When I set out to create HarmoniQ, my goal was to create an application that genuinely helps people learn perfect pitch. And, based on the feedback I’ve been receiving, it sounds like it’s working. The progress users have shared with me has been incredible, inspiring me with the strides they’ve made toward achieving perfect pitch.
A lifetime of creating applications has taught me the importance of valuing the experience of users. I understand how essential it is to listen to user feedback without letting it directly control product development. Apart from successfully learning perfect pitch, with HarmoniQ I also aim to provide an experience users find enjoyable and genuinely valuable. Many of the new features, informed by user feedback, are designed to help users better understand and track their progress.
Revenue
When an application is well-positioned, revenue can serve as a valuable indicator of how much users appreciate and find value in a product. It reflects their willingness to invest in the experience and the benefits it provides. However, it’s also important to acknowledge that the absence of revenue doesn’t always indicate a lack of value — especially in the early stages of a product’s lifecycle or when it hasn’t been optimized for monetization.
Launch
When I first launched HarmoniQ, I was surprised to see several subscribers sign up right away. While speaking to users, I learned why some of them had subscribed. I suspect nearly all the early subscribers were people from my personal network that simply wanted to support me or what HarmoniQ was trying to accomplish. I’m grateful for the early encouragement.
A Spike
After those initial subscriptions, there were very few new subscribers. I was focused on listening to users to build a cohesive, effective learning experience. The lack of early revenue growth did not surprise me, especially considering how I often heard feedback that many users couldn’t find the in-app store at all. Once I started rolling out features informed by what I learned users would value most, there was an enormous and immediate spike in subscriptions. I considered writing about this growth in my last article, but the surge was so significant that I felt it couldn’t be fully explained by the newly launched features alone.
Through continued feedback from users, I learned that the TestFlight beta version of the app had expired around the same time those features launched. Long-time users of the beta transitioned to the full version, and many subscribed right away. By this point, the application had also come a long way since its original App Store launch and the last TestFlight update. The improvements made since then also likely contributed to these users’ decisions to subscribe.
Steady Rhythm
After the initial spike leveled off, a clearer picture of long-term trends and user preferences began to take shape. I had originally included a free trial in the monthly plan because I assumed users might prefer to try the app without committing to a full year. It turns out that almost no one chose the monthly subscription, instead overwhelmingly opting for the annual plan. Given this preference, I plan to introduce a free trial for the annual plan in an upcoming release, making it an even more compelling option for new users.
HarmoniQ continues to benefit from strong organic growth, driven by its visibility in app store search results and autocomplete suggestions. This momentum has brought a steady influx of new users to the platform, with about 6% converting to paid subscribers. This consistent conversion rate highlights the app’s ability to resonate with users and reinforces the value they find in its features and experience. Together, these factors are sustaining HarmoniQ’s growth trajectory and fueling its ongoing success.
Looking Ahead
As HarmoniQ continues to grow, my focus remains on refining the core experience and introducing features that enhance its value for users. Many of these features are aimed at creating opportunities for users to connect and share with each other, transforming HarmoniQ from a solo learning tool into a collaborative, social experience. Fostering a sense of community within the app not only enriches the learning journey but also has the potential to drive more organic growth.
Some HarmoniQ users, many of whom are developers themselves, have asked about the backend infrastructure behind the app. They’ve been curious about data models, how users interact with various languages, and other technical aspects. To their surprise, HarmoniQ has been entirely self-contained with no backend infrastructure since its inception. This standalone design has been a deliberate choice, ensuring simplicity and efficiency in the early stages. Adding a backend is a logical next step, paving the way for interactive and social features that let users play HarmoniQ together in new and engaging ways. It will also create opportunities for deeper collaboration and connection, reinforcing the sense of community that can be integral to an app’s growth.
HarmoniQ’s journey so far has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m deeply grateful to the users who have supported and inspired its development. Looking ahead, I’m committed to creating an app that combines high-quality features, meaningful connections, and lasting value. Come experience HarmoniQ for yourself and discover how it can support your journey toward mastering perfect pitch.