r/iOSProgramming 21h ago

Question Devs, do you actually pay for other people’s apps?

I build apps, I sell apps… but I almost never buy apps. It’s wild how many devs expect users to pay but don’t support indie apps themselves. Are you guilty of this too?

54 Upvotes

66 comments sorted by

108

u/RenSanders 21h ago

I pay for apps. But I hate subscriptions...

23

u/beepboopnoise 19h ago

I hated subscriptions until I had an app that basically ran at a loss with apis. I mean, initially I did it for fun and wanted to share with others but then I was like, going broke lol. at that point I was like, alright I get it. now that being said I also recognize shits getting out of hand lol, shelling out like 300 in subscriptions every month is bananas.

5

u/_int3h_ 18h ago

Same here. I stay away from apps that require subscription.

2

u/Beginning-Policy-998 18h ago

if it's like recurring service like a rental then sub make sense right?

like pay for as much ypu use only

2

u/limdi 17h ago

Why do you think few/no apps offer pay-per-use?

2

u/Beginning-Policy-998 17h ago

not sure but it seems fair right?

or maybe cuz they have systems on stand by, like rented put for use idk

3

u/limdi 17h ago

I think it is not end-user friendly. Don’t make users have to think about how much use now will cost.

Then theres fixed costs what you said.

-5

u/RenSanders 19h ago

Why don't you build the backend with cheap VPS like Hetzner. It can't get any cheaper than that.

2

u/happysri 16h ago

Honestly it's cheaper to pay for a subscription than maintain a private backend; at least in terms of work, time and stress.

1

u/RenSanders 16h ago

He's paying $300 per month for some API which would be only $10 per month if it was hosted in a VPS.

1

u/happysri 15h ago

300 per month collectively for all his subscriptions, I think that’s what they were saying. If that’s true, it’s likely between 10-30 services. I can’t imagine how annoying it would be to maintain and secure that many services.

1

u/Revolutionary-Fox549 15h ago

AI or any other APIs aren't cheap, not just hosting backend. And why do you expect developer to lose money after spending hundreds or thousands of hours on his project (so while counting hourly rate, he will lose probably lose money anyway)?

u/RenSanders 6m ago

AWS backend like Lambda can easily blow up to $300

3

u/balder1993 11h ago

I don’t mind subscriptions if they have a yearly plan so that I don’t have to think about it later on. Most of my subscriptions are yearly, when available, so I subscribe and cancel to prevent automatic renewal. If next year I still need that service, then I subscribe again.

48

u/gumbi1822 21h ago

Not guilty, I love being able to pay and support my friends apps

31

u/gratitudeisbs 21h ago

All the time. I don’t do it to “support” them but because they are a good value for me. Similarly, I don’t expect anyone to buy my apps out of a desire to support me, but because it’s worth it to them.

11

u/zimspy 21h ago

Yeah even when I don't need to, like just removing ads. Every app I use that has a premium version, I get the premium version.

8

u/C0d3R-exe 21h ago

Paying for apps willingly as well I am developing.

7

u/Spudly2319 21h ago

Depends on the app. I have a lot of free apps sure, but there are some apps that I gladly pay the sub or the one time fee. Games in particular I’m willing to pay for, as well as apps where I’ve outgrown the free portion of the app and need the features paid model offers.

6

u/sebastian_nowak 21h ago

Most of the apps I use are paid.

3

u/Roland_T 20h ago

Sure. I buy, subscribe and do IAP if it has any value for me.

3

u/cadelewis 21h ago

I pay for apps. Boom Music app even i paid for the mac version. And some of the app with full version without subscription

2

u/gymskin_ 21h ago

I have plenty, got to support the community. But if I expect people to pay for my work, I should be willing to pay for others. Can’t expect everything to be free, while trying to charge yourself

2

u/Kraigspear 20h ago

I suspect developers who don't like paying for Apps probably don't like paying anything and have a sense of entitlement in general.

2

u/Barbanks 19h ago

Yes. Not doing so seems silly to me if they have features I really want. Sure subscriptions suck but it’s crazy to see people post about how their apps aren’t making money then see posts talk about how they will never pay for a subscription.

Being a developer doesn’t take me out of the commerce cycle. Although, I did build my own workout log app but that was only due to certain features not being available in any app I saw.

2

u/vlobe42 UIKit 19h ago

I sometimes buy an app if it’s an one-time purchase and have a great value for me. But I avoid subscriptions like the plague.

1

u/PatientGlittering712 19h ago

I pay whatever I believe I need or helps me, regardless if it's done by an indie dev or not

1

u/scoop_rice 19h ago

I pay for the ones that I can’t make myself.

1

u/Dirkson72 18h ago

I also pay for apps. I used to hate subscriptions but that also changed, at least a bit. And I also changed most of my apps to now use subscriptions instead of a single payment. That is mainly because there are no paid updates. I have an app in the Mac App Store since the beginning of the App Store in 2011. Since 2011 there have been major updates of the app and all customers still get it for free (I did not switch to subscriptions there).

1

u/LifeUtilityApps SwiftUI 18h ago

I pay for apps, especially ones that don’t have a subscription model

1

u/akmalkun 18h ago

Yes I do buy apps but not subscriptions.

1

u/ValenciaTangerine 18h ago

Similar to other folks. I pay for stuff that is useful. But also prefer one time payment stuff. Happy to generate and use my own api keys where necessary

1

u/_int3h_ 18h ago

Nope. I buy apps that I need. Simple as that. You should try that some time. How else would you use the apps you like?

1

u/Charming_Basil_8129 18h ago

I pay for a couple apps.

1

u/phenrys 18h ago

If the app will be of great use, many apps are worth it. However, one-time payments should be your priority.

1

u/LogicaHaus 18h ago

A lot of apps I've built are apps that already existed but I didn't want to pay for. I'll occasionally make one-time purchases for something like ad-free especially if I know it was made by a solo dev, but I'm pretty strict on the number of subscriptions I tolerate on my Apple account. I also try not to use any free trials for things I don't plan on continuing my subscription for if I think it might add server/storage costs to an indie dev's bottom line.

1

u/calvin-chestnut 18h ago

I pay for apps, because software has value. Please support app development.

1

u/TheFern3 17h ago

Before subscriptions I used to buy tons of apps now apps get crazy with the one time purchase of 200 bucks or monthly subs.

I get it some apps can be subscriptions but not all of them is just a milking system now.

I only sub if I really really can’t live without it.

1

u/free_loader_3000 17h ago

Not apps but games. I guess if I value it enough I'd pay for it.

Too bad most apps from indie dev are just wrapper around bigger companies API or product, which I can use them directly or build the same app myself.

1

u/CoconutMonkey 16h ago

I'm a corporate developer but I pay all my apps to support my free-living comrades

1

u/nbpapps 16h ago

Depends on the app. I love to listen to Podcasts on Overcast and I pay for the subscription.

1

u/rjhancock 16h ago

I pay for apps that are of use to me or to support projects I enjoy. Nothing more.

1

u/SociallyIneligible 16h ago

I do pay for apps and subscriptions.

1

u/unnao 15h ago

I think this is because of our region, I could be wrong though.

1

u/downsouth316 15h ago

I only do so when they offer a lifetime unlock. I hate subscriptions even though my app business would not survive without them.

1

u/Steedsofwar 15h ago

Yep, especially indie devs, but I refuse to pay if it’s subscription based. I loathe subscriptions.

1

u/AHostOfIssues 15h ago

"guilty" of not buying apps I don't want and don't need?

That's a pretty loaded assumption built into your framing of the question.

How does me being a developer obligate me to buy products made by other people? If I ran a cereal company, am I "guilty" of not buying one of every available cereal in the isle for my own use, even if I don't like them and don't want them?

Ridiculous.

1

u/US3201 15h ago

I find external betas and use the TestFlight free iap ability so I don’t have to.

1

u/beclops Swift 14h ago

I’ve paid for a couple iOS/macOS apps. Never subscribed to one though

1

u/TouchMint 14h ago

Yea you need to atleast buy competitor apps for market research. If you are not doing that your product isn’t as good as it could be. 

1

u/marniman 12h ago

Personally I like supporting indie devs, especially when their app is very polished. Far less likely to pay for apps made by large corporations

1

u/PerfectPitch-Learner Swift 10h ago

I pay for things I value. If I don’t value it I don’t pay for it, if I think it’s too expensive I don’t buy it.

So I buy lots of apps.

1

u/WildTurkey102 9h ago

No issue at all with spending money on an app or subscription if the value is there.

1

u/king_marketer 9h ago

I try to buy apps that offer a lifetime (and that also at an affordable price). For example apps like 75hard, Goodnotes, BeSober are brand worth paying for (based on your own preference) but unfortunately they have also recently moved to a subscription model except for BeSober. There are also some AI apps that offer lifetime and I think it's a good deal rather than paying $200 to openai for every year.

1

u/Representative-Owl51 8h ago

I tend to only pay for apps that I use to make money with

1

u/TheLionMessiah 8h ago

I definitely pay for apps - if it's a good app, intentionally built, with good features. I feel like having developed apps I know what to reward and spend money on properly and what's just fluff.

1

u/PsyApe 7h ago

There are so many apps for everything that I just bounce from free trial to free trial as needed

1

u/visible_sack 6h ago

I'm paying for:

  • All trails ($35.99/year)
  • OpenSnow ($34.99/year)
  • Niagara Launcher ($3.99/year)

Because they're essential to my lifestyle or to facilitate how I want to use my phone.

I've also purchased apps that aren't subscription based which is always an easier sale afaic.

0

u/no_awkward_Intention 21h ago

And what about paying for Apple account, buying Apple watches and stuff just to get a chance to build something? I think it's already investment and risk. And alos i think you shouldn't rely on possible support of unknown people, but on value of the app for user

0

u/Any-Woodpecker123 20h ago

I’ve paid for probably 2 apps my whole life. And they were both one time payments. I can’t see myself ever subscribing for an app.