You have a great app idea, but how do you decide which features to include without overwhelming your users or losing sight of your core purpose? Choosing the right feature set is the critical step that transforms a concept into a functional product people actually want to use.
Adalo lets you build database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps — published to the App Store and Google Play — from a single no-code editor. With the right feature set defined, you can use Adalo to bring your vision to life quickly and strategically.
What is a feature set?
Time for a quick definition! A feature set is a list or a high-level description of what you want people to be able to do, and how you’d like them to interact with your app so it can actually solve the problem that it’s aiming to solve.
Let's use the example of an app built on Adalo, a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Moonifest was built to create a community of people with similar interests and keep them engaged with content, services, and fun discussions. It's an app that helps people set intentions and manifest with the energy of the moon.
For Moonifest to do that, it would absolutely have to include options to watch or listen to content, enter information and make notes, have a calendar, and get notifications. Features have a direct impact on the usefulness and usability of your app. If you include too many features initially, people may be confused about what your app’s core purpose is, and how it solves a problem for them.
A feature set shouldn’t just be a list of cool features. You need to have a clear objective behind why you’re building an app, which will govern which features you need versus which features just seem helpful.
How do I narrow down on what I’m building?
Having an idea for an app is a good first step, but the next step should take you to what the app actually does, and who it helps. If you’d like a little help with thinking through that, here’s a handy guide for you. Here’s how you get from step one to step two.
It requires you thinking about the problem you’re trying to solve, and working backwards from there. It helps to tackle just one problem, which will give your app more focus and a greater likelihood of successfully solving that problem.
Using Moonifest as an example again:
Current scenario:
People often want to feel more grounded, present, and in touch with their energy, But it’s hard in our busy, modern world. Things feel out of our control, and there’s so much we don’t know about the process. People end up starting out with good intentions and abandoning the process of meditation and setting intentions along the way. So how do we make this easier for them?
Who the app is for: Anyone interested in meditation
What do they want: They want to be guided through the process and have a community for consistent support and motivation
Enter Moonifest
Moonifest is: A community-building app with content as a service
What does Moonifest do: It guides users through meditations, setting intentions, and manifesting, while providing a supportive community.
By conducting a similar exercise for your app idea, it helps create a clear direction for the goal of your app, the problem it solves, and most importantly, the features you’ll need to solve it.
So, how do you choose the best features for your app?
There are many different types of apps that you can build, and they all come with their own baseline feature sets. Here are a few examples of common features:
- Registration
- Search functionality
- Push notifications
- Product gallery
- Shopping cart
- In-app payments
- Video player
- Profile page
- Integration with social media
- Messaging or chat service
- Scheduling
There’s really no shortage of business ideas and use cases for mobile apps, and the opportunities to improve on existing apps seem endless too! The key is to choose one that creates the greatest impact for your users.
Budgeting and prioritizing your app features
An important factor to consider when deciding on your app features is that big, bad budget! There’s no point making a long list of features that you don’t have the resources to build. Some features are relatively easy to build, some you could get for free if you’re building a no-code app, but it always helps to keep in mind what your resources are when deciding on a feature set.
Once you’ve listed out the features and budgeted appropriately for them, it’s time to prioritize! This means choosing the features that you need for your MVP. Prioritize the features according to how important they are to help you accomplish your objective (that’s the section on narrowing down what you’re building!)
When you’ve prioritized the features you need for the MVP, and the ones that you can perhaps work on a little further down the road, you’ll be able to plan, build, and execute your app idea! Woohoo!
Remember, it takes more than an awesome app idea – a successful app will be equally awesome when it comes to the idea, features, design, and user experience!
You don't have to be a coding genius to create an amazing app that your customers will love. If you're a freelancer, use Adalo to help you build software, connect with clients, and earn recurring revenue. And don't worry if you're new to this - there are plenty of free online courses and resources to guide you along the way. So what are you waiting for? Let's start building!
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I easily define and build a feature set for my app? | Yes, with Adalo's No Code App Builder, you can easily define and build a feature set for your app. Adalo provides a drag-and-drop interface that lets you add features like registration, push notifications, messaging, in-app payments, and more without writing any code. This makes it simple to experiment with different features and prioritize the ones that matter most for your MVP. |
| Why choose Adalo over other App Builder solutions? | Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. This publishing capability is a major advantage because getting your app into the app stores is key to marketing and distribution, which is often the hardest part of launching a new app or business. Adalo removes that barrier so you can focus on building the right features for your users. |
| What's the fastest way to build and publish a feature-rich app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store? | Adalo is the fastest way to build and publish a feature-rich app to the Apple App Store and Google Play. With No Code App Builder's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building, you can go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process, so you can focus on your app's features and user experience instead of wrestling with certificates, provisioning profiles, and store guidelines. |
| What is a feature set and why does it matter for my app? | A feature set is a list or high-level description of what you want users to be able to do and how they'll interact with your app to solve a specific problem. It matters because features have a direct impact on your app's usefulness and usability. Including too many features initially can confuse users about your app's core purpose, so it's important to focus on features that directly support your app's objective. |
| How do I decide which features to include in my MVP? | Start by identifying the single problem your app aims to solve and work backwards from there. List out potential features, budget appropriately for them, then prioritize based on how important each feature is to accomplishing your core objective. The features essential to solving your users' main problem should be included in your MVP, while nice-to-have features can be added later. |
| What are some common app features I can build? | Common app features include user registration, search functionality, push notifications, product galleries, shopping carts, in-app payments, video players, profile pages, social media integration, messaging or chat services, and scheduling. The key is choosing features that create the greatest impact for your users and align with your app's core purpose. |
| How do I narrow down what my app should do? | Think about the specific problem you're trying to solve and who your app helps. Define the current scenario your target users face, identify what they want, and then determine how your app addresses that need. Tackling just one problem gives your app more focus and a greater likelihood of successfully solving that problem for users. |
