Is there a tool that tells me how competitive my market is?

This page. Describe your app in a sentence or two and the Blue Ocean report scores the market, names the factors to eliminate, reduce, raise and create, and lists the paths to an uncontested position. The first run is free and does not need an account.

What does the score measure?

How contested the space your description defines is. It reads the buyer, the problem and the alternatives implied by your sentence and places the idea on a 0 to 100 scale from red (competing on the same factors as everyone) to blue (a value curve nobody offers). It is a reading of your description, so a specific description gets a specific score.

Why did a vague description score well?

Because the model fills gaps. Describe a category, "a CRM for dentists", and the report invents a differentiation to score. Describe the pain, "dentists lose recall patients because reminders go to dead numbers", and the score is about your idea. The DentaCRM sample below shows the first case on purpose.

How do I find out what people use instead of my product?

Ask them, and read the one- and two-star reviews of the tools in the space. "What people use instead" is often a spreadsheet, a workaround, an assistant or nothing, and that is a more useful competitor list than a slide of logos. The report's eliminate and reduce rows are built from those alternatives.

What happens after the score?

The report is yours, no sign-up. Two more free reports (Find Your People and an Ideal Customer Profile) come with a free account, and the paid Founders Hub adds the full competitive analysis, Porter's Five Forces, SWOT and a competitive position synthesis.

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How competitive is your app idea?

Your idea's competition is not the number of companies in the category. It is whether your buyers already pay someone who solves their problem well. Describe what your app does and for whom, and the report scores how contested that space is, from 0 (competing on the same factors as everyone) to 100 (an uncontested position), and names what to change.

How the score reads

Three bands. The band matters less than the grid under it, which says what to change.

Score	Ocean	What it means
0 to 39	Red ocean	Buyers already pay for a good solution and the idea competes on the same factors: features, price, integrations. Winning means out-executing the leader.
40 to 65	Purple ocean	Partly differentiated. There is a segment or a factor the incumbents underserve, but the idea still shares most of its value curve with them.
66 to 100	Blue ocean	A value curve the incumbents do not offer: the idea raises or creates something they compete on nothing like, usually for a buyer they serve badly.

Three complete sample reports

Generated on 2026-09-22for ideas we made up to test the tool, shown in full so you can see exactly what comes back. The second one is a category description on purpose: notice how the report invents a “predictive” angle the sentence never mentioned. That is what a vague description gets you.

Sample run · E-commerce

Groomer's Edge

Described as: Deposit collection and SMS reminders for independent dog groomers who lose revenue every week to no-show appointments.

68/100Blue ocean

Unlocking lost revenue for independent groomers by eliminating no-shows.

Groomer's Edge operates in a nascent Blue Ocean, carving out a specific niche within the broader SaaS market for service businesses. While general scheduling and payment features exist, its hyper-focus on deposit collection and SMS reminders directly addresses the acute pain point of no-show revenue loss for independent dog groomers. This specialization creates uncontested value for an underserved segment by providing a tailored, low-complexity solution.

eliminate	Complex, multi-tier pricing structures common in general SaaS offerings. · Overwhelming, irrelevant feature sets found in full-suite salon management software. · Generic industry branding that fails to resonate with independent pet professionals.
reduce	Time spent on client onboarding and platform setup from hours to minutes. · Reliance on manual follow-ups for payments and appointment reminders. · The need for technical expertise, making the tool accessible to all groomers.
raise	The effectiveness of no-show prevention well above industry standards through mandatory deposits. · The ease and speed of deposit collection and management for busy sole proprietors. · Focus on and tailoring to the specific workflow and operational challenges of independent groomers.
create	A direct revenue recovery analytics dashboard showing actual money saved from no-shows. · Automated, pet-specific client communication flows with pre-built, customizable templates. · Micro-business financial insights beyond basic scheduling, illustrating direct profit impact from usage.

Paths to open water

Leveraging Trust and Manual Labor. Analyze the 'do nothing' or manual alternatives independent groomers currently employ, understanding the sacrifices they make in terms of time, stress, and lost revenue. Groomer's Edge replaces this unreliability with automation and financial security.
Addressing Gaps in Existing Salon Software. Identify independent groomers who find generic scheduling apps insufficient and full-suite salon management software too expensive or complex for their specific problem of no-shows and deposits. Position Groomer's Edge as the focused, right-sized solution.
From Scheduling to Revenue Assurance. Shift the focus from merely managing appointments (functional) to providing financial security and peace of mind (emotional) by guaranteeing income and preventing losses due to no-shows, framing it as a vital business protection tool.

Sample run · Healthcare

DentaCRM

Described as: A CRM for dental practices. Manage patients, appointments, billing and marketing in one platform.

74/100Blue ocean

Unlocking Predictive Excellence for Dental Practices, Beyond Basic Management

DentaCRM operates in a specialized niche within the broader healthcare CRM market, providing initial differentiation. While basic functionalities like patient, appointment, billing, and marketing management are common, the opportunity to deeply customize these for dental practices allows for significant uncontested market creation by addressing unique pain points and unmet needs specific to the dental industry.

eliminate	Overly complex, generic CRM features irrelevant to dental workflows · High upfront licensing costs common in enterprise healthcare software · Reliance on manual data entry across disparate systems
reduce	Onboarding time and complexity for new dental staff · Administrative burden associated with insurance claims and patient recalls · Need for multiple software solutions for practice management and patient engagement
raise	Seamless integration with dental-specific hardware and imaging software · Predictive analytics for patient recall and treatment acceptance · Chairside patient engagement and education tools
create	AI-powered treatment plan optimization and suggestion engine · Automated, intelligent patient communication workflows based on procedure type · Integrated teledentistry module for initial consultations and follow-ups

Paths to open water

Look Across Strategic Groups. Shift focus from competing with generic CRMs or overly complex enterprise solutions to serving the unique needs of small to mid-sized dental practices seeking integrated, intelligent solutions without high overhead.
Look Across Complementary Products and Services. Integrate deeply with dental labs, payment processors, insurance verification platforms, and dental supply chains, creating an ecosystem beyond mere CRM functionality.
Look Across Functional and Emotional Appeal. Move beyond operational efficiency to enhance emotional trust and convenience for patients while significantly reducing the administrative and mental burden on dental professionals, improving job satisfaction.

Sample run · Technology

QuietHours

Described as: A habit app for people who want to drink less without quitting entirely. Tracks drink-free days, nudges before the usual after-work slot, and shares progress with one accountability partner.

58/100Purple ocean

Moderation, not abstinence: forging a path in mindful drinking.

QuietHours operates in a Purple Ocean, demonstrating clear differentiation by explicitly targeting individuals who wish to moderate alcohol consumption rather than achieve complete sobriety. While the general habit tracking and alcohol wellness categories are competitive, its specific focus creates a unique niche. This position allows it to attract a distinct customer segment but faces emerging competition from other moderation-focused apps.

eliminate	The all-or-nothing pressure and judgmental framing of traditional sobriety apps. · Overwhelming multi-step recovery programs that can feel too intense. · The assumption that alcohol consumption is inherently a 'problem' requiring cessation.
reduce	The emphasis on 'rock bottom' narratives or negative consequences. · Broad, generic habit-tracking features not specifically tailored to alcohol. · Complexity in goal setting and tracking that adds friction to adoption.
raise	Personalized, proactive nudges aligned with individual trigger times and routines. · The sense of user empowerment and control over their drinking habits. · Positive framing of 'drinking less' as a choice for improved wellness and mindfulness.
create	Seamless integration of moderation practices into a user's existing daily life. · Tools for self-reflection on 'why' one drinks, linking moderation to personal values. · A platform that celebrates small wins and consistent progress without demanding perfection.

Paths to open water

Look Across Alternative Industries. Reconstruct the market by drawing inspiration from the broader 'mindful living' and 'self-improvement' industries, rather than solely 'addiction recovery'. This positions QuietHours as a wellness tool, not a clinical intervention.
Look Across Strategic Groups Within Industries. Redefine the competitive set by clearly distinguishing from apps focused on complete abstinence, carving out a strategic group centered on 'conscious consumption' and 'flexible moderation'.
Look Across Complementary Product and Service Offerings. Expand the offering by integrating with broader wellness technologies, such as meditation apps or smart home devices, to create a holistic ecosystem of mindful living and proactive support.

Questions founders ask

Is there a tool that tells me how competitive my market is?: This page. Describe your app in a sentence or two and the Blue Ocean report scores the market, names the factors to eliminate, reduce, raise and create, and lists the paths to an uncontested position. The first run is free and does not need an account.
What does the score measure?: How contested the space your description defines is. It reads the buyer, the problem and the alternatives implied by your sentence and places the idea on a 0 to 100 scale from red (competing on the same factors as everyone) to blue (a value curve nobody offers). It is a reading of your description, so a specific description gets a specific score.
Why did a vague description score well?: Because the model fills gaps. Describe a category, "a CRM for dentists", and the report invents a differentiation to score. Describe the pain, "dentists lose recall patients because reminders go to dead numbers", and the score is about your idea. The DentaCRM sample below shows the first case on purpose.
How do I find out what people use instead of my product?: Ask them, and read the one- and two-star reviews of the tools in the space. "What people use instead" is often a spreadsheet, a workaround, an assistant or nothing, and that is a more useful competitor list than a slide of logos. The report's eliminate and reduce rows are built from those alternatives.
What happens after the score?: The report is yours, no sign-up. Two more free reports (Find Your People and an Ideal Customer Profile) come with a free account, and the paid Founders Hub adds the full competitive analysis, Porter's Five Forces, SWOT and a competitive position synthesis.

Read the method first?

The three questions behind the score, with a worked example: How to tell whether your startup idea is too competitive. And once you know the market, how founders actually find their first customers.