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Report: Most Subscription-Based Apps Do Not Make Money

MacRumors said:
Health and fitness apps generate at least twice the revenue of all other categories combined,
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Even at a glance it's clear that subscriptions are stickiest when the app is designed to do trending analytics. It doesn't make a lot of sense to use a subscription model for nonrecurring usage. In fact, about the only thing it does is overcomplicate the accounting.
 
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I think every dev should have a "Lifetime" option. I often opt for that myself, even if much more expensive.
 
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Would rather buy an app outright tbh. And I say that as someone who knows iOS Development. I'm over this idea of paying for subscription services honestly. And most apps are not worth the annual either, which is the closest alternative
 
I’m so sick and tired of apps selling via subscription model. Last night I was searching for a LiDAR Scanner app. 90% of them were subscription. If I saw that I instantly skipped them and went to the next on the list.

I’ll pay up to $10 for the app, but no way in hell will I pay a monthly fee.

I hope this trend of subscriptions ends because it’s really killing how much I spend on the App Store. I used to buy things all the time and now I buy almost nothing.
 
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If I see an app has a subscription and no possible justification for such a pricing model, I uninstall it immediately almost always. Also, many subscriptions are hilariously overpriced for how minor the convenience of the app is.
 
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cocky jeremy said:
Good. Let them go out of business then. I want the good old days of buying an app once and it's yours.
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Apple doesn’t want that. Apple needs 30% and 15% of monthly or annual subscriptions to grow their services business.
 
onlinespending said:
Yeah because it’s a deterrent for business. Task apps that don’t require any server use or other perpetual demands of resources from the developer now feel entitled to monthly fees. People are fed up and will just buy a task app that has a one time fee
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exactly. I avoid all apps asking for a subscription unless there is some REAL justification for it (for example apps providing actual content over time like Netflix).
 
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ethanwa79 said:
Just so you’re aware, ReveneueCat is probably the number #1 SDK that Android and iOS developers use outside of native library’s that developers use. It’s extremely popular and very easy to implement. We use it also because it allows for in-app purchases to be cross-platform between iOS and Android.
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It's a fraction of the size of Expo, which is a fraction of the native libraries's use. Stop over selling it.
 
turbineseaplane said:
This is one of my main hangups of "subscribing"

Devs are skirting the whole concept of providing a value proposition with which we can evaluate if we'd like to pay for an upgrade or not.

One common retort is that it allows them to "provide value continuously over time"
That is great if you trust the developer to actually do that -- IME, it's pretty hit or miss.
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If the app has any sort of server side functionality at all, explain how they are supposed to pay for that at scale, if you're paying them a measly one time fee up front and then using it forever. I'll wait.
 
Because they do affordable first year prices and then hike them year two onwards at a level that doesnt feel value for money
 
I am fine with the apps that have the $1/mo subscriptions. But subscription fatigue is real. I can't pay $5-10 for an app I only use a couple times a month. But when they offer a lifetime purchase button, I usually do it. Less stress when I don't have to think about renewals or worry about if I am getting my money's worth out of an app.
 
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MLMcMillion said:
1Password (yes, bad example, but people are using their servers to connect other devices)

This is actually a _perfect_ example. Even something as "easy" and trivial as sync passwords requires a backend, and when you have hundreds of thousands or millions of users, that costs _a lot of money_.
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I can see paying for subscription that way.

But, 1Password in version 7 and prior could sync with the server of one's own choosing, including DropBox and any number of services. It could also sync with one's local server through local WiFi connection. But versions after 7 took that away.

I still use 1Password but only version 7. I see no reason that I should subscribe to their servers. At some point, I may need to migrate away from 1Password when version 7 no longer works with updated iOS and macOS software. It would be a pain to migrate.
 
I believe one-time pay outright for an app is a better choice than buying a subscription based app. Most of the subscription based apps are garbage. I deleted most of those apps that serve no purpose for the use of my iPhone.
 
This is great news! There are many great apps that I would never consider using because of their subscription only model. In my view, it's been uncollected money to the developers. I would, however consider spending up to $100 one time for a worthy app.
 
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I would prefer a developer have a “tip jar” than a subscription. I know it can be deemed the same thing in a certain context, but I want to tip what I think an app is worth depending how much I use it.
 
I only consider to subscribe to an app if I'm going to use it daily. I ignore all other subscription-based apps.
 
Good. I dislike subscription based software with a passion and I'm a developer myself. Even if you are an advocate for it, in many cases the subscription fees have risen to the point, that the value just isn't there.
 
Here we are where consumers are pitted against the app developers. Fault clearly lies with Apple for not supporting a upgrade model. Apple only supports a one-time fee (99c/2.99) etc OR a subscription model.

One time fee of 99c with lifetime upgrades is not sustainable for the dev and the subscription model is not favorable by consumers.

Middle ground is Apple should support allowing apps to be upgraded to a new version with an upgrade fee which is one time until the next version is released. But Apple will lose money if it's not a subscription as they take a 30% cut in all subscriptions.

Blame Apple and not the small-time dev(who want to earn a living) or consumers (who are tired of subscriptions)
 
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