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Why Mini Apps

The next evolution of digital experiences extends beyond app stores into social feeds and direct messages. Mini Apps are lightweight, social-native apps that launch instantly when you tap them: no downloads, no friction, just immediate engagement. While the Base App provides the discoverability through social distribution and featured listings, Mini Apps deliver the frictionless experience that makes instant trial and viral sharing possible.
Existing web applications can be converted into Mini Apps. Learn how to integrate your existing app with our helpful guide.

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Beyond the App Store Model

Traditional apps face costly user acquisition because they’re buried among millions of competitors in app stores, require separate iOS and Android development with ongoing maintenance across platforms, and create commitment friction through installation requirements. Mini Apps eliminate these barriers entirely by running as lightweight web applications that work instantly across all devices, deploy with zero installation friction, and spread organically through social feeds where users naturally discover content—turning every interaction into potential viral distribution that no app store algorithm can match.

Traditional Apps

  • Limited to app store discovery
  • Require downloads and installations
  • Expensive user acquisition campaigns
  • Users start with empty social graphs

Mini Apps

  • Distributed through social feeds
  • Launch instantly with one tap
  • Viral distribution through social sharing
  • Built-in friend networks and social context

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What Makes Mini Apps Different

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For Users: Frictionless Discovery and Engagement

Mini Apps eliminate the gap between discovery and engagement. Instead of downloading apps you might never use again, you can instantly try interactive experiences shared by friends. With leaderboards, challenges, and multiplayer features, these apps transform from individual experiences into social activities you do with your friends—competing, collaborating, and sharing achievements together.

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For Builders: Built-in Social Infrastructure

As a developer, you build on top of existing social infrastructure instead of recreating it from scratch. What you get out of the box:
  • User identity and authentication
  • Social connections and friend graphs
  • Viral distribution mechanisms
  • Immediate access to engaged communities
When someone shares a Mini App, they’re sharing the entire interactive experience, not just a link.

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The Builder’s Advantage

Mini Apps solve three major product development challenges:
Image of social feed with Mini Apps

Find users where they already are

Discovery Challenge

Image of social feed with Mini Apps

User Acquisition

User Acquisition Challenge

Image of social feed with Mini Apps

Enagement

Engagement Challenge

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The Network Effect Advantage

Image of builder flywheel

Base App Fly wheel

As more people interact with these apps, they create valuable user activity and market opportunities that attract talented builders to Base, who see the engaged audience and build even better, more innovative experiences to capture that demand.This self-reinforcing cycle means every successful app strengthens the entire network, creating exponential growth that benefits every builder on Base.

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What You Can Build

The most successful Mini Apps solve everyday problems with built-in social mechanics:
  • Multiplayer games with real-time competition
  • Trivia nights with friend groups
  • Interactive stories and collaborative experiences
The winning pattern: Take activities people already do individually or struggle to coordinate with others, then make them social, transparent, and immediate.

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From Idea to Live Application

The development path is streamlined and permissionless:
1

Build your Mini App

Use MiniKit or the Farcaster SDK to create your application.
2

Deploy directly

Deploy your Mini App without waiting for approval processes or store reviews.
3

Get discovered automatically

Post your Mini App to Base App and it gets automatically indexed for discovery. No special permissions or approval processes required to show up in the Base App.Your app becomes instantly discoverable in:
  • Base App search results
  • The broader Farcaster ecosystem
  • User social feeds through organic sharing
4

Iterate based on real usage

Monitor actual usage patterns and iterate based on real user feedback rather than building in isolation.

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Start Building Today

Mini Apps represent a fundamental shift toward social-native digital experiences. The advantage goes to builders who understand that in a social-first world, distribution and engagement are built into the platform itself.

Quick Start Guide

Get started with MiniKit and build your first Mini App in minutes.

Existing App Integration

Already have a web app? Turn it into a Mini App with our integration guide.