Puffless

Overview

Puffless is an iOS app designed to help users quit vaping through a science-based «Gradual Method». Most apps on the market push users to quit cold turkey, which often leads to relapses. With Puffless, I wanted to create a tool that focuses on a slow, stress-free reduction of nicotine intake, making the process feel manageable and transparent.

My role

I acted as the Product Lead and Designer, taking full ownership of the project. My work included market research, defining the product logic, UX/UI design, and managing the growth strategy through A/B testing and data analysis.

The Challenge

The main challenge was to stand out in a saturated market of smoking cessation apps by focusing specifically on the needs of vapers. Most existing solutions were either too clinical or relied on the «cold turkey» approach, which leads to high relapse rates. I needed to design an experience that made constant puff tracking feel like a natural part of the day rather than a chore, while also finding a way to significantly improve the app’s monetization without losing user trust.

The Process

Phase 1: Research and UX Foundation

The first stage involved a deep dive into competitor analysis and user testing specifically for the vaping community. I discovered that most existing apps felt too clinical or overwhelming. I designed a minimalist, dark-themed interface that reduces anxiety and makes the «Gradual Method» feel achievable. I focused heavily on the «Puff-to-Action» flow, ensuring that logging a puff requires minimal effort.

Phase 2: Release and iOS Widgets Integration

To make tracking as seamless as possible, I focused on the iOS ecosystem. I designed and implemented every possible widget type for the Home and Lock screens. This allowed users to log their progress in a split second without even opening the app. This update was the core of the second version and significantly boosted user engagement and the accuracy of the tracking data.

Phase 3: Scaling and Reliability

After reaching the first 20,000 downloads, I shifted focus to technical polish and edge-case optimization. I spent time identifying and fixing rare scenarios, such as offline tracking and data synchronization across devices during time zone shifts.

• Result: We achieved a 98.9% crash-free rate, ensuring a rock-solid experience for our growing user base.

Phase 4: Monetization and A/B Testing

Using Adapty, I conducted a series of A/B tests on our paywalls. By refining the value proposition and the UI of the subscription screens, we saw a massive jump in performance.

• CIS Market: Lifted the «Unique Conversion Rate» from 0,17% to 2%.

• US Market: Increased the «Unique Conversion Rate» from 2% to 10%.

Results

The project resulted in over 500,000 installs with a steady user base in more than 80 countries. By the final stage of development, we achieved an 11x increase in overall app conversion and maintained a 98,9% crash-free rate, demonstrating extreme stability at scale. The app currently holds a 4,5-star average rating on the App Store, proving that a focus on stable performance and user-centric logic can lead to both commercial success and high user satisfaction.