Create Your Own Apps, Avoid Subscription Fees, AI-Powered Solutions

Are you tired of relying on costly subscription software for all your digital needs? With the rise of AI-driven platforms, you can create your own applications that save money and provide tailored solutions. Let’s explore how you can build your own apps using AI technology instead of sinking money into expensive subscriptions.

Build Your Own Apps Using AI Instead of Paying for Expensive Software

Creating a Simple Paint App for Mac

Have you ever missed the nostalgia of Microsoft Paint on your Mac? Let’s create a clone ourselves using an AI development environment. For this project, I utilized Warp.dev, which offers a free plan granting up to 150 AI requests per month, along with access to robust models like Claude Opus 4.1 and GPT-5.

After installing Warp, I chose Claude 4.1 Opus as my coding model and entered this prompt:

“Make a Microsoft Paint clone. I should be able to draw, use a paint bucket, create arrows, type, and have all the color options. I also want the capability to drag an image into the app, edit it, and save a new version of the edited image."

Within minutes, the AI generated a task list and began crafting the app. Upon completion, I had a browser-based application featuring an array of functional tools, including:

• Pencil tool for freehand drawing
• Arrow creation tool for easy annotation
• Text insertion for adding notes
• Shapes (line, square, circle) drawing tools
• Brush size adjustment for detailed work
• Image upload capability for editing
• Save functionality to keep your creations

When I discovered that the paint bucket tool was malfunctioning, I revisited Warp and described the issue. After a quick refresh, the paint bucket tool was operational again, seamlessly filling spaces with solid colors.

In just two prompts, I built a paint app that perfectly mirrors Microsoft Paint, and the best part? It was all done for free!

Creating an Image Format Converter

Next, I wanted to create an application capable of converting various image files (like WEBP, AVIF, and TIFF) into JPEG format. While many online tools exist, they often restrict users to one file at a time for free, with bulk conversion hidden behind costly paywalls—sometimes $13/month or more.

Using Claude's web interface, I provided this prompt for my application:

“I want an app that allows drag-and-drop functionality for any image file type, converting that file into JPEG. It should handle multiple files simultaneously, built in Python for offline capabilities.”

Claude responded with a comprehensive code for a Python application that brought my vision to life with:

• Universal format support (including WEBP, AVIF, TIFF, PNG, BMP, GIF, HEIC)
• Bulk processing capabilities for efficiency
• Simple drag-and-drop interface for ease of use

I followed Claude's detailed setup instructions, which included creating a folder named “image_convert,” installing necessary dependencies (Pillow and tkinterdnd2) via pip, saving the code as “image_converter.py,” and running the application with Python.

The outcome was a straightforward yet powerful tool that effectively:

• Converted PNG images to JPEG
• Transformed WEBP files to JPEG
• Processed numerous files in batch, effortlessly

This was achieved without incurring a single subscription fee!

Building a Video Transcription App

For my final project, I aimed to build a tool capable of transcribing videos. Services like Descript charge around $16/month, while Rev only offers 45 free minutes before billing $10/month.

I decided to create a browser-based app utilizing Assembly AI's API, which costs minimal amounts per minute of transcription. New users receive $50 in free credits—enough for about 185 hours of transcription—and afterward, it only costs around 27 cents per hour.

Using the free version of ChatGPT, I entered the following prompt to kick off this project:

“Build me an app where I can drag and drop either a video or audio file into the app, and it will transcribe the audio. We'll use the Assembly AI API key for transcription. I want this to be browser-based so that I can drag and drop a file directly in the browser, have it transcribe, and display the transcription in the same window.”

After addressing some bugs and troubleshooting, ChatGPT delivered a functional web app that:

• Accepts video or audio files via drag-and-drop
• Uploads them to Assembly AI for transcription processing
• Displays the complete transcription directly in the browser

I tested the app with a video clip, which was transcribed perfectly for just three cents—far less than the $10/month typical for similar services!

Take Advantage of AI for Building Custom Tools

These examples showcase how you can leverage AI to create personalized tools that address specific needs without the burden of recurring subscription fees. While AI may not yet be ready to replicate complex enterprise software like HubSpot, it excels in constructing smaller, targeted applications that address precise problems.

All of the tools I demonstrated are available in my GitHub repository as open-source software. You can download, use, and even modify them to meet your requirements.

The best part? Once developed, these tools are yours indefinitely—no monthly fees to worry about. Whether your goal is to save money or simply enjoy the process of creating your own solutions, AI simplifies the journey of building customized applications.

Don’t let subscription fees hold you back from having the tools you need. Start building your own custom applications today using AI-driven platforms like Warp.dev and take control of your software experience. Visit my GitHub repository to access the open-source projects and dive into creating your own solutions—the sooner you start, the more you’ll save!