Essential Guide to Making Apps
Review

Learn how to create a profitable app business without coding skills, focusing on outsourcing and monetization strategies

Easy
  • Last updated 15/06/2025
by Diego Guajardo

What you'll learn ? Overview

Essential Guide to Monetising Apps Without Prior Experience teaches you how to build a profitable app business without writing a single line of code. Created by Diego Guajardo, who holds a Bachelor of Finance and is completing an Honors Degree in Civil Structural Engineering at the University of Adelaide, this course takes a business-first approach to the app industry.

We found the course focuses heavily on the entrepreneurial side rather than technical app development. You'll learn how to identify profitable app niches, outsource development work to freelancers, manage remote teams, and market your finished apps to boost downloads. The program includes 5.5 hours of video content covering everything from initial market research to scaling your app portfolio.

The course promises to show you how to start an app business for under $100, which we initially found ambitious. However, Diego's approach relies on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork for outsourcing, making this claim more realistic, you're essentially learning to be a project manager rather than a developer.

What sets this course apart is its emphasis on the business model itself. Instead of teaching you Bubble or other no-code tools (which many similar courses do), it shows you how to leverage other people's technical skills while you focus on the profitable aspects: market research, client acquisition, and revenue optimization.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Complete beginners interested in the app business model, aspiring app entrepreneurs with no coding skills, those wanting to understand app monetization before diving into development

Instructor

Diego Guajardo

Former South Alabama Jaguars Football Placekicker Legitimacy Score: 7/10
Diego Guajardo is a former Mexican-American football placekicker who played for the South Alabama Jaguars. Born on February 3, 2000, in Monterrey, Mexico, Guajardo grew up in Spanish Fort, Alabama, and attended Daphne High School. He was ranked as one of the top 30 placekickers in the country and committed to play college football at South Alabama over offers from other universities[1][5].
Guajardo's college career spanned from 2019 to 2023. In his freshman year, he served as the team's kickoff specialist. By 2020, he had become the primary placekicker, finishing the season with 13-of-17 field goal attempts and 24-of-25 extra-point tries. His performance improved each year, culminating in the 2022 season where he completed 17-of-18 field goals and 44-of-45 extra point attempts[1].
• Named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List in 2023[8]
• Overtook South Alabama football program's all-time scoring record with 244 total points[1]
• Second-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2022[1]
• Ranked sixth nationally in field goal percentage in 2022[1]
• Third-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2020[1]
N/A
Diego Guajardo's online presence appears to be limited. There is no evidence of active personal social media accounts or regular public engagement on digital platforms. His online footprint primarily consists of his athletic profile and performance statistics on official university and sports websites[1][3][5].

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration1
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None stated. Basic computer skills and business acumen helpful but not required.


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access, accounts on freelancing platforms, app store developer accounts.


💸 Hidden Costs

Budget needed for app development ($50-500 per app via outsourcing), app store fees ($25 Google Play, $99/year Apple), marketing budget recommended ($100-500 to test strategies).


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Udemy Q&A section, no direct instructor support or community mentioned.

Course content

  • Module 1: Introduction & Business Overview Setting expectations, understanding the app economy, business model overview
  • Module 2: Finding Profitable App Niches Market research techniques, identifying gaps, validating app ideas
  • Module 3: Outsourcing App Development Finding developers on Fiverr/Upwork, project briefs, managing contractors
  • Module 4: Creating Your Team Building a virtual team, communication tools, project management basics
  • Module 5: App Store Optimization Keywords, descriptions, screenshots, getting initial reviews
  • Module 6: Marketing Your Apps Free and paid promotion strategies, social media tactics, PR basics
  • Module 7: Monetization Strategies Ad networks, in-app purchases, premium models, pricing psychology
  • Module 8: Scaling Your Business Portfolio management, reinvesting profits, automation tips

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Reviews on Udemy are generally positive, with students appreciating the business-focused approach. However, we noticed the course hasn't been updated since December 2015, which raises concerns about platform recommendations and pricing strategies that might be outdated.

Praised points

  • Comprehensive business framework: Students consistently mention the A-Z coverage of the app monetization business model
  • Clear teaching style: Diego's explanations are praised for being straightforward and easy to follow
  • Practical outsourcing strategies: The sections on finding and managing freelance developers receive positive feedback

Criticisms

  • Outdated platform references: Several tools and platforms mentioned no longer exist or have changed significantly since 2015
  • Limited technical depth: Students seeking actual app-building skills find the content too business-focused
  • Basic marketing strategies: The app promotion tactics are considered elementary by experienced marketers

Testimonials

"This is the best course I've taken on Udemy. It's A-Z about making money with apps and tells you everything you need to know in one place."

"Diego's teaching style is excellent, and he provides all the hints needed to start in making money with mobile apps. Highly recommend this course!"

"The outsourcing section alone was worth the price. I've already hired my first developer."

"Good overview but some info feels dated. Still valuable for understanding the business model."

"Perfect for beginners who want to understand the app business without coding."

Social insights

We couldn't find significant discussions about this specific course on Reddit or Quora, which is concerning given its claimed popularity. Most mentions of Diego Guajardo relate to his other ventures or general app development topics, not this particular course.

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The claim of starting an app business for under $100 is technically possible through outsourcing to low-cost developers, but realistic budgets for quality apps are higher. The promise of learning "everything you need" is overstated given the course's age.

Price History

Regular price listed at $64.99, but Udemy frequently offers discounts bringing it to $10-20 range.

Upsell Practices

No aggressive upsells identified within the course structure.

Student Success

We couldn't verify specific success stories. The few reviews mentioning results speak of "getting started" rather than significant revenue.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Udemy provides reliable video streaming, lifetime access, and mobile apps. The platform handles delivery well.

Content Accessibility

Videos streamable on all devices, downloadable for offline viewing on mobile apps.

Mobile Compatibility

Full Udemy mobile app support for iOS and Android.

Technical Requirements

Basic internet connection, any modern device capable of streaming video.

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

No major complaints or scam accusations found. The main concern we identified is the course's age, last updated in 2015, nearly a decade ago. This is particularly problematic in the fast-changing app industry.

😬

Refund policy issues

Standard Udemy 30-day money-back guarantee applies. No specific issues identified.

😬

Marketing practices

The course title and description are transparent about focusing on monetization without coding. However, we're concerned that platform recommendations and pricing strategies from 2015 may mislead current students.

😬

Community feedback

Limited community presence outside Udemy is a yellow flag. For a course claiming to teach profitable strategies, we'd expect more success stories or discussions in entrepreneurship forums.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At full price ($65), the outdated content makes it poor value. During Udemy sales ($10-20), it provides a basic framework worth considering if you understand its limitations.

Conclusion

We found Essential Guide to Monetising Apps Without Prior Experience to be a legitimate but significantly outdated course. Diego Guajardo delivers on his promise to teach the business side of app development without coding, and his framework for outsourcing and monetization remains conceptually sound.

However, we can't ignore that this course hasn't been updated since 2015. The app industry has transformed dramatically, new platforms have emerged, marketing costs have skyrocketed, and competition has intensified. While the general principles of market research and outsourcing remain relevant, specific platforms, pricing, and strategies need major updates.

For complete beginners wanting to understand how the app business model works, this course provides a foundation, especially at discount prices. But you'll need to supplement it with current resources to apply these concepts effectively in today's market. We recommend it only if you're prepared to adapt outdated information and do additional research on modern app development approaches.

FAQs about this course

Yes, the course requires no prior experience or technical skills. It focuses on business aspects rather than coding.

Budget at least $200-600 for your first app: developer fees ($50-500), app store registration ($25-125), and initial marketing ($100+).

No, it teaches how to outsource development and manage app projects. You won't learn coding or no-code tools.

The core business concepts remain valid, but specific platforms and strategies are outdated (last updated 2015). You'll need to research current tools.

Realistically, expect 2-3 months from starting the course to launching your first app, depending on complexity and developer availability.

Standard Udemy 30-day money-back guarantee applies, no questions asked.

We couldn't verify specific success stories. Reviews mention getting started but don't cite revenue figures.

Depends on your goals. This teaches the business model, while no-code courses teach technical skills. Consider your strengths and interests.

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Essential Guide to Making Apps screenshot
Essential Guide to Making Apps Review
$ 65
Total score: 6,4/10 ⭐
  • Duration1
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2015
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Essential Guide to Making Apps Review