How the App Builder Works

From an idea to a real, installable Android app

This guide covers NikoAI's Android App Builder specifically — for the website builder, see the separate .

Your progress

0/13 tried

Tap the circle on any card below once you've tried it.

Getting Started

STEP 1

Describe your app idea

Type what you want on the App Builder homepage — a habit tracker, a booking app, a simple CRM, anything. NikoAI plans a set of screens and a display name for it.

STEP 2

Watch NikoAI build every screen

NikoAI writes each screen live, one at a time — you'll see a real-time build log. It runs server-side, so it's safe to navigate away and come back.

STEP 3

Preview it live, right in your browser

Every screen renders instantly in the phone-frame preview using the exact same components your real app will use — no emulator, no waiting, no build required just to look at it.

Build vs Ask Mode

Build Mode

Your message becomes a real generation job — a new screen, a full app plan, or a revision. Uses credits based on how much NikoAI generates.

Ask Mode

Chat with NikoAI without changing your app — ask about credits, how a feature works, or brainstorm screen ideas first.

Screens, Icon & Identity

Chat Revisions

Keep chatting to tweak copy, layout, or add a whole new screen — NikoAI regenerates just what's needed.

Screen Templates

Use the List / Form / Dashboard chips above the chat box to steer a new screen's layout before NikoAI writes it.

Regenerate One Screen

Click the small refresh icon on any screen tab to redo just that screen — cheaper and faster than a full rebuild.

Splash Preview

Once you've generated an icon, a "Splash" tab appears next to your screens showing exactly what your app's launch screen will look like.

App Icon Generator

Generate a custom icon with AI — pick a style (Flat, Gradient, or Outline) and NikoAI designs it around your app's name and purpose.

Icon History

NikoAI keeps your last 5 generated icons — click any thumbnail in the toolbar to switch back to it, for free, no new credits charged.

Package Name

Set a unique package name (like com.yourname.appname) before your first build — this is your app's permanent ID on Android and Google Play.

Remove Watermark

A one-time purchase removes the "Built with NikoAI" badge from your preview and every future compiled build.

Read this before you hit Build

Compiling an APK or AAB is a real cloud build that takes several minutes and spends real credits the moment it starts. It is not a draft — once a build finishes, it's a locked snapshot of your app exactly as it was at that moment. If you spot something you want to change afterward, you'll need to fix it and run a brand new build, which costs credits again. Take a minute to go through this checklist first:

I've clicked through EVERY screen tab in the live preview and read every screen top to bottom — not just the first one.I've tried the Splash tab (if I generated an icon) and I'm happy with how the launch screen looks.I've set a package name I'm sure about (e.g. com.mycompany.myapp) — this becomes my app's permanent identity on Android and Google Play.I understand: APK = a test file you can install directly on a device. AAB = the format Google Play requires for a real store submission. Pick the right one for what I'm about to do.I understand credits (40 for APK, 50 for AAB) are charged the moment the build STARTS, and are only refunded automatically if the build itself fails — not if I simply change my mind after it succeeds.I've decided whether I want the "Built with NikoAI" watermark on this build, or want to remove it first ($5, one-time, applies to all future builds of this app too).

Tip: use the per-screen regenerate icon on any tab to fix just one screen cheaply, instead of starting the whole app over, before you commit to a full build.

Compiling & Downloading

Build APK — 40 credits

A directly-installable test file. Great for trying your app on a real phone or sharing with a few testers before going any further.

Build AAB — 50 credits

The Play Store-ready format. Use this when you're actually ready to submit to Google Play — it can't be installed directly like an APK can.

Build History

Every build you've ever started lives here with its live status and a download link the moment it finishes — usually within several minutes.