How to Validate Your Mobile App Idea: 7 guaranteed ways

Great mobile app ideas are everywhere, but before you go into development, there's one crucial step many skips which is validating your app idea. 

Validation is about making sure there are real people who need what you're building and would use (or pay for) your app. Here’s how to do that before starting the development.  

1. Clearly Define the Problem You’re Solving 

Every good mobile app starts with a problem. But sometimes, the idea is too vague or not useful enough for users to care. 

For example, instead of saying you want to build a travel app, think of wanting to build an app that helps frequent travelers find last-minute hotel deals with no cancellation fees. 

Ask the following questions: 

• What pain point am I solving? 
• Who experiences this problem regularly? 
• Is the current solution good enough, or are people actively searching for better options? 

If the problem isn’t urgent or frequent, people won’t download your app. 

2. Talk to Real People 

• Create a list of 20–30 people who match your ideal user persona. 
• Reach out through LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook groups, or even in person through interviews or focus groups, and even surveys. 

You’re not pitching, instead you’re listening. You’re trying to understand if the problem is big enough and how users currently deal with it.  

3. Check the Market and Competition 

Many people worry if their mobile app idea already exists. But in reality, competition is a good thing. It means there’s demand. 

Look up: 

• Apps in the App Store and Google Play 
• Review ratings and comments 
• Search trends on Google Trends 
• Forums like Quora or Reddit 

Ask: 

• What are users complaining about? 
• Are there gaps you can fill? 
• Can you do it better, faster, cheaper, or with a better UX? 

Don’t aim to be the first, rather aim to be the most valuable. 

4. Build a Simple Landing Page 

You don’t need a full mobile app to test your interest, build a basic landing page. 

Include: 

• A headline that explains the benefit of your app 
• A short description of how it works 
• A mockup or screenshot (use Figma or Canva if needed) 

Then share the page on social media, in relevant communities, or run a small $50–$100 ad campaign to test if people sign up. 

If no one’s clicking or signing up, then revisit the problem, message, or audience. 

5. Validate the Business Side, Too 

A good idea isn’t just useful; it must be sustainable. Ask yourself: 

• Will users pay for this? 
• Will advertisers be interested in the traffic? 
• Can this app save time or money for a business? 

Test monetization assumptions early. For example: 

• Add pricing on your landing page and track clicks 
• Run a “pre-order” 

Many great ideas fail because the business model wasn’t thought out from the beginning. 

7. Track and Measure Everything 

This is the key. You can’t validate without tracking. 

Use tools like: 

• Google Analytics or Hotjar for your landing page 
• Typeform or Google Forms for surveys 
• Mailchimp or ConvertKit for email waitlists 

Track: 

• Signups 
• Click-through rates 
• Email replies and engagement 

If you're getting real signals like people signing up, sharing your ideas, or wanting to use them early, then that’s your green light. 

Conclusion 

Validation isn’t always easy, but it’s where successful apps are born not in the code, but in understanding users and real-world problems. 

Take the time to test the idea in the wild. You’ll save money, avoid stress, and build something people actually want. 

Your app idea might be great. Let the market tell you. 

Have an app idea and want to start? Contact us now!