Thread

1. faangguyindia · 1790424527 · focus · HN ↗

   Our app has 17,000+ users and has never paid a cent to Google :) With a little out of box thinking, you can avoid Google tax.

   1. buf · 1790425111 · focus · HN ↗

      How do you do it?

      1. atraac · 1790425172 · focus · HN ↗

         They push the user to their website where subscriptions are.

         1. buf · 1790503748 · focus · HN ↗

            Doesn't that go against Apple and Google policy?

            1. atraac · 1790596487 · focus · HN ↗

               It does, unless you just 'don't mention it'. There are ways to build UX where user has to visit the website one way or another, where he can pay/upgrade. I'm doing similar thing right now, where app is meant for existing users, already registered on my paid service. I got through Apple/Google simply by removing all mentions of payments in the app. App openly says at the start screen it's meant for existing users, where you can go to make the account and that's it, no signup in the app itself, no payments. It just depends heavily on the type of app you're building I guess
      2. faangguyindia · 1790425668 · focus · HN ↗

         Very easy: offer them a long trial (numbers will show that your revenue is hurt, but don't care). Eventually the trail runs out, and they search how to renew or they ask support. The first result appears: your payment subscription page.

         If a customer has used your product already for long time 20 days+, extra steps to set up payment one time, especially when you do not auto charge short trials, the customer is happy.

         1. em-bee · 1790430383 · focus · HN ↗

            so you offer a free trial on google play that is long enough to get people hooked. but there is no paid app on google play. instead people have to pay through other means to unlock the app?

            1. johanyc · 1790456905 · focus · HN ↗

               Yeah I need more details too. Does Google play trial not auto charge by after the trial ends?

               1. em-bee · 1790462416 · focus · HN ↗

                  i have no clue what features google play has but my guess is that a simple date check that disables the app after a certain time is possible without using any google play features. so it could be offered as a free app that simply stops working after some time.
   2. philipallstar · 1790427692 · focus · HN ↗

      [dead]

      1. moooo99 · 1790428339 · focus · HN ↗

         Good thing the companies that participate in the current AI craze would never ever behave in any way parasitic.

         1. philipallstar · 1790429231 · focus · HN ↗

            Whataboutism is just so pointless.

            1. moooo99 · 1790436894 · focus · HN ↗

               pointless, yes. Entertaining, also yes.

               Regardless of my whataboutism, I still think tax is an very apt description of what the Google Play and App Store fees effectively represent. I would be happy to call it a fee if the stores would actually allow effective competition. But as it stands right now, the "government" like behaviours make the wording tax fairly accurate.

               1. philipallstar · 1790439157 · focus · HN ↗

                  As long as they can lock you up for not paying it, it's a tax.
            2. Dylan16807 · 1790466793 · focus · HN ↗

               Saying "they got their share already" is not whataboutism. Money is fungible and debts cancel out.
      2. mitxela · 1790428557 · focus · HN ↗

         it's actually Google being parasitic on all the apps' infra. I paid for the app store infra when I bought my phone, and every time I open it and see ads, and with my tracking data for the NSA. They don't need to be allowed to quadruple dip.

         1. philipallstar · 1790429220 · focus · HN ↗

            > I paid for the app store infra when I bought my phone

            How do you know that?

            1. mitxela · 1790429646 · focus · HN ↗

               Money was deducted from my bank account.

               1. philipallstar · 1790429948 · focus · HN ↗

                  [dead]

               2. Rohansi · 1790479201 · focus · HN ↗

                  How much went to Google? Most Android phones aren't made by Google.
      3. pmlnr · 1790447164 · focus · HN ↗

         Given what google search/AI/data tracking is, there should be no shame in using their infra for free. Hell,it should all be free by default.

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