Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Getting Real

The smarter way to build web apps. A free book by 37signals.

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Getting Real launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1
Web App Success▲73
Creating web apps? This is for you.
2015 · fivesimplesteps.com · its alternatives →
2
Starting + Sustaining▲92
A guide to plan, launch and run a web app
2015 · its alternatives →
3
How To Build An App Business With No Technical Background▲71
A mobile app business guide for non-technical founders.
2015 · gumroad.com · its alternatives →
4
How to Build a Billion Dollar App▲92
Guide to building an app-based business
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
5
The Beginner’s Guide to Faster Websites▲166
Free ebook on how to optimize your websites
2017 · git-tower.com · its alternatives →
6
I wrote the book Building Mobile Apps at Scale▲357
The guide for building large, iOS, and Android native apps - with the challenges and common solutions across the industry.
2021 · mobileatscale.com · its alternatives →
7
Start Small, Stay Small▲66
A developer's guide to launching a startup
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
8
Fake it Make it▲168
A free eBook about UX design and rapid app prototyping
2015 · keynotopia.com · its alternatives →
9
Starting & Sustaining: Second Edition▲118
Build and launch a web app with less pain and fewer mistakes
2018 · its alternatives →
10
Paperboy▲174
A collection of articles to help build your startup
2015 · paperboy.fm · its alternatives →
11
101 Free Tools to Grow Your Online Store▲73
Handpicked and verified apps
2016 · its alternatives →
12
Zero To Founder▲222
A book to help you build profitable products
2023 · upen.gumroad.com · its alternatives →
13
App Making▲114
A Step-By-Step Guide To Crafting Successful Apps
2014 · tapity.com · its alternatives →
14
Your First Web App▲96
Build your first web app. No prior knowledge required.
2014 · yourfirst.io · its alternatives →
15
You Got This! Zine by Glitch▲176
A zine all about making web apps
2018 · blog.glitch.com · its alternatives →
16
Which Book Should I Read?▲104
A recommendation tool to find your next book
2017 · whichbookshouldiread.com · its alternatives →
17
Hello, Startup▲76
A programmer's guide to building products, tech & teams
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
18
Building Software Products in a Weekend▲84
Free book about building MVPs fast.
2015 · mattkremer.com · its alternatives →
19
BitBooks▲78
Build online books directly from Github
2014 · its alternatives →
20
How I Learned to Code▲65
Lessons From Teaching Myself Web Development
2017 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
21
Designing Mobile Apps▲68
Learn the basics to design your mobile app.
2015 · appdesignbook.com · its alternatives →
22
Creativity For Sale▲113
An honest book about entrepreneurship & making money online
2014 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
23
Designing for the Web▲71
Great free ebook about web design
2016 · designingfortheweb.co.uk · its alternatives →
24
40 Semi-Obvious Lessons▲62
Quick reference book for building a startup/business
2016 · asha-labs.com · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →