Free app + subscription or Paid app

[Matt Connolly]

Hey all,

I have an app that I plan on releasing in the next month (or so) that has a server component required for its functionality. I'll be hosting server component in the cloud, but doing so will incur an ongoing operational cost.

My intention for the app is for it to be a paid app, but I would also consider a free app where they user can have a trial of the service and then use an in-app purchase as a recurring subscription.

My gut feel is against the subscription model, mostly because I don't have any apps that I pay for as a subscription on my phone (yet). Although I do have quite a few web services that I pay for in yearly subscriptions, so it's only a small step.

Has anyone on this list done the free+subscription model? Any recommendations for/against?


Regards,
Matt

[Benjamin Taylor]

Marco Arment's "The Magazine" uses a subscription which I happily signed up for.

Be wary of free + upgrade - you may get a lot of negative reviews from people who think it should be entirely free.

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[Matt Connolly]

Hi Dave,

I don't want to reveal too much just yet. But let's just say that the work is done by the server, but practically all the user interaction is done via the app. So the app is really just a control interface to the server. And I want to sell access to this service.

-Matt

On 21/11/2012, at 7:25 PM, Dave McLauchlan <da...@buddy.com> wrote:

> Hi Matt:
>
> You didn't mention what kind of server components your app will need, but I work at http://Buddy.com and our entire business is providing cloud backend technology to mobile app developers. We provide developers with 500,000 API calls per month, for free... So again, not sure what your needs are, but depending on the scenario you have in mind, you might have a free option with Buddy...
>
> Cheers, Dave.

[Paul Chapman]

Keep in mind recurring subscriptions for non-edition based premium offerings may not get approved by Apple. 

The subscription system is apparently intended for delivery of digital content and editions, not for monthly service charges. I know of only one exception and it's an app in Japan where monthly subscriptions for apps was the standard before the iPhone came along (Japan's app stores predate Apple's by 7-8 years!)

You may want to consider kicking them out to a payment website where they enter their credit card. The drop off will be greater but you'll pay less in fees. 

One other option is sell some in app currency (stars? smurf berries?) that are depleted for every month of service. This would allow you to make users pay per feature they want.

Food for thought.

Cheers

Paul

日付：2012年11月21日水曜日、時刻：18:23、差出人：Benjamin Taylor：

[Cameron Barrie]

If you're worried about server hosting costs you might also want to look at https://www.parse.com I've used them a bit lately and it's a great platform.
Buddy looks cool too though, I'll need to check that out!


-Cam

[Rob Amos]

The Transit App is an american app that uses a monthly/annual service charge.

[George McKibbin]

I've been using Parse quite a bit and so far have managed to keep within the free quota but I feel like a simple web service on heroku or something would end up costing you less than parse in the long run it just has a lot more set up.

[Paul Chapman]

Rob

Thanks for that, very good to know.

:D

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Paul Chapman ~ Director

Long Weekend / +81.80.1053.2174 / longweekendmobile.com / @pchap10k

日付：2012年11月22日木曜日、時刻：13:13、差出人：Rob Amos：

[Tom Adams]

And also from people who see the "free" tag as meaning everything is free.

Tom

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tom adams
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