language that matched my audience

Why Perplexity AI felt like a “force multiplier”

• Speed: Rapid answers replaced long, manual research sessions
• Depth: Synthesizes info with helpful source citations
• Creative boost: Jumps-starts copy, personas, and positioning
• Technical guardrails: Flags platform and privacy considerations early
• Cost-effective: Replaces parts of research/consulting for solo devs
• Privacy-first thinking: Keeps sensitive topics (like health data) front and center

Practical tips if you’re starting now

• Start every prompt with your audience and goal (“Target: 40+, wants simplicity”).
• Ask for constraints (“Call out HealthKit/permissions and accessibility”).
• Request structured output (tables, bullets, pros/cons) for faster scanning.
• Save good prompts as templates and reuse them across features.
• Pair AI with real user feedback — AI accelerates, users validate.

Closing thoughts

Using Perplexity AI let me turn vague questions into clear, actionable next steps — especially during Shipaton crunch time. If you’re building an app solo (or with a tiny team), tools like Perplexity help you move faster without losing quality.

If you’re curious, check out what I’m building here: SleepTracker landing page and the hackathon that pushed me to ship: RevenueCat Shipaton 2025.