Would you subscribe for $1 a year to remove ads from your favorite weather app?

[G+_Shep Shapard]

Would you subscribe for $1 a year to remove ads from your favorite weather app??

[G+_Nick Gailfus]

I had Play Store credit and snagged this app.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samruston.weather&hl=en

[G+_Joe Morrison]

I would and did pay 1 or 2 dollars once to remove ads, not going to subscribe to do the same thing.

[G+_Rob E. Loomis]

I try to avoid subscription costs whenever possible. I have happily paid to remove ads from apps I like to use, but only as a one-time fee.

[G+_Albert Robbins]

One time fee? Sure. Subscription? No.

[G+_Harvey Smith]

I totally would pay 1 or 2 bucks for that, in fact I should double check my weather app and make sure they don't already have that option.

[G+_Harvey Smith]

For a normal app it makes sense to pay one time for the app, but weather is a service it makes sense subscribe, to me.

[G+_Leif]

In a weather app it's all about accuracy and details in my opinion. The weather data of Yahoo, Google or AccuWeather for example completly sucks where I live.

I don't care about ads but pay 6€/year happily for the WeatherPro (MeteoGroup) premium status with more details. The good thing is that the premium subscription covers the premium features of all their apps.?

 

True Harvey Smith?? - I see it the same way. At least if it's the app of a weather service which uses own data and not a free public api that often gives worse data.

[G+_Phil Marsden]

I will and do pay for apps that I have a real use for but if I want weather information I'm more likely to go to the met office website than pay for an app

[G+_R.C. Curtright]

I have a few subscription apps. If they are storing data for me I'll kick in a few bucks here and there. A dollar a year for an app, if beautifully designed, regularly updated and something I use would be fine. Many of the 5-10 paid apps depricate after several years and do a 2.0 It's kind of the same right?

[G+_Shep Shapard]

Thanks for everyone's voting and comments!  Thanks thanks thanks!  Some replies to the comments.

 

1. Yeah, if dealing with ads is fine... then great!  Ultimately if the ad model doesn't work, then it won't exist... but that takes care of itself.  TV is HUGE... people love it, use it like crazy, and 99% is supported by ads.  Free apps are the same thing.

 

2. Whether or not someone is willing to pay a subscription or a one time fee is pretty irrelevant when it comes down to it really.  I have the option to do one or the other with my app, so I'm just trying to figure out which one works best.  

 

The subscription model is simpler from my point of view (the developer's point of view_ because ultimately, the costs associated with the app's creation and maintenance are like subscriptions.  I need some kind of salary so I can buy what I need to day to day, month to month, year to year.  I pay for weather data as it gets used, and anything else I need to use to support the app requires ongoing payments.

 

The one time fee model is simpler for users because its easier to conceptualize the cost of some app.  "Oh, 5 bucks, ever, that's it and I can use this thing forever?  Deal!".

 

The traditional business model for software has been to sell something as a one time fee, even if there are ongoing costs, because money will be made when version 2, 3, 4, 5 comes out, and users will pay for those.

 

The subscription model has been around for many services, because its simpler for the provider, and many software companies are trying to jump on board... some with more success than others.  

 

And this post is too long so it ends here.  :)

 

Thanks for the voting and the comments!

[G+_Rob E. Loomis]

I think one reason I would tend to shy away from paying a subscription is that app sales are still a relatively new thing, and the market seems easily shaken up. A subscription means that I'm assuming that I'm going to be using the app indefinitely, which is a lot to assume when I've only been using smart phones for a few years, have changed platforms once during that time, and seem to frequently rotate between my preferred apps for some functions. I'm happy to pay for an app that I love using right now, but the idea that I then have to keep up with it cancel a subscription if I stop using it is not appealing.

[G+_Shep Shapard]

Rob E. Loomis , Thanks for the feedback.  Totally get it and understand the psychology you are getting at.  

 

I think its kind of for the exact opposite reasons why the subscription model is easier for developers.  They have no idea if users are going to pay a dollar and then end up costing the company 2 dollars over their lifetime use of the app.  By charging a dollar now, and a dollar in a year, and so on, it simplifies that risk for developers.  

 

Ideally, I think the subscription model is actually perfect for users and developers because users only pay for what they use, and developers get paid for how much their app is being used.  The only problem, which you nailed on the head, is that users are rightfully concerned about getting charged for what they don't use.

 

For one time purchases, a similar threat to users exist, but they just feel more in control. Users could buy an app for 5 bucks and only use it for a week, or worse, the app could stop being supported.

 

Subscriptions hypothetically fixes this problem because users would only pay a dollar, and if the app stopped being supported, or if they don't end up using it, they can cancel their subscription.

 

But yes, I understand the psychology.  I think I need to go to business school to understand these things better.  :)

 

Also, for Google Play subscriptions, check this out:  https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2476088?hl=en