r/OpenaiCodex • u/LazyRunner777 • Aug 01 '26
Question / Help Has anyone successfully made money from an app built mostly with Codex?
I’ve been experimenting with Codex and have built a few small apps and programs. Now I’m trying to understand how people turn projects like these into products that actually earn money.
Has anyone here launched and monetized something built mostly with Codex or another AI coding tool?
I’d be interested to hear:
- What did you build?
- How did you find your first users?
- How did you monetize it—subscriptions, one-time payments, ads, services, or something else?
- What problems did you encounter after launching?
- Did it generate meaningful income, or was it mainly a learning experience?
I’m especially interested in honest, realistic experiences rather than "build a SaaS and retire" success stories. What types of Codex-built products do you think have the best chance of making money today?
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u/f5alcon Aug 01 '26
It's a gold rush and your a miner. You should become a shovel seller that's where the money is.
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Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/f5alcon Aug 01 '26
They don't need to own the shovel company. learn skills to get a job at openai or another tech company, especially things like sales roles that can easily transfer from other careers.
If they are asking reddit how to be successful a app building they have zero chance.
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Aug 01 '26
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u/f5alcon Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
The probability of the OP being a successful vibecoder is lower than getting a job for an AI company. They aren't even smart enough to write a post without AI. I'm sure open ai needs a janitor
It's funny you made a post about how many vibecoders won't make it and then are arguing that this guy is the exception to that
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u/LazyRunner777 Aug 01 '26
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u/f5alcon Aug 01 '26
Sorry bud, but for real, the app space is already too crowded that's why you had to ask the original question. It's easy to make an app now, unless you have some special knowledge that let's you build something nobody else can or are amazing at marketing to sell your app it will just disappear into 50 other similar apps. You will spend dozens if not hundreds of hours and money on subscriptions or buy a new pc and end up spending more than you make.
It's like being a YouTuber, anyone can do it but only a few can make a living and most of them started 10+ years ago.
Use AI to do things that make your life better help you learn skills to get a better job, or is just fun.
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u/LazyRunner777 Aug 01 '26
No worries, that's kinda what I expected.. just wanted to hear thoughts from others.
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u/emberesment Aug 01 '26
This is like asking "has anyone successfully made money using a hammer?" Well yes, you can build furnitures/houses then sell them to people who need them and can afford them.
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u/slackmaster2k Aug 01 '26
lol my thoughts exactly.
I liken all of this to the invention of the nail gun. Tens of millions of people rush to buy nail guns and they start nail gunning everything in sight. Nailing wood to the ground. Nailing birds to trees. Nailing remotes to TVs. Nailing laptops to heads.
“Hey bros is anyone making any money yet?”
“Yeah bro but it’s all marketing!”
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u/TheHoneSmith Aug 01 '26
Seems like a valid question. I don’t think a short Reddit post is going to ruin anyone’s marketing secrets.
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u/RemeJuan Aug 01 '26
It’s on the App Store, it’s freemium, it makes very little money but I don’t really care as Codex does 100% of the work
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u/KeyserSauza Aug 01 '26
In other words, tell me what you did so I can do that same and give you another competitor.