Mobile App Design That Drives Downloads, Activation, and Retention
We design apps people actually use — not just download and forget. Expert in onboarding flows, paywalls, gamification, and the mechanics that turn installs into engaged users. iOS, Android, cross-platform.
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We've partnered with 50+ companies across fintech, AI, SaaS and healthcare
About the Service
Service
Mobile apps have one chance to hook users. If onboarding confuses them, if the first session doesn’t deliver value, if the paywall feels aggressive — they’re gone. Forever.
We design mobile experiences built for activation and retention. Every screen, every flow, every micro-interaction is crafted to move users from download to daily habit. We understand the psychology of mobile — thumb zones, attention spans, notification fatigue, and what makes people come back.
From fintech apps handling sensitive transactions to wellness apps building daily habits — we design for the metrics that matter: activation rate, day-1/7/30 retention, trial-to-paid conversion, and lifetime value.
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Timeline
MVP app (15-25 screens): 4-6 weeks
Full app (40-60 screens): 8-12 weeks
Complex app (80+ screens): 12-16+ weeks
Ideal for
Startups building their first mobile app
SaaS companies adding mobile to their product
Fintech apps requiring trust and security UX
Health & wellness apps building daily habits
Subscription apps optimizing trial-to-paid conversion
Apps struggling with activation or retention
Deliverables
User flow mapping
Wireframes for all screens
High-fidelity UI design (iOS & Android)
Onboarding flow design
Paywall/monetization UX
Interactive prototypes
Design system / component library
Developer handoff specifications
App Store asset design (icons, screenshots)
Our Proven
Workflow
We follow a mobile-specific design process optimized for activation and retention.
Discovery & User Mapping
Flow Architecture
Wireframes & Prototypes
UI Design
Activation & Monetization Design
Handoff & App Store Assets
Step 1
Discovery & User Mapping
We start by understanding your users, business model, and success metrics. What does activation look like? What triggers retention? We map the complete user journey from app store to power user — identifying critical moments where design makes or breaks engagement.
Step 2
Flow Architecture
Mobile apps live or die by their flows. We design the information architecture with mobile constraints in mind — thumb reachability, session length, interruption patterns. We map onboarding, core loops, and monetization touchpoints before designing a single screen.
Step 3
Wireframes & Prototypes
Low-fidelity wireframes validate structure and flow. We prototype key journeys — especially onboarding and first-use experience — to test whether users can reach value quickly. This catches navigation issues before visual design begins.
Step 4
UI Design
We design every screen with platform conventions and your brand identity. iOS and Android each get appropriate treatment — not identical designs forced onto both platforms. Typography, touch targets, gestures, and animations all follow platform best practices.
Step 5
Activation & Monetization Design
This is where expertise matters most. We design onboarding flows that minimize drop-off and maximize “aha moments.” We craft paywall experiences that convert without feeling pushy. We add gamification elements that drive engagement without dark patterns.
Step 6
Handoff & App Store Assets
We prepare detailed specs for developers — dimensions, spacing, animations, edge cases. We design app store assets — icons, screenshots, feature graphics — optimized for download conversion. Files are organized in Figma ready for implementation.
Discover
the Causes and Solutions
Every growth gap has a root cause.
We uncover it and solve it with design.
Projects That Speak for Themselves
We craft digital products that not only look stunning but also deliver measurable business growth. Explore our success stories and see how we transform ideas into market-leading solutions.
What We Design
Social & Community Apps
Network effects require critical mass. We design viral mechanics, sharing features, and community experiences that help apps grow through user behavior rather than just marketing spend.
Key focus: Viral loops, content creation UX, community features, notification balance
Marketplace & eCommerce Apps
Discovery, trust, and transaction completion. We design browse experiences that surface the right content, product presentations that convert, and checkout flows that minimize abandonment.
Key focus: Search & discovery, product presentation, checkout optimization
Subscription Apps
Trial-to-paid conversion is everything. We design paywall timing, value demonstration, and pricing presentation that maximizes conversion without aggressive tactics that damage brand trust.
Key focus: Paywall UX, trial experience, value communication, churn prevention
SaaS Mobile Apps
Mobile extensions of web products need thoughtful feature prioritization. We design mobile experiences that complement desktop — focusing on mobile-appropriate tasks, not cramming everything onto small screens.
Key focus: Feature prioritization, cross-platform consistency, offline capability
Health & Wellness Apps
Daily habit apps need engagement mechanics that stick. We design streak systems, progress visualization, reminders, and reward loops that turn occasional use into daily habits.
Key focus: Habit loops, progress tracking, motivation design, notification strategy
Fintech & Banking Apps
Apps handling money require exceptional trust and clarity. We design secure-feeling interfaces, clear transaction flows, and financial dashboards that reduce anxiety and build confidence.
Key focus: Trust signals, transaction clarity, error prevention, security UX
Why Partnering With Us Drives Better Results
We combine expertise, creativity, and a results-driven mindset to deliver exceptional digital experiences. From strategy to execution, our team ensures every project meets the highest standards and drives real impact for your business.
Activation-obsessed
We measure success by activation rate, not screens delivered. Every design decision is evaluated: does this help users reach value faster? Does this reduce friction in the critical first session?
Retention mechanics expertise
We understand the psychology of habit formation and engagement. Streaks, rewards, notifications, social proof — we know when these mechanics help and when they become dark patterns.
Paywall conversion specialists
Monetization UX is its own discipline. We’ve designed paywalls that convert — understanding timing, value demonstration, and the psychology of subscription decisions.
Platform-native quality
We design apps that feel like they belong on iOS and Android — not web apps wrapped in a mobile shell. Native patterns, appropriate animations, platform conventions respected.
Full journey thinking
We don’t just design screens — we design the journey from app store screenshot to power user. Every touchpoint matters: store presence, first open, onboarding, activation, habit formation, monetization.
Startup speed, premium quality
MVPs in 4-6 weeks without cutting corners. We know how to ship fast while maintaining the quality bar that mobile users expect from top apps.
What our
partners say
Partnering with Masterly was seamless from start to finish. Their design precision and creative thinking went beyond what we imagined. The team was responsive, strategic, and genuinely invested in our vision. The final result speaks for itself — if you're looking to level up your brand with sharp, business-minded design, Masterly is the team to call.
Masterly is incredible all around. Talented, kind, fast, and always up for new challenges.
When vetting potential design partners for our Web3 project, our team wanted to align with forward-thinking designers that could help us manifest our product vision in a creative, but user-friendly way. We found this in Vlad and the Masterly team.
Masterly has been an absolute pleasure to work with! Their dedication, hard work, and exceptional design skills have truly elevated our project. The UI/UX designs they delivered were not only creative and user-friendly but also completed on time, which is always a huge plus. Their attention to detail and ability to bring our vision to life exceeded expectations. I highly recommend Masterly to anyone looking for a talented and reliable designers. Looking forward to working together again in the future!
I really enjoyed working with Vlad and his team. Very professional, and they over-delivered on the output.
Vlad and his team do amazing work. I can't recommend them more as they did exceptional work and handled feedback very well!
Awarded by the world’s most respected design competitions
Frequently Asked Questions
Build an app people actually use
Let’s design a mobile experience that turns downloads into daily active users.
We’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
