How do App Developers and Designers set a price?

[braddick]

So many terrific apps are .99c yet some real lame ones are $4.99. How are prices set?

Why do some developers spend so much time on a single app yet when it is listed in the iTunes store they give it away?

 

[The General]

So many terrific apps are .99c yet some real lame ones are $4.99. How are prices set?

There aren't any applications in the App Store for .99c. There are a bunch of $0.99 applications, or 99c applications. The lowest price you can set above free is 99 cents, none of them are selling for less than one penny.

They just choose a price. That's how it's set. They're like "I'm going to charge X amount of money for this application" and then they do it.

Why do some developers spend so much time on a single app yet when it is listed in the iTunes store they give it away?

Because some developers do it as a hobby and enjoy making applications for everyone to use. They don't just push out some garbage to try and make a quick buck. It's not their source of income. They do it for fun.

 

[braddick]

.Thanks

 

[admanimal]

There is a significant difference in the volume of sales you get at 99 cents versus even $1.99. While this doesn't always translate to more profit at 99 cents, developers also have to worry about staying popular enough to be on the top 20/100 lists or risk falling off the face of the App Store completely.

 

[dougdawson]

There is a significant difference in the volume of sales you get at 99 cents versus even $1.99. While this doesn't always translate to more profit at 99 cents, developers also have to worry about staying popular enough to be on the top 20/100 lists or risk falling off the face of the App Store completely.

There is the problem of people not taking apps seriously that are priced so cheaply. The revenue issue is mixed; I disagree that sales are that significantly affected by a .99 vs 1.99 price difference for apps that are not throwaways, in the case of apps that are not on the front page.

Doug