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Instapaper has little need for a free app because it's so unique; there are few paid alternatives, let alone free ones. If you're building something less extrao

Instapaper has little need for a free app because it's so unique; there are few paid alternatives, let alone free ones. If you're building something less extraordinary, offering a free app with an in-app upgrade path makes more sense. The free-to-pro transition seems to work better with a single app using in app purchases (to remove ads and unlock features) than with two separate apps. It's possible to structure the experience in a free app to make the upgrade more compelling too. Thermo and Astronut (both for iPhone) are two examples that handle it well in different ways: Astronut (game) presents an upgrade option when you reach the end of the first stage; Thermo (temperature widget) shows an ad at the bottom with a tempting X button -- when you tap that, you're prompted to upgrade.

r_h_thomas 15y ago
What in the world is "extraordinary" about Instapaper? It came at the right time to help people deal with the limitations of a mobile device, but the app itself is trivial. The model is trivial. The web service is, I would wager, trivial. It is entirely normal, but happened at exactly the right time. I'm not a big fan of Marcos because I read a sense of desperation in virtually all he has said lately (just look through his recent archives and you'll see someone tilting into the wind). Further isn't it a bit ridiculous for someone to have gotten big on the backs of a free app to then -- after they've established the network effect and have market presence -- proclaim that free apps aren't necessary? It's a lesson with no meat at all. If this app started at $4.99 and became as popular as it is, then you'd have a story. Otherwise honestly it reads more like an attempt at misdirection for people who might follow.