These App Store hidden gems prove there’s still room for great software in the AI era - TechCrunch

What the report says

TechCrunch reported that the App Store remains active with new creative and niche software despite industry debate over whether AI agents could eventually reduce the need for traditional apps. The outlet framed its latest “hidden gems” roundup around a reported surge in new app releases in 2026, citing figures that worldwide launches across Apple’s App Store and Google Play rose 60% year over year in the first quarter, with iOS launches up 80%.

The article highlights apps that serve specific consumer needs rather than simply branding themselves as AI products. Examples include Albo, from London-based studio The Feel Good Project, which saves and categorizes links from social platforms and websites; Coop, a neighborhood marketplace for buying handmade or homegrown goods from nearby sellers; and PI.FYI, an app built around friend-driven recommendations and interest-based communities.

Other featured tools include Lettre, a digital pen-pal app for iOS; Sofa Time, a movie and TV tracking app positioned as an option for former TV Time users; ThingsBook, a writing and collection app from Naver’s U.S. subsidiary; Pressed Petals, an iOS nature-journal app by designer Cynthia Chen that turns flower photos into pressed-specimen-style entries; and Moods Faster, a focused mood-logging app for Apple Health.

TechCrunch noted that AI-assisted coding may be helping more people build and release software quickly, including novices, while also raising concerns that “vibe-coded” apps could add lower-quality clutter. The roundup’s broader point is that consumer apps are still evolving, with many useful products applying AI quietly or not at all.