4 ms·

I know that Android users are starved for slick apps that look good and work well, because I'm one of them (when using my Nexus 7). But as a developer I know th

I know that Android users are starved for slick apps that look good and work well, because I'm one of them (when using my Nexus 7). But as a developer I know that I can't make money from them. There is no way forward for (paid) Android apps that can make a living. You need to sell on iOS in order to make any sort of revenue. So if your startup is built on a free app, then by all means use Android to test your idea. But if you want to make things and sell them for money, then putting up with the App Store model is more than worth the amount of money you can make compared to Android.

KirinDave 13y ago
> I know that Android users are starved for slick apps that look good and work well, because I'm one of them (when using my Nexus 7). But as a developer I know that I can't make money from them. > There is no way forward for (paid) Android apps that can make a living. Why do you say this? I concede it may be true for games, but games are actually one of the hardest places to make a living. Make not-game apps and your expectation of payment and your likelihood of piracy plummet.
- jcromartie 13y ago
  Maybe it is just for games, but that's the segment I pay the most attention to. I'd love to be proven wrong through experience, so maybe I'll throw some Android apps out there.
  - KirinDave 13y ago
    Personally, I know 3 people who make a living doing productivity and utility apps on Android now. I've actually never personally met an indy iOS developer making their money on not-games, come to think of it. I easily spend $15-30/mo on android apps. I go out of my way to buy ad-less versions but I do appreciate that I can try an app for a few days even with an ugly, unfit ad.
slantyyz 13y ago
>> There is no way forward for (paid) Android apps that can make a living. You need to sell on iOS in order to make any sort of revenue. Yes, that is kind of sad. As someone who does pay for Android software, I imagine I'm in the minority. I've got extended family members who balk at the notion of paying even a dollar for software on Android. OTOH, I'm curious how many paid apps on the iOS App store actually hit the break-even point.
- mooreds 13y ago
  As of May 2012, 60% of developers didn't break even. http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/05/ios-app-success-is-a-lottery-and-60-of-developers-dont-break-even/ http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/05/ios-app-success-is-a-lo...
  - jcromartie 13y ago
    That's actually fantastic, because it means 40% of developers are breaking even while only probably 10% of them are making anything decent (just based on the 90% of everything is crud rule, which seems to hold quite true for mobile apps).
- Nicholas_C 13y ago
  Not an Android user/developer so I'm completely ignorant on this topic, but is advertising revenue on Android apps not enough to make it worthwhile?
benologist 13y ago
The Amazon app store has millions of paying customers waiting for your app.
- gonzo 13y ago
  ... to go on sale for $0.
  - benologist 13y ago
    Because that's the only way most people will ever hear about your app, but if you can get in front of them through press or optimizing your text and images plenty of people will pay.

KirinDave 13y ago

> I know that Android users are starved for slick apps that look good and work well, because I'm one of them (when using my Nexus 7). But as a developer I know that I can't make money from them. > There is no way forward for (paid) Android apps that can make a living. Why do you say this? I concede it may be true for games, but games are actually one of the hardest places to make a living. Make not-game apps and your expectation of payment and your likelihood of piracy plummet.

jcromartie 13y ago
Maybe it is just for games, but that's the segment I pay the most attention to. I'd love to be proven wrong through experience, so maybe I'll throw some Android apps out there.
- KirinDave 13y ago
  Personally, I know 3 people who make a living doing productivity and utility apps on Android now. I've actually never personally met an indy iOS developer making their money on not-games, come to think of it. I easily spend $15-30/mo on android apps. I go out of my way to buy ad-less versions but I do appreciate that I can try an app for a few days even with an ugly, unfit ad.

slantyyz 13y ago

>> There is no way forward for (paid) Android apps that can make a living. You need to sell on iOS in order to make any sort of revenue. Yes, that is kind of sad. As someone who does pay for Android software, I imagine I'm in the minority. I've got extended family members who balk at the notion of paying even a dollar for software on Android. OTOH, I'm curious how many paid apps on the iOS App store actually hit the break-even point.

mooreds 13y ago
As of May 2012, 60% of developers didn't break even. http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/05/ios-app-success-is-a-lottery-and-60-of-developers-dont-break-even/ http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/05/ios-app-success-is-a-lo...
- jcromartie 13y ago
  That's actually fantastic, because it means 40% of developers are breaking even while only probably 10% of them are making anything decent (just based on the 90% of everything is crud rule, which seems to hold quite true for mobile apps).
Nicholas_C 13y ago
Not an Android user/developer so I'm completely ignorant on this topic, but is advertising revenue on Android apps not enough to make it worthwhile?

benologist 13y ago

The Amazon app store has millions of paying customers waiting for your app.

gonzo 13y ago
... to go on sale for $0.
- benologist 13y ago
  Because that's the only way most people will ever hear about your app, but if you can get in front of them through press or optimizing your text and images plenty of people will pay.