15+ Awesome Stuff to Build and Sell With JavaScript (and Friends)

Dear JavaScript Aficionado,

It's incredible how many different software products you can create with JavaScript (and friends).

In my eyes, this language is undoubtedly the most versatile one we have these days. You can create pretty much anything.

Will it be the best choice to use it?

Well, that depends on the project and what needs to be achieved.

But even though it can be a "bad choice" for certain projects, there are still unlimited use cases for which it will suit you best.

So, JavaScript developers can build a lot of good stuff, and that's the topic of this article.

I don't think the list of possibilities that follows is exhaustive, so please, if you can come up with more, just drop a comment. I would really like to include it in my collection and consider it the next time I ponder what to build.

Anyways…

Let's dive in!

💡1. Browser Extensions

This one is my favorite. I have yet to come up with something profitable, but building browser extensions is such a joy that I gladly do it no matter what the business numbers say.

Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Opera are all "Chromium-based," which means that they are built on top of the open-source project Chromium. Thus, when you create an extension for one of them (usually Chrome), you are actually building it for all of them.

Also, there is Firefox and some other browsers, but most of them follow the same standards (manifest 3.0), so a Chrome Extension can easily be ported for them, too.

How cool?

There are many examples of profitable browse extensions. For example, the creator of the browser extension "GMass: Powerful Mail merge for Gmail" reports an annual revenue of $5.4 million.

The extension helps you send emails in bulk through Gmail, and I guess 300,000 users are pretty happy about it.

💡2. Web Apps

Well, JavaScript really shines in building single-page applications. It's unrivaled because modern browsers don't support any other programming language.

So, anything client-side is boiled down to a JavaScript bundle…

Building SaaS or micro-SaaS is a popular choice for monetizing your JavaScript skills in a scalable way. Many smart people are doing it, so it's worth a try.

An example of a successful micro SaaS is the platform Carrd.

It makes building simple landing pages and websites really easy. That way, you don't need to waste time creating a custom solution if the focus of your efforts is not the "marketing website" itself but something that it will promote (e.g., a browser extension).

It generates $1.5 million for its creator, and according to builtwith.com, it powers 87,374 websites.

Quite an achievement for a team of 1 web developer!

💡3. Websites

Of course, you can build all kinds of websites with JavaScript…

News websites, Blogs, Directories, Job boards, Online shops, Forums — all this and more can be built with our favorite programming language.

It was added for "interactivity" several ages ago, but since Node.js came into existence, JS immediately evolved into a more serious technology that can be used both front-end and server-side.

A cool example of a profitable directory is Remote OK…

This is where digital nomads can find remote gigs globally, and this website generates more than $2 million a year for its creators.

So, if you think, "Gosh! Directories are so boring…" then think again.

💡4. Native Mobile Apps

Libraries like React Native allows JavaScript developers to build native mobile applications for both Android and iOS.

There are thousands of indie hackers who make a good living by developing and selling small mobile apps in all kinds of flavors. Although this is an increasingly competitive field, it's one of the most fertile because it is friendly to small teams of 1 to 10 people.

Also, there is a good ecosystem that offers many resources to help you develop and market your product. That's really important for novice indie hackers and founders who need support at the beginning of their journey.

Many famous mobile apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Discord, are built with React Native. Obviously, nothing stops us from building premium stuff with this tech stack.

💡5. Hybrid Mobile Apps

The difference between a hybrid mobile app and a native one is that the former uses the so-called "web view" with browser-like behavior, while the latter is fully integrated and "native" to the smartphone operating system.

Hybrid Mobile Apps can be much easier to develop. Given that modern browsers are really powerful platforms with tons of features, you can easily build applications with almost native-like behavior but for a lower cost.

You also use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for these apps, so you don't need to learn new languages like Java or Swift.

X's mobile app is an excellent example…

It's one of the reasons many other big companies started taking hybrid mobile apps seriously.

💡6. Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

Here, I want to talk about PWAs. I think they offer a universe of possibilities by themselves.

They are websites that function like apps as well. And the best part is that once the user installs them on their device, the apps get access to more advanced browser APIs that are not available otherwise.

I'm talking about APIs for working with files, notifications, and other OS features.

So, the experience is close to a desktop app, and I love that!

Tinder is a great example of an "installable website"...

💡7. Trusted Web Activity (TWA)

This one is a new standard that builds upon PWA, which was created by Google.

It basically allows you to publish your app in Google Play, Microsoft Store, and other marketplaces. Your app also gains access to certain new APIs, so you can again build something that offers a native-like experience.

This kind of stuff is even more affordable, and you get a web app and a mobile app in one.

One downside can be the need for hosting and an accessible URL, but hey, there are services like Vercel and Firebase, which offer generous free tiers.

And I tell you…

If you use them to serve the JS code without server-side processing, you will definitely be ready to pay for a premium service once your tens of thousands of users exhaust the free bandwidth.

There are not many examples of successful TWA apps because this is a new standard that has yet to be adopted on a larger scale.

However, I found a case study on web.dev that features an app created by a hospitality startup.

Here's the blurb:

"How a hospitality startup built an Android app that relies on web content to dramatically increase user engagement and keep file size low"

💡8. Desktop Apps

Electron.js allows us to build desktop apps using nothing else than HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (plus a plethora of the Chromium browser's APIs).

Also, you can offer PWA and TWA apps through Microsoft Store…

So nowadays, it is a piece of cake to create a standalone application for desktop computers and laptop computers. Or offer it as an additional option to all of your other "modalities."

Visual Studio Code is one hell of an example of what you can achieve with Electron.js. And Slack, Loom, and Postman are among the rest in this "bucket."

I guess it's needless to say - Desktop apps are far from "dead"!

💡9. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

Yes, you heard me right…

Nowadays, you can find API marketplaces like rapidapi.com.

You can create an API and charge its users based on usage. If you come up with a good idea of what to offer, that can easily grow into a very passive income.

I'm still wondering how to take advantage of this opportunity.

I guess if I built something for my own projects, nothing would stop me from offering it on all these fancy marketplaces.

💡10. JavaScript Frameworks

Look at what business they have built around Next.js…

So, the next time you hear somebody claim, "There is no money in open source software," you will be sure they don't know what they are talking about.

There are also many examples of entrepreneurs who have built profitable software businesses around open-source projects they don't control in any way. That means there is a shortcut that allows you to make some profit without being the author of a popular framework.

💡11. JavaScript Libraries

The same goes for JavaScript libraries. You can sell or give them away but sell advanced features. You can also attract sponsors or grant paid requests for new features.

Working on open-source JavaScript projects is truly the best way to become a respected software engineer.

A few years ago, I did a little research…

I made a list of influential JavaScript developers and reviewed their GitHub profiles, websites, and social media accounts. What I found is that 90% of them were engaging in four important activities:

1. Working on a cool open-source project
2. Delivering presentations and public speaking
3. Writing books and online courses
4. Blogging or other social media activities

So here you are, their "secret" to success…

💡12. Templates

That's maybe the easiest software product you can create. Lately, offering "starter kits" like SaaS starter kits, website starter kits, and others has become trendy.

There are so many examples of successful template authors…

You can easily find them on marketplaces like ThemeForest and others. If something has a dedicated marketplace with thousands of participants, you can be totally sure it's profitable if you know what you do (and you can learn it if you don't).

I really like the templates offered by TaiwindUI.

A year or so ago, I bought lifetime access to the component library and the templates, and I've used them in a couple of side projects. Sadly, most of them have not been launched. They are still in the "idea phase" but set up for further development.

💡13. 2D Games

I guess it's old news now that HTML5 came with great improvements. The introduction of the <canvas /> element gave the power to create awesome interactive graphics and animations.

Of course, it's an art…

But it's learnable, and if you really put your mind on it, you can start popping 2D games like a popcorn machine.

As far as I know, the popular Eco Tycoon is an example of a successful HTML5 game. More than 100,000 users play it, so I guess it's pretty profitable too.

💡14. 3D Games

Modern browsers offer a powerful WebGL API, allowing JavaScript developers to build 3D experiences, including 3D games. Thanks to this API, your game can access the machine's graphic device.

We have yet to see a viral 3D game in the browsers…

And who knows, maybe you're the one who will develop it!

This is a "frontier field" of JavaScript development, and I'm sure more will be invested in it so that the API will be even more powerful in the future.

As an example, I found the impressive game HexGL, which, I believe, was built solely to demonstrate what can be achieved in the browser nowadays.

💡15. Third-Party Plugins

This is yet another "universe" where you can spend eternity building cool stuff.

As I said, if there is a marketplace with hundreds of thousands of participants, then it can be widely fun and profitable.

And guess who offers such marketplaces:

1. Slack

2. Shopify

3. Wix

4. Google Workspace

5. Microsoft Office

6. GitHub

7. WordPress

8. And many others

   
   

The best part is that you can ride the trend and create add-ons/plugins/extensions for marketplaces you know are growing. There is infinitely less competition in comparison with Google Play or Apple's App Store, so it's relatively easier to "make it."

One example of a paid Slack App is Karma.

Their blurb says:

"Nowadays, people often feel unappreciated at work. Karma is on a mission to end that. We help people to say 'thank you' more often and connect with each other."

How interesting?

💡 Honorable Mentions

You can do a lot of other stuff to leverage your JavaScript knowledge and skills. You can write and sell eBooks… create online courses…, or try entering the "web3 field" and doing something like me — blogging and/or vlogging.

All these are lucrative fields, too…

I know even nocoders who talk, write, and teach JavaScript (it's pure madness), but if their audience is happy with them, who am I to disagree with? So there is definitely some room for more creators, indie hackers, and fresh founders who know their stuff.

And it's a CHOICE!

You don't need to ask for permission from anybody to join this community.

So choose wisely…

Let's move forward together,

Sashe Vuchkov

Full-stack Dev

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