Monetizing Apps in 2020
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 11:14 am
Hi,
I have looked through the forums and most topics relating to monetizing apps go back to the early 2010's or refer to controls or methods with no obvious way or instructions of easily using them with Livecode. A lot has changed so I thought perhaps it would be good to have a new thread with any suggestions or experience in actually monetizing apps with Livecode.
Mac Apps
Personally I have used the Mac App Store to sell a desktop app and that has worked ok, nothing earth-shattering but it does work so I know if I write a mac app it is worth jumping through the hoops (and using an app called app-wrapper) to get it into the mac app store. In the old days I also had a web site for direct sales, but that seems to have tailed right off, people don't seem to want to buy directly now.
Windows Apps
For windows, I don't have a recent answer to code signing that works right now. Every option now seems to be terribly expensive, or not available to individuals or sole traders. Without code signing the warnings Windows gives when a user downloads would be enough to put anyone off killing all possible sales. Has anyone got an answer to windows code signing that works in 2020 for small indys? Has anyone used an equivalent to the Mac App Store (and has it paid off?).
Mobile Apps
And then there is mobile. I have yet to find a solution that works. In-app advertising seems to have gone down the drain with the built in options no longer working. There are a couple of articles in 2016 on embedding a browser to show ads or perhaps in-app purchases being the way to go.
I've written a few mobile apps that got reasonable downloads but never seen a penny back. My feeling is people don't want to pay for apps. Any suggestions on any way to make money (that works) for a mobile app? Do in-app purchases work and if so, any suggestions, additional features or limitations on the app??
I'm not asking to make a lot, I think Id struggle to make a good living writing apps in any language now, but for me, a nice bottom line would be to make some money from a hobby so I can afford the annual subscription to LIvecode, keep my equipment up to date etc. It would be more motivating for me if I thought I might make a few dollars.
Id also like solutions that work with Livecode.
Perhaps this thread could run and come up with some up to date input.
Andy
I have looked through the forums and most topics relating to monetizing apps go back to the early 2010's or refer to controls or methods with no obvious way or instructions of easily using them with Livecode. A lot has changed so I thought perhaps it would be good to have a new thread with any suggestions or experience in actually monetizing apps with Livecode.
Mac Apps
Personally I have used the Mac App Store to sell a desktop app and that has worked ok, nothing earth-shattering but it does work so I know if I write a mac app it is worth jumping through the hoops (and using an app called app-wrapper) to get it into the mac app store. In the old days I also had a web site for direct sales, but that seems to have tailed right off, people don't seem to want to buy directly now.
Windows Apps
For windows, I don't have a recent answer to code signing that works right now. Every option now seems to be terribly expensive, or not available to individuals or sole traders. Without code signing the warnings Windows gives when a user downloads would be enough to put anyone off killing all possible sales. Has anyone got an answer to windows code signing that works in 2020 for small indys? Has anyone used an equivalent to the Mac App Store (and has it paid off?).
Mobile Apps
And then there is mobile. I have yet to find a solution that works. In-app advertising seems to have gone down the drain with the built in options no longer working. There are a couple of articles in 2016 on embedding a browser to show ads or perhaps in-app purchases being the way to go.
I've written a few mobile apps that got reasonable downloads but never seen a penny back. My feeling is people don't want to pay for apps. Any suggestions on any way to make money (that works) for a mobile app? Do in-app purchases work and if so, any suggestions, additional features or limitations on the app??
I'm not asking to make a lot, I think Id struggle to make a good living writing apps in any language now, but for me, a nice bottom line would be to make some money from a hobby so I can afford the annual subscription to LIvecode, keep my equipment up to date etc. It would be more motivating for me if I thought I might make a few dollars.
Id also like solutions that work with Livecode.
Perhaps this thread could run and come up with some up to date input.
Andy