19 App Ideas For Senior Citizens [2024]
Interested in launching an app as a senior citizen in 2024?
If managed well, building an app as a senior citizen could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best app ideas for Senior Citizens?
We put together 19 of some of the best senior citizen apps you can start working on today.
For each app ideas, we'll show you real-world examples of other similar apps to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start an user feedback app ($31.4K/month)
Imagine having direct insight into customer needs and preferences at your fingertips. That's the power of a user feedback app. This business idea revolves around creating a platform that solicits, organizes, and analyzes customer feedback in real time.
By developing an app that integrates seamlessly with websites, mobile apps, and even email campaigns, you could help businesses gather valuable insights without disrupting the user experience. This tool could provide companies with actionable data to improve their products, services, and overall customer satisfaction.
Setting up this business requires technical know-how—app development, data analysis, and user experience design are key components. But the payoff is huge: tapping into what customers actually want, which translates to better business decisions and a stronger market position. This idea offers the potential for recurring revenue through subscription models, making it a solid option for a sustainable business.
How much you can make: $100 — $150,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Conversion Crimes is a software with a service geared towards small businesses and agencies to help them with conversion rate optimization and user experience, which recorded just shy of $10k in its first month after launching in September 2020.
2. Build an iPhone app ($238K/month)
Creating an iPhone app as a senior citizen could be a fantastic way to supplement your income or even start a side business. Given its immense popularity and the way it has revolutionized personal interactions since its release in 2007, the iPhone presents a unique opportunity to reach a broad audience and offer innovative solutions.
With the right idea, you could create an app that appeals to an underserved market, such as fellow seniors. The key to success lies in developing something that stands out, whether it's by having a catchy name or a well-thought-out brand identity. Consider leveraging your life experience and wisdom to build an app that not only addresses a specific need but also brings people together, just like the iPhone has done in our lives.
How much you can make: $150 — $2,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Payment.co, an app built on top of the Stripe payment gateway for creating card-present charges, has grown to process over $70M in volume annually since launching in 2015, with the app collecting a 1% service fee on every single charge.
3. Start a payment app ($716K/month)
Creating a payment app as a Senior Citizen could open up new entrepreneurial opportunities for you. With this app, you could easily accept payments from clients or customers for your products or services, whether you’re at a local market or operating an online store. You'll be able to do this from the convenience of your mobile phone or tablet, making it simple and flexible to manage your transactions.
The initial investment for developing a payment app is relatively low, yet the potential revenue can be quite significant. With the growing popularity of mobile payments, your app could attract a wide range of users, providing you with a steady stream of income. This means you could supplement your retirement income or turn your hobby into a profitable business without needing a storefront or large overhead costs.
Additionally, by tapping into this expanding market, you could create passive income streams as people continually use your app to make their everyday purchases. It's an innovative way to remain active in the business world, leveraging your experience while exploring new tech-savvy opportunities.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $2,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 165 days (?)
Payment.co, an app built on top of the Stripe payment gateway for creating card-present charges, has grown to process over $70M in volume annually since launching in 2015, with the app collecting a 1% service fee on every single charge.
4. Start a travel booking app ($421K/month)
Creating a travel booking app as a senior citizen could be a rewarding venture, tapping into the ever-expanding travel industry. With online booking apps becoming increasingly popular, you could cater to a wide range of customers looking for convenience in planning their travel arrangements. Possessing a strong understanding of the travel industry and some programming experience would be beneficial, as these skills are crucial for developing a successful app.
Given the growth of the travel industry and advancements in mobile technology, this could be an ideal time to enter the market. By providing businesses with a user-friendly platform to offer travel bookings, you could supplement your income and potentially build a thriving side business. Engaging in this endeavor allows you to explore the intricacies of the travel sector while leveraging your entrepreneurial spirit.
How much you can make: $2,800 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 285 days (?)
Tiny Away, a network of eco-friendly 'tiny houses' across Australia, has grown to over 75 private locations and brings in an average of $156,000 in monthly rental revenue, appealing to city dwellers seeking unique and comfortable accommodation experiences.
5. Start a team collaboration app ($220K/month)
Creating a team collaboration app as a senior citizen could open doors to supplementing your income or even starting a full-fledged business. With remote work becoming increasingly essential, your app could cater to small startups, large corporations, or any organization's need for efficient communication and project management. Entrepreneurs like you could find significant opportunities by addressing workplace inefficiencies through an intuitive and secure platform.
Imagine offering a one-stop shop for teams needing video conferencing, task management, and document sharing. Your deep industry experience and network could be invaluable in developing user-friendly interfaces and robust security features. By maintaining regular updates and providing excellent customer service, you could keep users engaged and satisfied, turning your venture into a sustainable income source.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Meister Labs, creators of MindMeister and MeisterTask, have close to $10 million ARR with their Freemium subscription business model, providing software tools for small to medium-sized businesses from all verticals and private users as well, which include 11 million MindMeister and 3 million MeisterTask users.
6. Start an aviation software development business
Starting an aviation software development business could be an excellent way for senior citizens with a technical background or a passion for aviation to supplement their income. The aviation industry constantly seeks innovative solutions for flight planning, maintenance scheduling, and pilot training, making it ripe with opportunities. You could leverage your experience and knowledge to create specialized apps that serve these needs, potentially collaborating with industry experts or tapping into your network for insights.
Additionally, the flexible nature of software development allows you to work from the comfort of your home, managing your schedule according to your lifestyle. Whether you're considering it as a side hustle or a full-fledged business, developing aviation software could not only provide financial benefits but also stimulate your mind and keep you engaged with current technological trends.
7. Start a filing systems business
Starting a filing systems business could be an excellent opportunity to supplement your income or even create a thriving side business. As a Senior Citizen, you likely have a wealth of experience in organizing paperwork, managing records, and understanding the importance of staying organized. These skills are invaluable and could be offered as a service to small businesses, busy professionals, or even other seniors who need help managing their personal documents.
You could offer both digital and physical filing systems, catering to different preferences and needs. With the increasing demand for efficient record-keeping and the shift towards digital solutions, you could leverage your expertise to provide an essential service while enjoying the flexibility of being your own boss.
8. Start a website stats
As a senior citizen, you could create a website that provides detailed statistics and analytical insights, potentially helping other small businesses or online entrepreneurs to track and understand their data better. This could be a fantastic side business or even a full-time venture, leveraging your years of experience and wisdom in a new and relevant way.
With the proliferation of online businesses, the demand for clear, accessible, and reliable website statistics has never been higher. Entrepreneurs and small businesses would value the service you offer, whether it’s a regular reporting, custom analytics solutions, or educational content on understanding web data. This type of business could allow you to work flexibly from home, supplementing your income while engaging your analytical skills.
9. Start a time tracking app ($76.1K/month)
Developing a time tracking app could present an exciting opportunity for senior citizens looking to supplement their income or explore entrepreneurial ventures. As businesses increasingly adopt remote work models, the demand for efficient time management tools continues to grow. By creating an app that helps users monitor their work hours, manage tasks, and generate insightful reports, you could tap into a lucrative market of managers and enterprises keen on boosting employee productivity.
With a structured approach, including defining your project scope, choosing the right development methodology, and forming a capable project team, you could bring a valuable product to life. Testing prototypes and finding suitable API solutions will further enhance your app’s functionality, making it appealing to your target audience. By publishing a polished, efficient time tracking app, you could establish a successful side business or even a full-fledged enterprise.
How much you can make: $350 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Labor Sync is a mobile application that provides business owners with the ability to track the time and GPS location of their mobile workforce and after just one year of use, they saved $104,000 across 45 employees despite starting off with no funds for advertising or marketing.
10. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Creating a mobile app could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income or even kickstart a new side business. With your wealth of life experience and unique perspective, you might have a brilliant idea that fills a gap or addresses a specific need. Developing an app isn’t as daunting as it may seem, especially with the possibility of hiring skilled developers to bring your vision to life.
Your tasks would include planning the user experience, designing engaging interfaces, and ensuring the app functions smoothly through rigorous testing. Effective marketing is crucial to attract users and drive downloads, thereby generating revenue. With mobile apps becoming an integral part of everyday life, the potential for a well-thought-out app to gain traction is immense.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
11. Become a mobile app builder ($153K/month)
If you have a coding knack, building a mobile app builder could be a promising way to supplement your income, make extra money, or even start a full-fledged business. With a mobile app builder, you enable non-developers, including small businesses and entrepreneurs, to create, customize, and publish their own mobile apps with ease. Given the growing demand for mobile solutions, there is a substantial market for user-friendly platforms that allow users to launch apps without needing to write code.
By developing a robust and scalable platform, and ensuring strong user support, you could cater to a wide range of clients looking to bring their ideas to life efficiently. The key is to keep updating features and staying abreast of tech trends to offer a compelling product. This venture not only leverages your tech skills but also taps into a burgeoning industry with vast potential.
How much you can make: $7,500 — $700,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Imaginovation, a technology and app development company in Raleigh, NC, was recently named one of the Top Technology Companies in North Carolina by Clutch and has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since it was founded in 2011 by co-founders Michael Georgiou and Pete Peranzo.
12. Start a custom app development service ($193K/month)
Starting a custom app development service could be an excellent entrepreneurial venture for senior citizens. In today’s digital landscape, the demand for custom applications tailored for specific business needs is rapidly increasing. By offering your expertise in creating specialized mobile and web applications, you could help companies innovate and streamline their operations in ways that off-the-shelf software simply can’t match.
This business opportunity involves working closely with clients to understand their unique requirements, translating those into functional and efficient apps, and guiding them through their digital transformation journey. While it requires strong programming skills and a good understanding of various business models, the rewards are substantial.
If you’re tech-savvy and enjoy problem-solving, this could be a fulfilling way to supplement your income, make extra money, or even start a completely new business venture. The continuous learning and evolving nature of this field ensure that no day will be the same, keeping your mind active and your skills sharp.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $700,000/month
How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)
How a self-taught engineer built a software development studio, Materialize, into a 18-person team with a revenue of $125k per month, by leveraging his technical expertise and establishing well-defined processes to build products efficiently and cost-effectively.
13. Start a graphic design app ($27.6K/month)
Creating a graphic design app could be a lucrative venture for senior citizens with an entrepreneurial mindset. Modern businesses increasingly need digital branding, poster designs, and other visual content, making graphic designers highly sought after. By tapping into this demand with a well-crafted graphic design app, you could supplement your income or even delve into a full-fledged business opportunity.
The technical aspects like coding and cross-platform development can be handled by hiring online developers, allowing you to focus on critical areas such as idea generation, design principles, and branding skills. This can be an exciting endeavor that not only lets you leverage your creative talents but also keeps you engaged with the fast-moving world of digital design.
Even without prior experience in technology, your wealth of life experience and business acumen can drive the success of your app, making it relevant and user-friendly.
How much you can make: $100 — $83,500/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Learn how two friends bootstrapped a SaaS business to $55k monthly recurring revenue (MRR) by creating a simple graphic design tool for non-designers and focusing on content marketing for customer acquisition.
14. Create a shopify app ($52.1K/month)
As a senior citizen with an entrepreneurial mindset, you could tap into the booming ecommerce market by developing a Shopify app. This venture could supplement your income by providing a valuable tool that enhances the functionality of Shopify stores, such as improving customer engagement or optimizing sales. The Shopify App Store offers a ready market, making it easier to reach your potential customers and generate recurring revenue through subscriptions or one-time fees.
While building a Shopify app does require a good understanding of coding and user experience design, it is a rewarding opportunity if you enjoy tech and are willing to invest in ongoing development and support. By solving a common problem for store owners, your app could become an indispensable tool for thousands of ecommerce businesses. This possibility not only allows you to stay intellectually engaged but also offers a substantial financial payoff with the right dedication and idea.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $110,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
SuperLemon, a WhatsApp plugin for Shopify eCommerce stores, crossed $29,000 in MRR as of July 2020, with 20,000 users from 50+ countries and 1700+ paying customers, all acquired through organic marketing strategies and a relentless focus on customer service and satisfaction.
15. Start a video-editing app business ($38.8K/month)
As a Senior Citizen looking to break into the tech world with a creative twist, consider starting a video-editing app business. Given the proliferation of video content on social media and professional platforms, there's a rising demand for user-friendly and powerful editing tools. You could develop an app that simplifies the video editing process for content creators, filmmakers, and everyday users, incorporating features like intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, customizable templates, and advanced editing tools—all accessible from a smartphone or tablet.
This venture involves building and continually updating the software, ensuring a user-friendly design, and marketing to your target audience. It's a field ripe with opportunities, given the increasing need for quality video content in our digital age. If you're tech-savvy and have a passion for creative solutions, this could be the right path for supplementing your income, making extra money, or even starting a whole new business.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,575 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
VEED.IO, a London-based start-up co-founded by Sabba and her partner, offers a simple online video editing platform using batch job cloud architecture to help social media managers across the world auto subtitle, filter, rotate videos and much more, earning the company $5,300 MRR and the founders Ramen profitability within just a year of starting.
16. Start a reviews and rating app business ($19K/month)
As a senior citizen, developing a reviews and rating app business could be a rewarding way to supplement your income or even establish a new side business. Imagine creating a platform where users share authentic opinions on various products and services, enhancing the shopping experience for others through trustworthy feedback.
Such an app could be particularly appealing to entrepreneurial-minded seniors who appreciate the importance of social proof in today's market. By focusing on user-friendly design, verifying genuine reviews, and fostering strong community engagement, you could build a thriving, reliable hub that consumers turn to for valuable insights before making purchasing decisions.
Moreover, forming partnerships with businesses and managing the backend data systems would not only keep the app robust but also open additional revenue streams. Embracing this venture could fulfill your interest in technology and community-driven projects, paving the way for a promising and financially rewarding endeavor.
How much you can make: $40 — $50,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Travel-tech startup RatePunk created a browser extension that compares hotel prices across different booking websites for free and achieved over 3,000 installs within a few weeks of launch, while learning valuable marketing lessons from social media platforms, micro-influencers, and online communities.
17. Start an order management app ($3.6M/month)
Creating an order management app could be an excellent way for senior citizens to supplement their income or even start a new side business. By developing such an app, you could help businesses streamline their order processing, manage inventory, and automate customer notifications—all from one centralized platform. This innovative solution addresses a common pain point in logistics and can significantly improve a company’s efficiency and customer satisfaction.
As a senior citizen with an entrepreneurial mindset, you could take advantage of your experience and wisdom to identify specific needs in various industries and tailor your app accordingly. The potential is vast: eliminating inefficiencies, reducing errors, and freeing up time for businesses to focus on growth could make your app indispensable. Plus, in today’s tech-driven world, leveraging your app can open up avenues for engaging with modern software solutions while creating a steady stream of income.
How much you can make: $117 — $25,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 110 days (?)
ShipMonk, a technology-driven fulfillment center, went from $130K in revenue in 2014 to nearly $30M in 2018 and was named America's Fastest Growing Fulfillment Center, with projected revenue of $60M for 2019.
18. Start a language learning app ($31.2K/month)
Venturing into the development of a language learning app could serve as a fantastic opportunity for you to supplement your income or even start a side business. Given the rising demand for language learning solutions, which is projected to surpass $21.2 billion in the coming years, your app has a promising market to tap into. If you love linguistics or have a passion for building educational tools, this endeavor could be exceptionally fulfilling.
You could begin by conceptualizing your app, conducting a unique business analysis, and defining your feature set. Focus on delivering a user-friendly design and gamification elements to encourage consistent use among learners. Regular assessments and a community feature to let users interact would further enhance the app's appeal. Once developed, effective marketing and advertising will be crucial to reaching potential users and ensuring your app's success.
By dedicating time and effort to this project, you not only stand a chance to earn extra money but also to contribute positively to others’ learning experiences.
How much you can make: $240 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $300 (?)
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
Gikken is a small, profitable European company founded by Alex that makes browser extensions and apps used by 800,000 people every month, with their flagship product, Mate Translate, generating around $18,000 a month, but monetizing their user base better is their top priority for the next year.
19. Start a customer support app ($911K/month)
Creating a customer support app could be a smart venture for senior citizens looking to supplement their income or start a side business. By developing an intuitive platform that manages customer inquiries, complaints, and feedback, you could offer businesses a valuable solution that enhances their customers' experience. Think of automating ticketing systems, integrating multiple communication channels, and even utilizing AI-driven chatbots for instant responses—all consolidated in one user-friendly interface.
This opportunity addresses a significant pain point for many companies, making them eager to adopt such technology. Though developing the app requires some technical expertise and an understanding of user experience design, the potential payoff is substantial. By innovating in this space, you could build a solution that not only meets market demands but also fosters loyal and satisfied customers, establishing a profitable niche for yourself in a growing industry.
How much you can make: $4,500 — $4,160,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
