App Showcase: AURA

What it does

AURA is an AI photo and video generator that allows users to transform their images into a wide variety of artistic and stylized avatars. The app features two main functions: creating a personalized AI profile from a user's photos to generate new images in different themes, and applying one-off AI effects and filters to existing photos.

Where it shines

AURA stands out with its highly polished presentation and engaging content packaging. The onboarding experience (00:03-00:40) is a masterclass in showing, not telling, using dynamic before-and-after animations to demonstrate the app's power. Another strong point is how it organizes its AI styles into 'packs' like "Collectible Toy" (01:42), making the content library feel like a curated, desirable collection rather than a simple list of filters. This encourages exploration and gives the app a premium feel.

UX highlights

• The initial onboarding flow uses full-screen, swipeable cards with before-and-after animations (00:23) to quickly communicate value.
• The app strategically places a social proof screen with floating testimonials and a rating prompt (00:40) right before the first paywall, building trust at a critical moment.
• The photo upload requirements screen (01:50) uses clear visual examples for 'Do' and 'Don't', which simplifies a potentially confusing step.
• After generating an image, the save (04:34) and share (04:43) actions are prominent, followed by a subtle toast notification confirming the action.
• The main home screen (01:21) is well-organized, using carousels to categorize a large number of styles into browsable themes like 'Luxury', 'Photoshoot', and 'Pop Culture'.

Monetization & growth

The app employs a multi-paywall strategy. A primary paywall appears at the end of onboarding (00:54), offering yearly and weekly plans with a "Save 70%" discount highlighted on the annual option. The app is unusable without creating an AI profile, which is a premium feature. After the user goes through the process of creating a profile, a second, more direct weekly subscription paywall appears (02:42), creating another conversion opportunity. This indicates a strategy of gating core functionality behind a subscription.

Who it’s for

AURA is targeted at social media users, content creators, and anyone looking to create unique profile pictures or stylized images of themselves. The wide range of styles, from 'Superhero' (00:26) to '1990s' (03:13) and 'Funky Toy' (00:14), suggests a broad audience appeal, particularly for younger demographics active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Notes & opportunities

The app forces users to navigate through several onboarding screens and a paywall before they can even see the main interface. While the onboarding is effective, this could deter users who prefer to explore an app before committing. The process of creating an AI profile requires uploading 8-12 photos, which is a significant friction point. Offering a single-photo-edit experience more prominently upfront could capture users who are not yet ready for the full profile creation process.