We run an entire app business with these (mostly free or cheap) tools:
- Flutter – one codebase for iOS & Android
- Firebase – backend, auth, database, analytics, crash reporting
- Figma – design and prototyping
- GitHub + GitHub Actions – code + automatic builds
- RevenueCat – handle subscriptions without wanting to cry
- Notion – our company “wiki”
- Canva – all screenshots and social graphics
- ChatGPT/Claude/Grok – first draft of everything from code comments to this blog post
You don’t need enterprise software
Total monthly cost for all of the above: less than R2 500.
You don’t need enterprise software. You need tools that get out of your way.
- Use free or cheap tools
- You need tools that get out of your way
