AI Wrapper Apps: How to make & sell them with no-code

In 2024 entrepreneurs started talking about AI wrappers. "That company is just a ChatGPT wrapper app!"

What is an ChatGPT wrapper or AI wrapper app? The term AI wrapper refers to a simple app built on top of a AI language model like ChatGPT. Usually a ChatGPT wrapper has a super specific vertical or niche along with a basic user interface (UI) specialized for this purpose. Over the last year people have built simple ChatGPT wrappers for writing Hinge messages, for planning travel arrangements, and more.

ChatGPT wrapper apps are very marketable because it's an easy way to sell the immense power of a language model to a niche group of users.

But the term ChatGPT Wrapper has a negative connotation in the Silicon Valley startup world.

Why?

They're easy to build! If you’re raising several million dollars and with a team of engineers, the valley wants you to aim for higher ambitions.

But for solopreneurs the word proved to be very profitable. Solopreneurs with a specific idea for a specific niche were able to spin up tons of ChatGPT wrapper apps for specific spaces and quickly rake up thousands of dollars in MRR.

You still had to have a little technical ability in order to build ChatGPT wrapper apps. You still had to be able to code up a website.

But now that’s different. Now you can create ChatGPT wrappers with no code. You can:

• Build the ChatGPT wrapper app
• Customize a design for the appearance
• Host your ChatGPT wrapper at a custom domain
• Paywall the tool + enable payments
• Manage the ChatGPT wrapper

All with no-code! No-code ChatGPT Wrapper builder platforms like Pickaxe let you create your own ChatGPT wrapper with relative ease, as well as a launch it as a monetizable software product!

[*Note: This article is reposted from the Medium publication AI Prompt Design.]

So what is a ChatGPT wrapper exactly? And do you make your own AI wrapper app?

We'll show you how, step by step.

What is an AI Wrapper app?

An AI wrapper is a basic app that uses an LLM's technology like OpenAI’s GPT-4 (or another model provider like Anthropic’s Claude) to provide it's core service. However, unlike a naked LLM, this one is wrapped in a specific knowledge vertical, purpose, and role all centered around a specific audience or use-case. Wrapper apps enhance user experiences for particular use cases.

For people who just want AI to read their resume and give notes, it’s easier to have that experience “wrapped up” for them in a simple app where they upload a resume, hit a button, and get a result. That's simpler than going into generic language model and explaining what you want it to do.

Or in the case of dating advice, it can be difficult to convince a generic model like ChatGPT to write flirty or risqué messages. A lot of its output is smart but way too lame and measured to use in a dating app. So users find it convenient to use a version of ChatGPT that has been “wrapped up” to talk more confidently and flirtatiously in a non-cheesy way.

How to Come up with an AI Wrapper Idea

To make an AI wrapper app, first you need to come up with an idea for your AI wrapper app idea.

We’ll walk through how to create your own AI wrapper, step by step.

1. Pick a niche. What do you know about? Is there a market you know well? That has unaddressed needs?
2. Write the prompts. A good AI wrapper will depend on the prompts you write that specify how the AI should act. Experiment with prompt design to figure out what to do.
3. Build it! Find a platform that lets you build AI wrappers (like Pickaxe).

How to Build your own No-Code AI Wrapper App

AI wrapping platforms like Pickaxe simplify the building process into a simple, no-code process with minimal steps. Even people who can’t code will be able to create, launch, and monetize ChatGPT wrappers!

1. Write the prompt & turn it into chatbot app

After you write your prompts, you can turn it into an AI chatbot or form. Simply go to a no-code chatbot builder, paste in your prompt, and additional documents or functionalities you need.

Here you’ll explain what your ChatGPT wrapper does as well as train it on domain-specific knowledge/expertise.

2. Launch AI wrapper as a Web App

After you’ve built the chatbot and it is functioning as you desire, you can launch it as a web app so that other people can use.

3. Host AI chatbot at a Custom Domain

You’ll want to white-label your ChatGPT Wrapper under your own brand. To do this, you’ll want to host it at a custom domain.

You can do use by connecting your own domain (or if you don’t have a domain, you’ll want to buy one at GoDaddy or NameCheap).

4. Setup Paywall/Monetization for chatbot

Next you’ll want to add a paywall for your chatbot. There are several ways to design these pricing tiers.

You can give users a certain amount of free uses and then more paid uses. Or you can completely paywall the chatbot. Or you can create a free version and then a more comprehensive paid version that offers additional functionality.

How much should you charge for your ChatGPT Wrapper? Well, there are lots of ways to determine this. First you’ll want to get a good grip of the underlying AI costs associated with running your app, since API access to OpenAI and other model providers is not free.

5. Monitor Usage & Improve your ChatGPT Wrapper

It’s important to pay attention to how customers are using your tool, the types of questions they’re asking, and rating the quality of the responses they get in return.

You can monitor users of your ChatGPT Wrapper app in many platforms.

6. White-Label with your brand

It’s important to ‘wrap’ ChatGPT in your branding. This means hosting your ChatGPT wrapper at a custom domain, adding your logo, and more.

Pickaxe gives you the ability to white-label your GPT SaaS app with minimal effort!

7. Market it!

Start sharing your ChatGPT Wrapper on social media, in various communities, on AI tool directories, and more.

Get Started NOW!

Now is the perfect time to create an AI wrapper app for your industry or space. There are opportunities to start AI wrapper companies in every vertical. While the AI space may seem very saturated, there’s opportunity to bring AI wrapper apps to super specific use cases within every industry, field, and profesion.

Don't wait, launch one today!