How I Built a #1 Ranked App in a Crowded Market
The Google Play Store is crowded with spiritual education apps. Most are filled with intrusive ads, require constant internet access, and often leave users frustrated. I wanted to build something different: a serene, accessible, user-first experience. That vision became Al Asma ul Husna, an app that climbed to the #1 spot in the Education category and has held a strong 4.68-star average rating.
What started as a simple idea to help people learn and reflect on Allah’s 99 Beautiful Names turned into a product that thousands now trust and use every day.
Designing for a Real Problem
While researching, I analyzed hundreds of reviews from competing apps with AI. The pattern was clear: people were frustrated with constant ads, cluttered interfaces, and the lack of offline access. In a space meant for reflection and learning, users were instead bombarded with distractions.
I set out to do the opposite. To create a peaceful digital space that respected the user’s intent. That meant no ads, no forced online connection, and a simple, intuitive interface.
The Principles That Shaped It
From the first line of code, three principles guided every decision:
1. 100% Ad-Free and Offline. The app had to work everywhere, without internet, and without pop-ups breaking focus.
2. Minimalist UI. Clean typography, easy navigation, and no visual clutter so the sacred content could stand on its own.
3. Multilingual and Inclusive. At launch, the app supported English and Gujarati, making it instantly useful to a global audience.
Engineering Engagement
Beyond presenting content, I wanted the app to help people stay consistent. Features like daily reminders, an interactive quiz, and a favorites list gave users reasons to return. I also introduced speed-read and filtering modes for those wanting flexibility in their practice.
On the technical side, I developed in Kotlin/Java and handled the full release pipeline via the Google Play Console. AI coding assistants helped me accelerate development, refactor faster, and maintain a near-zero crash rate. The app has also consistently shown a zero ANR rate.
The Results
Since its release, Al Asma ul Husna has passed 2,500 installs, with more than 1,000 downloads on the latest version. It has built a loyal audience of 348 monthly active users and over 620 active devices. The app’s rating remains a steady 4.68 average, with a perfect 5.0 rating in the most recent 28 days.
The product also converts well. Its store listing shows a 12.4% conversion rate, and users keep coming back, with an 11.8% returning user rate. Importantly, all of this growth has been achieved organically, without paid marketing or advertising.
The Takeaway
Al Asma ul Husna is more than an app. It is proof that in even the most crowded markets, there is room for products that respect the user. By combining thoughtful design, solid engineering, and a refusal to compromise on experience, it became a category leader.
Sometimes the best marketing is not a campaign but a product people genuinely love to use.