How Developers Can Sell Their App Outside the App Store How Developers Can Sell Their App Outside the App Store
The shine of distributing applications quickly fades once developers learn that the stores such as Google Play and Apple Store are able to take a portion of earnings.
It's also not a tiny amount -- it's 30%. This price is a huge burden and has forced developers to look for alternative methods. The good news for people like you is that there are ways to distribute your application without having to share the revenue to the main channels.
In this article in this piece, we'll cover one way that developers can avoid paying the 30 percent fee charged by Google Play and Apple Store.
Let's take a dive.
The pros and cons of using Mainstream App Distribution Channels
Before we look at alternative methods of distribution Let's review of how mainstream apps work.
As we've already pointed out, these Google Play and Apple Store make up nearly a third of the earnings of any application sold on their platforms. However, that's not the only issue that comes with selling through these channels.
The majority of apps available are using these distributors to offer their services. This means that there are a multitude of apps sold via just two stores. This creates another problem: how do distributors make their apps be noticed?
Aha! With advertising of course.
Alongside the 30percent fee, distributors are also paying for advertisements to make their app's visibility. A study of one case showed the true cost of app advertising. The business took a $10,000 budget and distributed it over four ad networks
- Google AdWords
- Facebook Ads
- Twitter Ads
- Ads from iAds
The findings showed that the price per application installed ranged between $1.43 all the way to $5.36.
When we consider adding this expense on top of the standard distribution fee It's clear why developers are searching for alternative options. A few of the most popular apps, including Spotify and Netflix can be found on Play as well as the App Store. However, rather than letting the distributor manage the billing, the companies have designed their own systems to manage their subscriptions.
And companies like Epic Games have taken matters into their own hands and have made the game that is so popular Fortnite accessible for download on their website as well as in the Samsung Store. This way they've avoided the huge 30% charge that the main distributors charge.
Other advantages that selling outside the Google Play and Apple Store are the following:
- Alternative distributors do not charge an app listing fee. Third-party app stores can promote your product better since you stand a greater chances of being featured on your app of the week or in other promotions
- Alternatives can be more lucrative in comparison to Google or Apple stores if app owners offer localized apps that target specific countries
There are advantages for distributing apps via Google Play and Apple Store. Not only are the stores trusted by customers as secure download locations and install apps, but they are also simple to distribute apps via these channels.
Spotlight: A Developer Makes Money Selling Outside the Major App Stores
The moment Christian Tietze started selling his items online, he was looking for to make cash and more control.
Tietze shared his experience in a blog on his website. He found several issues with selling through Mac App Store, including: Mac App Store, including:
- 30% revenue cost (excluding VAT)
- You can't provide a demo
- You can't provide upgrade pricing
- It's impossible to get to know your customers
So, he started looking at ways to market outside of his Mac App Store.
"Distributing via the App Store is handy; anyone can access your app and download, update and download through one place," Tietze says.
"On the negative side there is a loss of in cash for each transaction. you're bound to the very strict App Store Sandboxing policy, you cannot create promotions - and should Apple disables your account, your business is effectively ended.
"This doesn't happen frequently, but it does occur."
Tietze claims that his (and numerous other independent developers) has decided to release applications on their respective platforms. Tietze uses the platform to market his app. The platform allows him to bundle discounts, sales and an API for a customized store.
" has a storefront test on the web and from inside the app, if you do in-app purchases. That's very convenient to see if your checkout works as well as if the app goes from "locked" to "paid," he states.
The Wrapping Up
When it comes to app distribution options to developers, it's obvious that the times have changed.
In the past, the two major participants in the game of apps, Google Play and Apple Store had all the chips. If app developers wanted to offer their apps the chance of succeeding, they had no choice but to distribute their applications across these platforms and pay the 30 per cent charge.
Developers are however returning control over their applications and the revenue streams.
If you decide to use an all-inclusive partner that to offer your apps direct through your site or make them available through alternative apps stores, there are other options available to market your product. If you're looking to connect with people in difficult-to-reach areas and distribute your app within the company, or offer it for download in one click there are no limits to the possibilities.
Keep in mind that Google Play and Apple Store are popular for a reason--millions of people around the globe are awestruck by them. However, with the amount of apps downloaded using other distribution options every daily, it's evident that users are open-minded when it comes to finding their ideal apps.
You can check how easy it is to transform your website into a shop by using Examples. By using the examples, you can create a variety of dummy stores to test the waters about the capabilities of Store Builder API. Store Builder API. The examples also either include or link to documentation pages and CodePen-like source code demos.