Just deleted my Reddit account. The web experience is garbage, especially on mobile where tapping to expand a thread reloads the entire site constantly. And then a popup on every screen asking me to use the app, which is also garbage. Bye.
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Popular Reddit App Apollo Would Need to Pay $20 Million Per Year Under New API Pricing
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When a 3rd-party app makes a service usable, that 3rd-party app has value. Being priced out of the market is a sad moment for developers.
I selfishly wish that this kind of behavior sparks a change to our need and usage of Social Media. Also that perhaps it causes folks to rethink how much power we give to big tech companies. Maybe a push back of sorts where people go off to smaller communities (and even the return of forums) , or even better go back to the real world and value face-to-face human relationships more.
So Reddit power users are abandoning the platform in droves for Discord and they think now is the time to purposefully alienate them further?
Yes. That is clearly what the post you quoted said. 🙄 Jeez Louise …
Anyway. Yes. Obviously, Reddit is well within its rights. Nobody is disputing that.
However, apps like Apollo and Tweetbot helped take platforms like Reddit and Twitter and actually made them nice to use by providing user interfaces and feature sets that the platform owners couldn’t or wouldn’t. When Twitter killed off API access to third-party apps, it sucks that the various third-party app developers were hurt, yes. But ultimately, the people who suffer the most are the customers who relied upon those apps to provide utility above and beyond what Twitter has interest in doing. And it’s the same here.
Now, I barely use Reddit and I’m not an Apollo user. But I will say that Reddit is one of the most obnoxious, least-friendly designed websites I’ve ever interacted with. It’s abysmal. And based on how big a pile of hot stinking garbage the site itself is, I cannot imagine that their first-party application is much better. But from everything I’ve seen and read, Apollo fixes a lot of that and actually makes Reddit usable to a lot of people. That’s good for Reddit because it results in people using the platform who otherwise wouldn’t waste their time. And a lot of smaller companies and developers are always going to be able to innovate and create new, unique features for their individual apps than a platform-owner like Reddit or Twitter can do, meaning that these third-party apps serve a purpose in pushing the platforms forward as well.
Nobody is saying that Apollo should get API access to Reddit for free. But there’s a wide, wide spectrum in-between “free API access” and “API access so expensive that it puts third-party developers out of business.”
it is sad but I just don't see the "cool factor" of Apollo. I think you guys are just rebels without a cause
Yes! More than anything. BBS, MUDs, Usenet, Gopher, personal 'homepages' hosted on space given by your ISP... so much better than the modern corporate internet.
I still post on BBS and forums like this because it’s much better for dialogue. I wish they all made a come back
Wait until you see how much Apple gets from app developers in the App Store. It's a level of greed you can't comprehend.
Not only that but I pay to use that app, because I appreciate the developer for providing a service. All this talk about wanting things for free, Apollo is not free.
I also use a music app for Apple Music that not only I paid for, I have an extra tip to earlier this year because the service was incredible. You provide a service and have great customer service I will reward you. That’s how I think the free market should work.
I agree, as do many others, but the important thing is to not capitulate. For many, their habit of checking in on Reddit will outweigh, and thus Reddit will be capitalizing on this move. Look at the success of JRE on Spotify or even what Twitter did with their API (it’s quite early but so far it appears to not be majorly disruptive to their business whatsoever).
The “free” web is changing. Perhaps Web3 will move beyond meme NFTs and get serious on decentralized alternatives to these behemoths. The future is looking bright with Umbrel’s self hosted apps, Jack Dorsey’s BlueSky, etc.
The reddit app sucks major balls.
Of apollo quits I'll quit using reddit.
Of apollo quits I'll quit using reddit.
Hi, have you considered starting your own “Reddit” taking advantage of your already mature client? I don’t know to what extent this could be a madness or not, but Reddit deserves to have a similar alternative just like Twitter has Mastodon as an alternative.
By the way, regardless what happens in the future, Apollo has been the best Reddit client by far. I’ve been a Happy Pro customer.
Hi Christian. Just out of interest, how much would you have to charge each user per month to generate the profit needed to pay Reddit's API bill? I'm making the assumption that the free tier would have to disappear.
Yes, please. Maybe just back to GeoCities and web rings? Otherwise, hell yeah.
You think thats bad, and Apple isn't all that different from other digital app stores, slotting fees are going to blow your mind.
With hookers? And Black Jack?
Apollo is lightyears ahead of the official app. Just like Alien Blue was before it. Reddit as a company are asleep at the wheel. I enjoy Reddit as a resource but it's probably going to suffer with a ridiculous pricing model like this; I won't use the official app so will cut mobile usage completely.