3 ms·

30% is really a huge cut. It’s almost half of what the developer makes. Apple absolutely does not provide half as much in value as the app’s developer. They can

by Joeri 6y ago

30% is really a huge cut. It’s almost half of what the developer makes. Apple absolutely does not provide half as much in value as the app’s developer. They can only charge that because people literally have no alternative but to pay the piper or get out of the business entirely. There is no free market at work here.

stephc_int13 6y ago
Exactly. For many small/medium businesses, the Apple/Google tax is often much higher than the founders salaries.
scarface74 6y ago
The developer gets less than 50% of the retail cost of a game. https://www.quora.com/How-much-do-game-companies-make-from-each-game-they-sell-if-each-game-costs-60-dollars https://www.quora.com/How-much-do-game-companies-make-from-e...
- SahAssar 6y ago
  That's including a publisher, retailer, physical distribution and the platform royalty (the platform is sorta like apple in this comparison) though. So a very different situation than IAP's in the app store. A more telling comparison would be a download-only game that was self-published by the developer since app store apps don't usually have separate publishers, physical distribution or retailers. Although I agree that the lack of open alternatives for app distribution in the game console world is pretty similar.
  - scarface74 6y ago
    And the game developer has to usually pay a license fee to the game engine maker.
    - SahAssar 6y ago
      That's the same for the app store though if you use libraries /frameworks that cost anything.
loriverkutya 6y ago
I think, you never tried to publish your book. Or being a publisher and trying to sell your book in a bookstore. In my country bookstores works with 43-47% cut. About the value apple provide, try to create your own software distribution channel, and check how much is it costs.
- dingaling 6y ago
  > try to create your own software distribution channel, and check how much is it costs Yet Apple don't charge a distribution channel cost if your app is free-at-download. How does that make sense? The backend costs to them are the same. In fact they're likely to be higher for free apps due to the many magnitudes more downloads versus subscription apps. Apple want to have it both ways: the thriving ecosystem of free apps that promotes the platform AND their cut of subscription apps. Legislation that said that all app publishers should pay a flat fee per download would seem the fairest way forward.
  - jwineinger 6y ago
    Are they the same? They have to run and maintain payment and subscription services, and I'm sure there's additional overhead dealing with payment problems/chargebacks/etc. They don't need any of that for free things.

by Joeri 6y ago

stephc_int13 6y ago

Exactly. For many small/medium businesses, the Apple/Google tax is often much higher than the founders salaries.

scarface74 6y ago

The developer gets less than 50% of the retail cost of a game. https://www.quora.com/How-much-do-game-companies-make-from-each-game-they-sell-if-each-game-costs-60-dollars https://www.quora.com/How-much-do-game-companies-make-from-e...

SahAssar 6y ago
That's including a publisher, retailer, physical distribution and the platform royalty (the platform is sorta like apple in this comparison) though. So a very different situation than IAP's in the app store. A more telling comparison would be a download-only game that was self-published by the developer since app store apps don't usually have separate publishers, physical distribution or retailers. Although I agree that the lack of open alternatives for app distribution in the game console world is pretty similar.
- scarface74 6y ago
  And the game developer has to usually pay a license fee to the game engine maker.
  - SahAssar 6y ago
    That's the same for the app store though if you use libraries /frameworks that cost anything.

loriverkutya 6y ago

I think, you never tried to publish your book. Or being a publisher and trying to sell your book in a bookstore. In my country bookstores works with 43-47% cut. About the value apple provide, try to create your own software distribution channel, and check how much is it costs.

dingaling 6y ago
> try to create your own software distribution channel, and check how much is it costs Yet Apple don't charge a distribution channel cost if your app is free-at-download. How does that make sense? The backend costs to them are the same. In fact they're likely to be higher for free apps due to the many magnitudes more downloads versus subscription apps. Apple want to have it both ways: the thriving ecosystem of free apps that promotes the platform AND their cut of subscription apps. Legislation that said that all app publishers should pay a flat fee per download would seem the fairest way forward.
- jwineinger 6y ago
  Are they the same? They have to run and maintain payment and subscription services, and I'm sure there's additional overhead dealing with payment problems/chargebacks/etc. They don't need any of that for free things.