© 2023 All Rights Reserved by Carlos Arias
AI-Powered GeoIP Solution
"Personal learning project that turned into a SaaS Business - Income Generating Machine."
The Journey of Building Snoopi.io
In 2013, I started Snoopi.io as a personal project to learn how to build my own REST API. At the time, I was exploring different database-driven APIs and could have chosen something like a weather API. However, with my background in SEO and web development, a GeoIP location service felt more relevant to me. I decided to use MaxMind’s free GeoIP2 database as the foundation and spent a weekend building out a basic REST API framework and a simple website. Initially, I used the API for my own projects and client landing pages, never expecting it to grow into a business.
From Personal Project to Public Service
As time went on, I noticed that other developers were signing up and using the Snoopi.io GeoIP web service. Some even reached out for help with implementation, prompting me to create detailed documentation on how to integrate the API using PHP cURL, C#, Java, and other programming languages. What started as a small tool for my own use was now gaining traction.
By 2016, over 500 developers were using my API for free, generating more than 10 million requests per month. This growth made me realize that I had something valuable on my hands, and I decided to turn it into a SaaS business—before the term was widely recognized. I introduced paid plans at $4.95, $24.95, and $49.95 per month while keeping a free tier available. I spent six months building a polished dashboard with traffic analytics, Stripe integration for subscriptions, and an SEO-optimized website with extensive documentation.
Scaling Up and Attracting Big Names
After launching the paid plans, I started seeing marketing managers and small business owners subscribing. The most exciting moment was when well-known brands like WeWork signed up for the $49.95/month plan. At this point, Snoopi.io had transformed from a side project into a legitimate SaaS business.
To differentiate the service from competitors, I expanded its features beyond basic IP location data (city, state, ZIP code, etc.). I added a ZIP Code Radius feature, useful for delivery apps and store locators, along with Reverse GeoIP and other enhancements. These features made Snoopi.io even more valuable to businesses needing precise location data.
The Neglect and Decline
Snoopi.io became a passive income stream, generating over $5,000 per month with minimal effort. Since it ran smoothly, I focused only on occasional PHP upgrades and database monitoring. However, I didn’t invest in SEO or marketing, which led to a gradual decline over time. By 2023, after nearly seven years of running on autopilot, the business was fading. Losing major clients like WeWork and VapeWorld was a wake-up call. I had to ask myself: was this decline due to the pandemic or the lack of new features? Either way, it was clear that Snoopi.io needed a revival.
The 2025 Rebirth of Snoopi.io
By this point, Snoopi.io had over 3,000 subscribers, most of whom were using the free version. Originally, the user base consisted mainly of developers, but over time, I noticed a shift—digital marketing agencies and marketing managers were now the primary audience. To better understand their needs, I conducted outreach calls with marketing managers and CMOs, gathering valuable feedback.
Armed with these insights, I decided to reposition Snoopi.io as a marketing solutions platform. With the help of AI, I rebuilt the entire system from the ground up—REST API, dashboard, frontend website, and new marketing messaging—all within two months. This was three times faster than when I originally built it in 2017. AI not only accelerated development but also enabled me to offer better services and more advanced analytics.
The New Technical Backbone
Snoopi.io’s infrastructure was modernized to handle massive-scale traffic efficiently:
- Backend: PHP 8.3 with MySQL database
- Subscription Management: Stripe payment integration
- Frontend: Bootstrap 5, jQuery, and JavaScript
- API Server: Alma Linux & PHP
- Frontend Hosting: Switched to Hostinger
- Database Server: Alma Linux & MySQL DB with Redis
This setup allows Snoopi.io to handle billions of API requests per month, and the current load is over 40 billion requests per month with database CPU usage staying below 5% capacity.
Looking Ahead
What started as a simple weekend project has now evolved into a fully-fledged SaaS business. The journey has been filled with lessons, from organic growth and passive income to the realization that continuous innovation is necessary to stay competitive. With the 2025 revamp, Snoopi.io is now positioned as a powerful marketing tool, offering enhanced analytics and AI-powered insights. This time, I won’t be neglecting it—I’m ready to take it to the next level.
Client Name
Carlos Arias
Release Date
July 15, 2015
Project Types
SaaS Business
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