signalReddit r/SideProject2026-09-30
I built an invoicing tool where you only pay when you send. 41 bucks on Meta ads got 0 signups, one Reddit comment thread got 100 visits
A solo developer built a pay-per-invoice SaaS with 3 free invoices monthly then $2 each, featuring read notifications and automatic reminders. $41 on Meta ads brought 75 clicks but no signups, while a Reddit comment thread drove 100 visits in 6 hours. Built in about 2 weeks with Next.js, Postgres, Stripe, Resend, and Vercel.
- for who
- Freelancers and independent developers exploring usage-based pricing and community-driven acquisition
- what changes
- Shows that Reddit comments can generate more visits than paid ads, and that a no-account demo reduces signup friction
- to do
- Ask a pricing question in a relevant subreddit without linking your product, and offer a no-account demo for immediate trial
key points
- Pay per invoice: 3 free monthly, then 2 dollars each
- $41 on Meta ads: 75 clicks, 0 signups; Reddit thread: 100 visits
- Built in 2 weeks with Next.js, Postgres, Stripe, Resend, Vercel
#solo founder#cold start#reddit marketing#usage based saas3 sources · confidence medium
score
score 6 out of 10. 0-10: how dense the facts are, multiplied by how much you can do with them after reading. 8+ means the topic's evidence bar is met: benchmarks and availability for a new model, amount and investors for a funding round, revenue figures for a solo-money story. Below 5 an item does not enter the digest. A press release scores 3 or less, a reprint loses 2, anything older than 14 days loses 1, a headline that misleads loses 3.
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