Don't let a lack of ideas hold you back from building your first product.
After talking to hundreds of programmers, I've discovered a frustrating pattern: 90% say they don't have SaaS ideas, and 60% don't know how to sell or where to sell.
But here's what I've learned: the best ideas aren't revolutionary, they're solutions to real problems that people are already paying to solve poorly.
The Micro Application Sweet Spot
The most successful products follow a simple formula:
Micro Application Success = Niche Audience + Specific Pain Point + Popular Distribution Platform
Instead of creating something entirely new, you're improving existing workflows on platforms people already use daily. This means:
- Built-in distribution channels
- Proven market demand
- Lower customer acquisition costs
- Faster path to revenue
20 Practical Micro Application Ideas
Workplace Productivity Extensions
Slack App Extensions Automate team workflows, smart reminders, or custom reporting dashboards. Slack's App Directory gets massive traffic from teams looking to optimize their workflows.
Notion Widgets & Extensions Create advanced database views, AI-powered templates, or automation tools. Notion users are power users willing to pay for enhanced functionality.
Trello Power-Ups Build custom automation, time tracking, or advanced reporting features. Trello's Power-Up marketplace is actively promoted to their user base.
Airtable Extensions Enhanced data visualization, automation tools, or custom integrations. Airtable users often need specialized functionality for their unique workflows.
ClickUp Automation AI-based task prioritization, advanced reporting, or workflow optimization tools.
Obsidian Plugins Daily planner, spaced repetition, or graph visual enhancements. Obsidian users love custom workflows.
Developer Tool Extensions
VS Code Extensions Advanced debugging tools, AI-powered code suggestions, or specialized language support. The VS Code marketplace has millions of active developers.
GitHub Actions Automate testing, deployment, notifications, or security scanning. GitHub Actions marketplace is a proven distribution channel.
Postman Plugins Simplify API testing, enhance documentation generation, or add collaboration features.
Business Tool Add-ons
Google Sheets Add-ons Automate data entry, create advanced reporting, or add AI-driven insights. Google Workspace Marketplace reaches millions of businesses.
Gmail AI Assistants Auto-replies, smart scheduling, inbox prioritization, or email analytics.
Zapier Integrations Custom workflow automations for niche industries or specific use cases.
HubSpot Add-ons Prospect scoring, LinkedIn automation, or advanced CRM analytics. Ideal for sales and growth teams.
Telegram Bots & Mini Apps Build automation bots, business workflow tools, or interactive mini-applications. Telegram's Bot API and Mini Apps platform offer direct monetization through Stars payments and premium subscriptions. Popular niches include customer support automation, e-commerce integration, productivity tools, and niche community management. With 800+ million active users and growing adoption in business environments, Telegram bots can generate revenue through subscription models, transaction fees, or premium features.
E-commerce & Business Solutions
Shopify Apps Customer retention tools, upselling automation, or advanced analytics. Shopify App Store actively promotes new solutions to merchants.
Stripe Dashboard Plugins Better insights, advanced analytics, automated notifications, or custom reporting.
WooCommerce Add-ons AI-powered product recommendations, dynamic pricing tools, or checkout optimization.
Specialized Niche Solutions
Fitness AI Planner - Personalized workout and nutrition automation for fitness professionals or serious enthusiasts.
AI Resume Optimizer - Job-matching algorithms and ATS-friendly formatting for job seekers.
Real Estate CRM Plugin - Automate lead tracking, follow-up sequences, or market analysis for realtors.
Why These Ideas Work
1. Proven Distribution Channels
Each platform actively promotes useful extensions to their user base. You're not starting from zero—you're tapping into existing traffic.
2. Clear Pain Points
These aren't hypothetical problems. People are already struggling with these workflows and actively seeking solutions.
3. Paying Customers
Users of these platforms are typically businesses or professionals who understand the value of paying for tools that save time or increase productivity.
4. Lower Technical Risk
You're building on top of established platforms with documented APIs, reducing technical complexity and development time.
How to Choose Your First Micro SaaS
Start with platforms you already use daily. Your personal experience with their limitations gives you insight into real problems worth solving.
Look for recurring complaints in user communities. Platform-specific forums, Reddit communities, and support tickets reveal consistent pain points.
Validate before you build. Create a simple landing page describing your solution and see if people sign up for updates.
Think workflow, not features. The best Micro SaaS products improve entire workflows, not just add isolated features.
Getting Started This Week
- Pick one platform from the list above that you use regularly
- Join their user communities (Reddit, Discord, forums) and spend 2 hours reading complaints
- Identify 3 recurring problems that people mention repeatedly
- Research existing solutions to see what's missing or poorly executed
- Create a simple landing page describing how you'd solve one specific problem
The Real Secret
You don't need a revolutionary idea, you need to solve a real problem better than current solutions.
The most successful Micro SaaS founders I know didn't start with brilliant insights. They started with frustrating workflows they experienced personally, then discovered thousands of others shared the same frustration.
Your next application idea isn't hiding in some brilliant flash of inspiration. It's probably sitting in the last app you used that made you think, "This could work so much better if it just..."
Ready to turn your programming skills into a profitable application? Pick one platform from this list and spend one hour in its user community. You'll be surprised how quickly real problems become obvious.