If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that people generally don’t like to pay for apps. If there’s a free version of an alternative app that is free, chances are people will flock there. I’ve had people I know refuse to buy apps “on principle” (what exactly the principle is, I don’t know), and I generally see more lite or free versions of apps on people’s phones than I do anything else.
Personally though, I tend to buy apps. Not just apps that I need to buy in order to unlock certain features, but also any app that I end up using regardless of whether I need the paid version. I don’t have tons of money, rather the opposite, but for me it’s also a matter of principle: People should get paid for their work. I don’t expect the mail carrier to deliver my mail for free; I don’t expect to go to the grocery store and leave with enough product samples to cook a three course dinner; and I don’t expect people who learned to program to offer their services for free.
On Android, the ability to see how many apps downloads an app has is a major feature for realizing just how bad the reality is for some developers. I have quite a few peculiar apps on my devices, a lot of tools and utilities for things that most people don’t even realize is there, and I’ve actually seen the 10-50 download count on apps several times – and not only new ones. More concerning, however, is when I see numbers in the 1000-10000 range on apps that are much more complex and time consuming, and cost only a dollar or two. $1000 is a nice prize to win on a lotto scratch-off, but it’s hardly the payday of a lifetime for something you work on week after week, and you don’t even get all of that yourself.
Of course there is ad revenue from free apps, but you’re lucky if the type of adds seen in mobile devices end up being clicked enough to compensate. There are even people out there who use ad blockers for such apps, and at that point you might as well go get a pirated version of the full app as the end result for the developer is the same.
The biggest problem with all of this is that when people don’t pay for apps, there are apps – and updates to apps – that never see the light of day. The reason why Android is lacking so many of the apps that iOS has is that it’s not as profitable to develop for Android according to developers. You skip paying for one app, and all of a sudden, 3 other apps weren’t made because it’s not worth it. There was a discussion in a support forum for Tasker yesterday about Microsoft’s new on{x} app, and how Microsoft probably has a dozen people working on the thing, while the developer of Tasker – who hasn’t done badly for himself by Android standards – is handling development, support, and user guide creation on his own. Tasker also doesn’t have a free version, so if people want it they have to pay. But that only means more people won’t get it at all, while on{x} draws people like flies. From what I hear, Tasker is quite a bit more powerful, but harder to use, which comes back to how you have to manage your time when you’re the only developer. Somehow, people seem to want an app that does a lot, has hundreds of hours poured into usability, and is free. Well, don’t expect that from developers that aren’t supported by a multi billion dollar software company.
The mobile app revolution changed many things in the world of software, and pricing was one of them. You can fill a tablet with apps for the cost of even the simplest software for Windows, and yet people complain. I’m running a trial version of RoboTask on my PC right now, and I almost had an accident when I saw what it would cost me to buy it at the end of the trial: $120. I only use a very small fraction of the app, far from enough of it that I’m willing to pay $120, so in a few weeks it will have to be replaced. Considering the cost of programs like that, it’s quite amusing that we now consider $5 and $10 mid-range and top-level prices for apps. The biggest game releases on Android and iOS often cost less when brand new than even the most indie of games do on Steam when they’re on sale.
Those prices are possible due to large quantities. Large quantities of nothing is still nothing though, so I think we need a massive change in the way people act towards apps, with several pay levels. There’s just something wrong when people don’t think twice about chucking down a can of Coke in 4 seconds on a hot day, but have a hissy fit when asked to pay the same amount for an app they’re using daily.
From what I’ve seen most people don’t like paying for software on their PCs, mobile devices won’t be any different will they?
Well there’s a bit of a difference in price. A high level computer program can be a month’s rent, a mobile app is a can of soda or two
Maybe this goes back to the days when people used to buy software in stores on CD-ROMs. In other words, people would actually get something tangible for their money – something that they could hold in their hands. And nowadays, it’s just a quick download, so the “value” is diminished in peoples’ eyes, even though developers spend just as much time and effort on the product.
I think that’s also why music labels are suffering – now that everything is digital, and there’s no reason to buy physical CDs anymore, the value of music has diminished to most people. Why spend $20 on the CD when you can download it for half that, or pirate it for free? Psychology has a lot to do with this.
I agree with everything you wrote. I feel the same way and pay for apps that I use. It almost doesn’t feel right to download it for free. It’s always irked me how much people complain about a $1 app, saying it should be free. Why should it be free???
I have never bought a paid app but I have many pay apps on my phone. Got to love the internet.
I have only paid for a few apps myself. Even those I barely use.
Most of the apps I try never get used again.
I consider the developers. I think of it as getting their feet wet. When they develop a great app, it could get bought by a larger company. Or they could go work for a company once they can show their skill.
While we would all like to work for ourselves, that is just not a real option for a steady income.
I work 7 days a week to support my family of 4 and our home and our vehicles and our pets and our addiction to all the things money can buy.
Peace
Sometimes I really consider getting an itouch or ipad so I can get apps that aren’t available on android. I love android and my evo 4g lte to death but I can understand why developers would pass on the OS. If they could keep almost all devices on the same version it’d be better. but considering android 4.0 is on a small fraction of devices and they’re already talking android 5.0…..yeah that’d be like making games for the original xbox when the xbox 360 is almost at the end of it’s life.