BuildBrief: How to Copy Apps and Make Money

The most successful apps aren't always the most original.

They're the ones that take a validated idea and execute it better.

Take ngllink as an example: 100M+ downloads by copying Instagram's anonymous questions feature and making it 20-30% better.

That's the entire app game.

Everyone copies each other's validated ideas - but with different twists, better execution, and smarter marketing.

You don't need to be original. You need to be strategic.

The app cloning playbook

Here's the exact system to find, build, and monetize a cloned app:

Step 1: Find a validated app idea

Go to SensorTower or AppFigures and filter by:

Revenue: $10K-$500K/month (proven but not saturated).

Downloads: 100K-5M (big enough to matter, small enough to compete).

Category: Pick something you understand or can learn fast.

What to look for:

Apps with simple core features (not complex platforms).

Apps with clear monetization (subscriptions, ads, or in-app purchases).

Apps that solve one specific problem really well.

Step 2: Reverse engineer their marketing

Once you find a winning app, study how they got users:

Check their TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube - what videos went viral?

Read their App Store reviews - what do users love? What do they complain about?

Look at their ads on Meta Ad Library - what hooks are they using?

The goal: Understand their viral angle and audience.

Example: ngllink went viral because anonymous questions are inherently shareable. People post their ngl links to Instagram stories, which drives downloads.

Every successful app has a viral mechanic. Find it and replicate it.

Step 3: Build it 20-30% better

Don't just copy. Improve.

Ways to make it better:

Fix the top 3 complaints in their reviews.

Add one feature users are begging for.

Make the UI cleaner and faster.

Improve the onboarding flow so users get value in 30 seconds.

Remove annoying paywalls or ads (then monetize differently).

Example: If you're cloning a habit tracker, maybe yours has better streak visualizations or sends smarter reminders.

The improvement doesn't need to be huge. Just noticeable.

Step 4: Ship it fast

Set a 7-14 day deadline to build and launch.

Focus on ONE core feature that delivers the main value.

Don't overthink the design - clean and simple beats perfect.

Launch on TestFlight first, get 10-20 beta testers, fix obvious bugs, then submit to the App Store.

Speed matters. The faster you ship, the faster you learn.

Step 5: Market it the same way

Now that you know what worked for them, replicate their viral strategy:

Make the same type of videos that went viral for them (but with your twist).

Post to the same platforms they used.

Use similar hooks and messaging in your ads.

Target the same audience.

The key: You're not guessing. You're copying a proven playbook.

Why this works

Most builders fail because they build something nobody wants.

But when you clone a validated app, you skip the guessing phase.

You know there's demand. You know the marketing works. You just need to execute better.

And if you can make it 20-30% better and market it well, you'll capture a slice of that market.

Action steps:

1. Go to SensorTower and find 3 apps doing $10K-$500K/month
2. Pick one you could build in 7-14 days
3. Study their top 10 viral videos and read their reviews
4. Identify ONE improvement you can make
5. Build it, ship it, and market it the same way they did.

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Happy building!
– Kristoffer, BuildWithAI