It is free! Thread Reader main service is and always will be free.
So why Thread Reader has Premium 💎 features?
So why Thread Reader has Premium 💎 features?
You must know that Thread Reader is not a startup. It’s just one person @jrmgx working very hard to make it happen. Everyday I’m working on this project, doing marketing, support and development.
I don't have any external funding on purpose: my goal is to avoid the usual Startup story. You know when someone build a cool service and get some users, attracts some big company (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) and get bought. Then somehow the service gets closed or fades away.
I’m sure you all have a few examples in mind.
(See the list from Google en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_G…)
(See the list from Google en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_G…)
Instead, if every user is paying a little bit for the service, then you’re less likely to see it disappear overnight. To be honest, even if I’m passionate about what I’m doing, in the end if I don’t get any money to live, I’ll have to get back to a more classic desk job.
The second very important point is:
Stay as much independent as possible.
Stay as much independent as possible.
Thread Reader is already bound to Twitter through their Terms of Service – and somehow through some of their obscure developer rules – but I don't want to depend on any other entity/person that could decide who and what can be published on the website.
About expenses:
You may think that it doesn't cost much to run a site like this? But you’re mistaken.
You may think that it doesn't cost much to run a site like this? But you’re mistaken.
Let’s run the numbers: a good full stack developer is paid $150,000/y+ (I was), a normal Startup probably has 4 engineers: that's $600,000/y. Add some support and marketing people and you’re close to $800,000/y in labor costs.
On the technical side I like to keep it simple but still: sending emails (like subscriptions alerts) costs $1,000/y, hosting and bandwidth is cheap but still adds up $5,000/y.
Even Twitter API is going to be paying at some point. Plus you need a bunch of other services like security audit, backups, software licences, etc. probably another $10,000/y.
That means we'd be close to $1,000,000/y to make this profitable not even talking about taxes. I can assure you, I don't even make close to that!
To sum up, when you pay for Premium you get all those advanced features but foremost you’re supporting me and the service so it can stay online and independent.
This is inspired from @baconmeteor from Pinboard and @Levelsio from Nomad List who think quite the same as I do.
💎 Support Thread Reader app Today!
threadreaderapp.com/help/about#sup…
💎 Support Thread Reader app Today!
threadreaderapp.com/help/about#sup…
