How a Fake Higgsfield AI App Made $11K by Changing its Name and Hijacking App Store Searches

When Roman Rakhlin noticed that Higgsfield.ai, a trending AI video generator, had no iOS app with the same name, he made a calculated move: he renamed his app Virallops to Higgsfield AI, mimicked the original branding in his screenshots, and published the updated version on the App Store.

The result was thousands in revenue, nearly 100% paywall conversion, and a case study in opportunistic growth tactics.

A Founder Renamed His App to Mimic a Trending Tool

Rakhlin’s original app, Virallops, wasn’t gaining traction. But when he rebranded it as “Higgsfield AI,” downloads surged. The new version replicated Higgsfield.ai’s branding, interface, and motion effect language. It appeared just as TikTok and Instagram Reels pushed Higgsfield’s popularity into mainstream attention.

• Original: Higgsfield.ai — A browser-based AI video editor going viral on Reels

• Copycat: Higgsfield AI (iOS app) — Mobile-only clone using the same name and style

Because the original app wasn’t on iOS, Rakhlin’s version captured demand from people searching for “Higgsfield AI” in the App Store.

Renaming and Repositioning Drove Over $11,000 in Purchases

By intercepting App Store traffic, the clone app quickly generated real revenue and conversion metrics:

• $11,026 in total revenue

• 4,515 new users

• 487 total conversions

• 98.16% paywall rate (as verified by Superwall)

• 461 initial conversions with a 10.21% Day 1 rate

The strategy worked because consumers frequently search the App Store after discovering tools through viral content.

Without a mobile option from the real Higgsfield, users defaulted to the first result that looked right.

Higgsfield has an iOS app named Diffuse which looks similar but the name Higgsfield popped off.

App Store Search Behavior Enabled This Traffic Hijack

This growth tactic takes advantage of a common user behavior: seeing an app on TikTok or Instagram and then searching for it in the App Store. Rakhlin used that behavior to his advantage.

With no official Higgsfield iOS app available, people downloaded the clone without verifying its authenticity. As long as the branding looked similar, users assumed it was the real product.

This strategy falls into a legal and ethical gray area. While Rakhlin’s app isn't identical in code or function, it closely mirrors another brand’s identity—something that can trigger trademark disputes or platform-level action like:

• Trademark Infringement: Using the same brand name opens the door to cease-and-desist letters or lawsuits.

• Apple Enforcement: App Store bans have happened to developers using misleading branding tactics.

• Consumer Trust Loss: If the product doesn’t meet user expectations, refund requests and negative reviews quickly pile up.

Several developers have had their accounts permanently banned for similar tactics in the past.

Opportunistic Clones Win Short-Term but Fail Long-Term

This tactic demonstrates that viral demand can be monetized without innovation—but only temporarily. Once the real Higgsfield app launches on mobile, Rakhlin’s version risks being reported, removed, or simply ignored.

The short-term gains are real, but the model isn’t defensible. Without differentiation or a real product advantage, clones like this rarely sustain user retention or long-term value.

Ship Early or Lose Distribution to Faster Operators

This case reinforces a key lesson for product teams: distribution delays create revenue leaks. Higgsfield.ai’s team had product-market fit and virality, but no mobile presence—leaving the App Store wide open.

Social discovery often ends in App Store searches. If you're not there when the attention hits, someone else will be.

Speed to multi-platform presence is no longer optional. It’s a core part of defending your brand and capturing the full value of viral growth.

Hat Tip to Luna for spotting it.

Top Tweets of the day

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