The way I see app subscriptions right now is pretty simple. Here’s a brief thread on that.
First, Apple doesn’t allow upgrade pricing. Everyone would use it if they could. They can’t. That option is off the table.
First, Apple doesn’t allow upgrade pricing. Everyone would use it if they could. They can’t. That option is off the table.
Second, making entirely new apps on the store for what’s really just a new version brings a host of annoyances for both users and developers. It’s possible, but it’s extremely sub-optimal. Option 3 is free upgrades forever, which Apple wants but which kill indie dev companies.
Option 4 is subscriptions, which Apple wants MORE because it’s more revenue over time, accrued across multiple accounting years. And yes, subscriptions as a business model is always PARTLY going to benefit from people who sign up then forget to cancel. People, huh? 🤷♀️
So, on to how I view, or frame, subscriptions. A few points:
1. I want to have very few subscriptions. I don’t want the financial commitment.
2. Almost no apps are valuable enough to me to even remotely make me consider subscribing. Fewer than ten. Maybe five?
1. I want to have very few subscriptions. I don’t want the financial commitment.
2. Almost no apps are valuable enough to me to even remotely make me consider subscribing. Fewer than ten. Maybe five?
3. For those few, I frame the question as this: Would I be willing to donate annually to keep this around? Just that: to maintain its existence. Like with Wikipedia, or the dog shelter. For me, that’s an incredibly exclusionary filter, because for most-all things, it’s a no.
If it’s a yes — a mere handful of cases — then I honestly feel grateful if I get the option to subscribe. Why wouldn’t I?
If the answer is no (as usual), I just say, well, the App Store self-cannibalising model killed another app, how sad. Then I walk away.
If the answer is no (as usual), I just say, well, the App Store self-cannibalising model killed another app, how sad. Then I walk away.
In all cases, complaining to the devs is at best entitled (you paid money, you got software; transaction complete, yay capitalism), and at worst is both bonkers and kind of predatory. You want to fish the sea to exhaustion then move on?
App devs and customers are symbiotic via software and money; it’s a market. The ecosystem must be sustainable. You even use the language of ongoing relationships when using words like invested and loyalty. The base level of that is financial maintenance.
I subscribe to only the stuff for which seeing a subscription option is actually a relief for me. I think it’s a great criterion. Most pleasingly, it’s rationally consistent. Maybe that’s something to think about, ‘s all I’m saying.
Addendum: I just checked, and I subscribe to five apps: @ulyssesapp, @draftsapp, @1Password (family plan), @Office (family plan), and @memrise (for 🇨🇳汉语!)
Which apps _would_ I subscribe to, given the option? Hmm. @GoodNotesApp and @affinitybyserif Photo, certainly (I’m iPad-only).
I’d consider @culturedcode Things, @OmniOutliner, and @mindnode (which is going subs-based soon), depending on the non-subs versions/features.
I’d consider @culturedcode Things, @OmniOutliner, and @mindnode (which is going subs-based soon), depending on the non-subs versions/features.
I’d also probably sub to the woefully-underpriced @Procreate. Re @linea_app, I love it and I paid for it, but I use it once every few months and the free-version features will more than suit me, so at the moment that’s a no. Glad that others can sub to it, though!
Oh, and I’d sub to a hypothetical new version of @panic’s Code Editor (née Coda) for iPad.
I think that’s it. I looked through all my apps here, and honestly I could live without 80% of them, and readily find substitutes for a further 15%+. That’s fine. Market forces and choice.
I think that’s it. I looked through all my apps here, and honestly I could live without 80% of them, and readily find substitutes for a further 15%+. That’s fine. Market forces and choice.
