to get your first 100 app users, pick two channels that fit your app type and your own strengths, and work them every day for 30 days. make one a conversation channel where you find people with the problem, and the other a reach channel that keeps sending people after you stop posting.
this guide picks up where your first 50 users leaves off. by now you should know your aha moment and the words users use for the problem. those two things are what you take into every channel below. without them, even a good channel sends people to an app that cannot explain itself.
How to choose your 2 channels
choose your two channels by asking two questions: where do people with this problem already gather or search, and what are you personally good at, writing, filming, selling or building. the best pair usually matches one conversation channel to one reach channel. running more than two at once spreads a small team too thin to learn anything.
start with your app type:
| app type | good first pair | why |
|---|---|---|
| study or learning app | TikTok + Reddit | students watch short video and ask for help in subreddits |
| fitness or health habit | creators + communities | trust matters, and coaches and groups already have it |
| AI tool or productivity app | Reddit + launch sites | early adopters compare tools in threads and on launch days |
| niche hobby app | communities + App Store search | hobby groups are tight, and people search for specific tools |
| utility people search for (scanner, converter, tracker) | App Store search + paid test | intent already exists, you need to be findable |
| social or friend-based app | your network + TikTok | the app needs clusters of friends, not scattered strangers |
then adjust for your strength:
| if you are good at | lean towards | avoid starting with |
|---|---|---|
| writing and explaining | Reddit, communities | TikTok, if you hate being on camera |
| being on camera | TikTok, creators | long written answers |
| knowing lots of people | your network, launch sites | paid ads |
| design and copy | App Store page, launch sites | cold community posting |
| you have budget but little time | a small paid test, creators | daily posting channels |
if the two tables disagree, trust the one about where your users are. you can learn a skill faster than you can move an audience.
The eight channels in short
each channel below has a full guide of its own. read only the two you picked. the short version is here so you can compare them side by side, see what each asks of you in time and money, and avoid starting the ones that do not fit your app. these descriptions stay short on purpose.
Reddit is the fastest way to find people who already describe your problem in their own words. i built the SAFE Reddit playbook after 40+ banned accounts: say who you are, answer the question first, follow each subreddit’s rules, never fake engagement. it costs an hour a day and no money. full guide: first 100 users from Reddit.
TikTok
TikTok organic can reach thousands of strangers for the cost of a phone, but only with volume, usually a post a day for weeks. show a real person with the problem, then the app solving it on screen. full guide: first 100 users from TikTok.
Creators
small creators in your niche can send highly relevant users because their audience already trusts them. start with creators who have a few thousand engaged followers, offer free access and a fair fee, and make sure they disclose the partnership. full guide: first 100 users from creators.
Communities
Discord servers, Slack groups, forums, Facebook groups and newsletters in your niche convert well once members trust you. be a useful member for a couple of weeks before you mention the app, and ask moderators first. full guide: first 100 users from communities.
Launch sites
Product Hunt, Hacker News and similar sites can send a burst of early adopters in a single day. they work best with a clear one-line message, a few real users already, and a founder ready to answer every comment. full guide: first 100 users from launch sites.
Your network
your network is slow to scale but fast to start. go past close friends to old coworkers, classmates and friends of friends, and ask every new user for one introduction. full guide: first 100 users from your network.
App Store and Google Play search
people search the stores for what they need. a clear title, subtitle and first two screenshots help every other channel convert too, so fix the page even if search is not one of your two. full guide: first 100 users from the App Store.
Paid ads
paid ads are a message test at this stage, not a user source. a small capped budget on Meta, TikTok or Apple Ads (formerly Apple Search Ads) tells you which hook pulls, fast. do not try to buy all 100 users. full guide: first 100 users with paid ads.
A 30 day plan for your first 100 users
the 30 day plan below assumes you already picked two channels and your app has a working first session. it takes roughly two to three hours a day, split between the two channels and talking to new users. the first week is setup, the middle two are daily work, and the last week is about deciding what stays.
| days | what to do | output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | fix the store page using your users’ words, set up tracking for opens and the core action, read the full guides for your two channels | a page that explains the app in one line |
| 4 to 7 | start both channels: first comments, posts or outreach, lightly, following each platform’s rules | first new users from outside your contacts |
| 8 to 14 | work both channels daily, message every new user within a day, note where each one came from | a list of users by channel |
| 15 to 21 | double the effort on whatever sent users who came back, try three new hooks or angles on the other | one channel clearly ahead |
| 22 to 30 | keep the winner daily, decide to keep or swap the second channel, interview ten new users | a written plan for the next month |
one rule for all 30 days: talk to people. the users you get this month are still few enough to message one by one, and that is an advantage you lose later.
What to measure
measure where each user came from, whether they came back, and how much of your time each channel took. at 100 users, raw installs mislead you, because one channel can send many people who never return. the useful number is returning users per hour of effort, or per dollar if you ran a paid test.
| metric | how to track it | why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| users by source | ask “how did you find us?” in onboarding, plus links you can tag | tells you which channel is real |
| week one return rate by source | who opened the app again in days 2 to 7 | separates good users from tourists |
| hours spent per channel | a simple daily note | shows the true cost of “free” channels |
| cost per returning user (paid only) | spend divided by users who came back | the only paid number worth judging at this stage |
| top phrases users use | copy them from messages and interviews | feeds your posts, store page and ads |
When to move to the next stage
move on when one channel sends a steady flow of users who come back, and you can explain why it works. that is the sign you have something to build on. the next job is growing that channel and adding supporting ones, which the first 1,000 users guide covers step by step.
if you reach day 30 with users but weak return rates, do not add channels. go back to your onboarding and interviews first, because more users will not fix an app that people leave.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get the first 100 users for my app?
pick two channels that fit your app and your own strengths, then work them every day for about a month. for most founders that means one conversation channel, like Reddit or niche communities, and one reach channel, like TikTok or the App Store. talk to every user who arrives and fix what they tell you before adding more.
Which channel is best for getting first app users?
the best channel is the one where your users already talk about the problem and that suits what you are good at. a founder who writes well often starts on Reddit, one comfortable on camera on TikTok, one with a strong network on direct outreach. there is no universal winner, only a good fit for your app and you.
Do I need a Product Hunt launch to get my first 100 users?
no. a launch site can send a useful burst of early adopters, but it is one day, and it works best when you already have a few users and a clear message. treat it as a supporting push inside your 30 days, not the whole plan, and get your store page ready before you post.