Building
Free access or discounts on tools that turn your idea into a working app.
Shipaton 2026 · Apply by September 30
Vibe code an app. Make it real. Win cash doing it.
This is your chance to finally ship your idea, with the tools you need to make it happen and prizes waiting for you.
Free to joinNo traditional dev experience needed
Your mission
01Prompt an idea
02Ship a real app
03Enter to win
Any AI tool. Any app idea. One real store launch.
A real shot
Anyone who ships can win.
- $1M in prizes
- An invitation to App Growth Annual in New York City
- Your app on a giant Times Square billboard
- A Shippy trophy
- A blog feature and a 9to5Mac and 9to5Google spotlight
How it works
The push you’ve been waiting for.
That idea in your notes app — or the app you built and never published? Stop sitting on it. We’ll help you get there.
- 01
Get an idea
Pick something you have always wanted to build, or solve a problem you run into every day.
- 02
Claim your Ship Kit
Register, then unlock free tools, credits, and support from day one.
- 03
Build your app
Use the AI tool of your choice to prompt your way to a working app, then add RevenueCat for subscriptions or in-app purchases.
- 04
Publish it to a real store
Set up your account and submit to the App Store, Google Play, or Galaxy Store for review.
- 05
Turn on one purchase or ad
Get one sale — even from a friend or family member — or run a single ad. Either one meets the requirement.
- 06
Submit before September 30
Add your project on Devpost, choose every category that fits, and you are in the running.
Support
We’ve got your back at every step.
Your free Ship Kit unlocks 27 sponsor perks as you go. You also get expert resources and a community that wants to see you ship.
Testing
$100 in free testing credits, plus AI that can catch bugs before you ship.
Launching
Tools and guidance that make store submission and review less intimidating.
Growing
Platforms that help you find users and turn them into paying customers.
- Sponsor perks
- 27
- Milestones
- 5
- Cost to join
- $0
Perks unlocked
Prize categories
21 categories. There’s room for whatever you build.
Choose every category that fits your app. Small, focused ideas are welcome — and there are dedicated briefs if you need a starting point.
Featured category
Replit's Idea to Income
Build with Replit, monetize with RevenueCat, and show that customers keep coming back to pay.
Common worries, answered
Not sure you’re ready? We bet you are.
I don’t have an idea
Start with a need you or someone close to you has that nobody has quite solved. Still stuck? Our app-idea livestream can help you find a small, useful place to begin.
Watch the idea livestreamsI’ve never touched App Store Connect
Most vibe coders haven’t. That is exactly what the resources and Shipaton community are for, so you do not have to untangle every step alone.
I’ll run out of time
You have until September 30, and a focused app can go from idea to store in days. Ship a small 1.0, then keep improving it until the deadline.
I don’t know how to make money from my app
You only need one working purchase or ad. Pick one useful thing to charge for, then use RevenueCat to power the purchase.
Isn’t this just another AI app nobody notices?
Not if it is specific enough to help someone. A small, single-purpose app that solves one problem can be exactly what users — and judges — want.
Resources
A little help to get you started.
How to build and ship an app with Replit & RevenueCat
Building with Replit? Follow the full path from first prompt to a live, monetized app.
Zero to Ship
Answer four questions and get a personalized route from an empty project to your first purchase.
Official rules
See the eligibility and judging details for every category before you submit.
It’s time to make it real.
Any AI tool. Any app idea. Just ship it.
Apply before September 30, 2026