ekto: a live translation and captions app at $5,641 a month (App Store-verified), vibe coded over 18 months by an iOS developer
An iPhone app that shows live captions and translated subtitles of what people around you are saying, for meetings, lectures, TV and life abroad, without recording audio.
$5,641 in the last 30 daysper month, before Apple's commission; $28,958 in the last 12 months; TrustMRR, App Store-verified, Oct 23, 2026
Figure as posted on X on . Last checked by Shipped & Paid on . What these dates mean
- Verification
- Verified Revenue read from a payment provider via a public third-party profile (e.g. TrustMRR) that matches the claim. See verification.
- App type
- Productivity & lifestyle
- Currency
- US dollars (USD)
- Built with
- Not stated
- Got customers via
- App Store search (ASO), Localization, X
- Prior audience
- About 455 followers on X (an Oct 2026 count, not a pre-launch figure) (source)
- Source
- @mnkyho (Anthony Ho, founder) on X, Mar 14, 2026
“my app was vibe coded, but iterated over several months as the models got better”
Editor's note: Anthony Ho describes himself on X as an iOS developer building prosumer apps, so he wasn't starting from zero. He has written that his app was vibe coded and improved as AI models got better, that he has been vibe coding since November 2024, and, on Jul 30, 2026, that it "took 18 months to 'vibe code'" the live translation app. He doesn't name the coding tools, so we list them as not specified. In several posts he names the app as ekto (App Store: "Live Translator: ekto", seller Anthony Ho), and TrustMRR links the listing to his X account. The App Store listing dates from Jan 27, 2025.
How they got customers
Mostly organic App Store traffic, by his own account: he wrote in July that revenue came "from organic sources" and that he was weighing UGC and Meta ads against other AI translation apps. He localizes properly rather than literally (a Korean version pitched at students abroad) and supports right-to-left languages such as Arabic. He also mentions the app in replies on X.
Steps to try
Pick a crowded category but win on experience: he says most translation apps can't do readable live subtitles.
From the sourceKeep improving the same app as AI models get better instead of starting over.
From the sourceFix performance problems in long sessions; he says revenue doubled after fixing heat and lag.
From the sourceLocalize for each market's motivation, not just its language.
From the sourceA slow start is normal: revenue was under $1,000 a month for most of the first year before passing $5,000.
Our suggestion
"From the source" steps summarize the linked post. "Our suggestion" steps are general practice from us, not claims by the founder.
Source
We summarize and link. Figures are reproduced as stated and are unaudited unless marked Verified. Founder? Request a correction or removal, or get a badge for your site.
Quick answers
How much does ekto make?
ekto reports $5,641 in the last 30 days (per month, before Apple's commission; $28,958 in the last 12 months; TrustMRR, App Store-verified, Oct 23, 2026). Source: @mnkyho (Anthony Ho, founder), Mar 14, 2026. Proof level: Verified. Revenue read from a payment provider via a public third-party profile (e.g. TrustMRR) that matches the claim.
What was ekto built with?
The source doesn't say which AI tools were used.
How did ekto get customers?
Main growth channels: App Store search (ASO), Localization and X. Mostly organic App Store traffic, by his own account: he wrote in July that revenue came "from organic sources" and that he was weighing UGC and Meta ads against other AI translation apps. He localizes properly rather than literally (a Korean version pitched at students abroad) and supports right-to-left languages such as Arabic. He also mentions the app in replies on X.