Heard About This?

Heard About This? makes it easy to save TV shows and movies friends recommend, see where to stream them, and track what to watch next, so you never forget a great suggestion.

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Inspiration

Heard About This? was born from a simple frustration: friends would recommend a TV show or movie in passing, and I’d immediately forget the title. I wanted a lightweight way to capture those recommendations, keep track of what I’d actually watch, and know where to stream them without endless searching.

What it does

The app helps you:

  • Save TV shows and movies the moment someone mentions them.
  • Discover where they’re streaming worldwide.
  • Track what you actually want to watch next, without losing recommendations in group chats.
  • Upgrade for unlimited saved shows and streaming lookups.

How we built it

  • Framework: Flutter for cross-platform development (iOS, Android, web).
  • Backend: Firebase (Firestore, Auth, Hosting) for real-time sync and secure user data.
  • APIs: Streaming availability via a JustWatch-powered data layer.
  • Monetization: RevenueCat for subscriptions and lifetime unlocks with Paywalls, enabling smooth cross-platform entitlements.

This stack makes it possible to ship quickly, stay flexible, and scale as the audience grows.

Challenges we ran into

  • Designing an upsell flow that feels natural, not pushy.
  • Handling API inconsistencies, since streaming rights shift constantly.
  • Managing App Store and Play Store submission hurdles — from privacy disclosures to iPad orientation requirements.
  • Balancing a clean, intuitive UI with enough power features for serious users.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Built a cross-platform app that feels native on iOS, Android, and web.
  • Integrated RevenueCat to make subscriptions seamless across devices.
  • Shipped a polished app that solves a real-world problem in under a year.
  • Kept the experience simple and delightful, staying true to the original idea.

What we learned

  • Simplicity beats feature overload — users just want to save, find, and watch.
  • Subscription design is an art: the free tier must be valuable, while the Pro upgrade needs to feel worth it.
  • Building across multiple platforms forces you to think about consistency and scale early.

What's next for Heard About This?

  • Adding friend lists and shared recommendations to make the app more social.
  • Expanding streaming provider coverage for more countries.
  • Refining the onboarding and upsell experience to better communicate value.
  • Exploring widgets and integrations (e.g., Siri Shortcuts, Android widgets) for even faster saving.

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