So I tried sync to see what all the rage was. Doesn’t seem that different really from connect imo. I’m posting this with connect since sync can’t seem to do basic functions like post to communities (really?!!) but they made sure to implement big blocks where “sponsored content” will soon be shown. I figured I’d pay a couple bucks because I really can’t stand ads, but then saw its $20! I’m now assuming most of you commie bastards (said lovingly) are secretly trust fund brats? How can this be a viable price point for ad removal? Is sync really making that much from ads that this iis the conversion point? For the die hard fans, what are you getting from sync that you are not from connect? I’m not seeing the allure.
I think the price is just the reality of pricing nowadays. You could’ve bought reddit sync ten years ago ad free for like $2. That’s ten years of free updates for an app most people would use everyday for hours on end. That’s not really a sustainable business model and why a lot of people are transitioning to subscriptions, for the recurring revenue. For me, the $20 is fine and honestly the $100 is too for ultra. If you spend two hours a day on sync for the next year that’s averaging to three cents a day… And I know my usage definitely exceeds two hours a day. Plus all the features and track record of sync make me pretty confident in its future. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether this app is worth it. If you think connect is better, great, stick with connect.
I don’t think most mobile app development ever was a sustainable business model, especially if your app is not even providing the service or particularly unique features to begin with.
Not to say I don’t think there should be apps, but anyone getting into it looking to make an independent career out of it will probably end up disappointed. The most successful apps are either aggressive with the in-app purchases, or are simply a free front end to a service that pays the bills.
We’ll see how it turns out though, this developer does have a lot of loyal fans who treat the paid features as basically a voluntary donation, kind of like a Patreon. I’m pretty pessimistic that it will last, but successful business ventures don’t always make complete sense to me.
seconded