You don't need to code to ship a working app anymore - - you need the right prompt. Tools like Anything turn a plain-English description into a functioning app with a database, logins, and payments, so the bottleneck is no longer engineering. It's knowing what to ask for.
Below are 20 prompts you can copy and paste to build real, useful apps. They're grouped into four categories: productivity, content and marketing, client and business operations, and monetization and learning.
This guide is part of the AI Central Library, our collection of 1,200+ practical AI tutorials for the 300,000+ senior professionals who read us.
Prefer the visual version? Flip through the carousel below, then keep reading for all 20 prompts.
How to use these prompts
Zero coding required - - open Anything, paste a prompt, and let it build. Each one below includes what the app does and the exact prompt to try.
A tip that matters more than the prompt itself: be specific about features. The prompts here name the exact screens, fields, and behaviours you want, which is why they produce something usable on the first pass instead of a vague shell.
Productivity apps
1. Smart task manager
A workspace where users create tasks, set due dates, assign categories, and track completion, with a dashboard showing daily progress and overdue alerts.
"Build a task management app with user login, task categories, deadlines, priority levels, and a dashboard showing today's tasks, overdue items, and weekly completion stats."
2. AI habit tracker
Users log daily habits, see streaks, and get AI-generated tips when a streak breaks, with analytics showing which habits are improving over time.
"Build a habit tracking app with daily check-in buttons, streak counters, AI-generated motivation when a streak breaks, and a weekly chart showing habit completion rates per habit."
3. AI notes summarizer
Users paste or upload notes and get a structured AI summary with key points, action items, and a one-liner, all saved in a searchable history library.
"Build a note-taking app where users paste or upload text, then AI generates a structured summary with key points, action items, and a one-sentence TL;DR. Save all summaries in a searchable history."
4. Personal dashboard
A configurable home screen with widgets for tasks, notes, a quick timer, and links, where users rearrange sections to match their workflow.
"Build a personal dashboard where users can add tasks, write quick notes, start a Pomodoro timer, and pin links, all on one screen with a drag-to-rearrange widget layout."
Content and marketing apps
Users input a topic and target platform, and the AI generates 3 post variations with different hooks, a caption, and relevant hashtags.
"Build an app where users enter a topic and choose a platform (Instagram, LinkedIn, X). AI generates 3 post variations each with a hook, body caption, and hashtag list. Let users save favorites."
6. Marketing copy generator
Users choose a format (ad, email, landing page), input their product, and get copy in 3 tones - - professional, casual, bold - - with the option to remix any result.
"Build an AI copywriting app. Users choose format (ad, email, landing page), describe their product, and select a tone. AI returns 3 copy variations. Include a Remix button to regenerate with a twist."
7. Blog post generator
Users enter a keyword or topic, and the app generates a title, SEO meta description, a full outline, and writes the entire article, saved to a post library.
"Build a blog generation app. Users input a topic and target keyword. AI outputs a title, SEO meta description, H2 outline, and full article. Save drafts to a library the user can edit and export."
8. Script and hook generator
Users describe their video idea and select a format (Reel, YouTube Short, TikTok), and the app generates 5 opening hooks and a full 60-second script.
"Build a video script app. Users describe their idea and pick a format (Reel, Short, TikTok). AI generates 5 alternative opening hooks and a full 60-second script with timestamps. Let users rate each hook."
Client and business operations apps
9. Lead generation tool
A public landing page with a lead form connects to a private dashboard, where every lead is timestamped, tagged by source, and exportable to CSV.
"Build a lead gen app with a public landing page that has a lead capture form (name, email, message). Store leads in a dashboard with timestamp, source tag, and status. Add CSV export."
10. Client portal
Each client logs in to see their project phases, milestones, shared files, and a progress bar, while admins update status and upload deliverables from a backend panel.
"Build a client portal. Clients log in to view their project milestones, a progress bar, and uploaded files. Admins have a backend to update status, add milestones, and upload deliverables."
11. Simple CRM
A contact database where users log clients, add notes from each interaction, assign a status, and filter by deal stage.
"Build a CRM app with a contact list, interaction log per contact, deal stage tags (lead, proposal, closed), and a kanban pipeline view. Add search and filter by stage."
12. Booking and scheduling app
Providers set their available time slots, clients choose a slot, enter details, and get a confirmation.
"Build a booking app. Providers define weekly availability. Clients pick a date, choose a slot, and submit a booking form. Providers see all bookings in a calendar. Add cancel and reschedule options."
Monetization apps
13. Subscription content platform
Free users see a preview, subscribers unlock full articles, videos, or downloads, and Stripe handles payments.
"Build a content platform with free and paid tiers. Free users see a 3-sentence preview. Subscribers unlock full content. Integrate Stripe for subscriptions. Admins publish and categorize content via dashboard."
14. Digital products marketplace
Sellers upload files, set a price, and write a listing, while buyers pay via Stripe and instantly get a download link.
"Build a digital products marketplace. Sellers upload files, set a price, and write a listing with images. Buyers pay via Stripe and instantly receive a secure download link. Add a seller dashboard showing sales and revenue."
15. Paid resource library
The free tier shows 5 resources, and premium unlocks the full library with filtering by category and type.
"Build a resource library app with free (5 items) and premium (full library) tiers. Add category and type filters. Show a 'new this week' badge on recent additions. Premium unlocked via Stripe checkout."
16. Online course platform
Admins create courses with modules and lessons, and free users access the intro lesson only.
"Build a course platform. Admins create courses with modules and lessons. Free users access lesson 1 only. Paid users unlock the full course. Add progress tracking, a visual course map, and lesson completion checkmarks."
Career and learning apps
17. Resume and cover letter builder
Users input their experience and paste a job description, and the AI tailors resume bullets and a cover letter to that exact job.
"Build a resume builder. Users input their work history, skills, and paste a target job description. AI generates tailored resume bullets and a personalized cover letter. Add PDF export for both."
18. Business idea validator
Users describe their idea and the AI returns a structured report covering problem clarity, target market, competitors, revenue model risks, and a go/no-go score with reasoning.
"Build a startup idea validator. Users describe their business idea. AI generates a problem clarity score, target market analysis, 3 competitors, revenue model risks, and an overall go/no-go score with reasoning."
19. Study assistant app
Users paste lecture notes or a topic, and the app summarizes the content, generates a 10-question quiz, and explains any concept the user marks as confusing.
"Build a study app. Users paste notes or a topic. AI generates a structured summary, a 10-question multiple-choice quiz with answer explanations, and a 'confused about X?' input to get a plain-English concept breakdown."
20. AI Q&A knowledge tool
Users upload a PDF or paste text, ask any question about the content, and get a precise AI answer with the source section highlighted.
"Build an AI knowledge base. Users upload a PDF or paste text. They ask questions and AI returns a precise answer with the source section highlighted. Add a question history sidebar so users can revisit past answers."
Put the prompts to work
You've got the prompts - - now put them to work. Don't wait for inspiration: open Anything, paste any prompt from this list, and get your first app in minutes.
The fastest way to learn what these tools can do is to ship one small thing. Start with the app you'd actually use this week. Create your first app with Anything.
If you want to sharpen the prompts themselves, our 26 principles of prompt engineering apply directly to app-building prompts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you build an app without knowing how to code?
Yes. AI app builders like Anything generate a working app - - including database, user logins, and payments - - from a plain-English description of what you want, so no coding knowledge is required.
What makes a good app-building prompt?
Specificity. Name the exact screens, fields, user roles, and behaviours you want rather than describing the app in general terms. Every prompt in this guide names concrete features, which is why they produce usable results on the first attempt.
What kinds of apps can you build with AI?
Common builds include task managers, dashboards, CRMs, client portals, booking systems, content generators, subscription platforms, marketplaces, course platforms, and AI-powered knowledge tools - - all of which are covered by the 20 prompts above.
