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10$ a month is not cheap for a search engine where theoretically bigger and older engines out there are available for „free“. 10 is also psychologically difficu

10$ a month is not cheap for a search engine where theoretically bigger and older engines out there are available for „free“. 10 is also psychologically difficult to accept than, I don‘t know like 4.99 for example. That‘s why it should be their focus to find a sweet spot, where it‘s still acceptable for general public to pull the trigger and subscribe and for them to keep doing this. This is not a streaming service or whatever. Their starting point was to fight Google who don‘t give a fuck about privacy and show that it‘s possible to fix the search, which Google fucked up during the years. I am also a subscriber because of this mindset, not just because it is a „product“ of a business who wants to be successful. At least that‘s what Kagi & CEO looks like at the moment. My criticism is directed to AI and the stuff they are working on. Because of all these AI and shenanigans, they are focusing their valuable time to something other than becoming the big guy in privacy sphere. Customer counts show that. And I am 100% sure that if Kagi would cost 4,99$ a month, we would be talking about hundreds of thousands of users already.

carlosjobim 2y ago
The general public will never pay for a search engine as long as they have a free option, supported by ads. And that's not a problem. There are millions of companies who have millions of customers, without being something for the general public. > And I am 100% sure that if Kagi would cost 4,99$ a month, we would be talking about hundreds of thousands of users already. I really don't think so. The difference between free and paid is gigantic in the minds of people, but between $5 and $10 not so much. Especially when it's a product that brings incredible value already. If you could have dinner at the best restaurant in the country for $10, or free cup noodles in the supermarket. Would you argue all day with the waiter that the dinner should be $5? I think most people would be happy with a great deal, or go stand in line for the free cup noodles. As for privacy oriented customers, those are the absolutely worst customers imaginable for anybody selling anything. They bring a lot of headache and demand very much for the very little they pay. Building a business with trying to get people to pay because they hate your competitor is not sustainable. These customers are fickle and can start hating you instead for any or no reason. It's much better to have customers who like your product and think the price is great.

carlosjobim 2y ago

The general public will never pay for a search engine as long as they have a free option, supported by ads. And that's not a problem. There are millions of companies who have millions of customers, without being something for the general public. > And I am 100% sure that if Kagi would cost 4,99$ a month, we would be talking about hundreds of thousands of users already. I really don't think so. The difference between free and paid is gigantic in the minds of people, but between $5 and $10 not so much. Especially when it's a product that brings incredible value already. If you could have dinner at the best restaurant in the country for $10, or free cup noodles in the supermarket. Would you argue all day with the waiter that the dinner should be $5? I think most people would be happy with a great deal, or go stand in line for the free cup noodles. As for privacy oriented customers, those are the absolutely worst customers imaginable for anybody selling anything. They bring a lot of headache and demand very much for the very little they pay. Building a business with trying to get people to pay because they hate your competitor is not sustainable. These customers are fickle and can start hating you instead for any or no reason. It's much better to have customers who like your product and think the price is great.