How Developers Can Sell Their App outside the App Store -
The luster of distribution apps quickly fades as developers discover that online stores like Google Play and Apple Store are able to take a portion of profits.
The price isn't a modest amount -- it's 30%. The hefty price tag has developers to look for alternative methods. The good news for developers like you is, there is a way to market the app with no need to distribute the earnings with the mainstream media.
In this article, we are going to cover one way that developers can avoid paying the 30% cost that comes from Google Play and Apple Store.
Let's take a dive.
Pros and Cons of using Mainstream App Distribution Channels
Before we get into alternative methods of distribution Let's look at how the mainstream channel for apps works.
As we've mentioned before that these Google Play and Apple Store consume nearly a third the revenue of every app that is sold via their stores. However, that's not the only issue that comes with selling via these channels.
A majority of the apps that are available are using these distributors to offer their services. So, there are a multitude of apps offered through two different stores. This creates another problem How can distributors help their applications stand out?
Aha! Through advertising, naturally.
Alongside the 30% fee, distributors are also paying for advertising to get their app's visibility. One case study found that the actual price of app advertisements. The firm took a 10k budget and distributed it over four different ad networks:
- Google AdWords
- Facebook Ads
- Twitter Ads
- iAds
The results found the cost per app installed varied between $1.43 up to $5.36.
If we add this cost to the mainstream distribution fee, it's easy to see why developers are looking for alternatives. Many of the top downloaded applications, such as Spotify and Netflix, are distributed through Play and App Store. But rather than having the distributor manage the charging, the apps have developed their own billing system 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 to download from their site and on the Samsung Store. By doing so they've avoided the hefty 30% fee from the mainstream distributors.
Other advantages of selling outside of the Google Play and Apple Store are the following:
- Alternative distributors typically do not have a fee for app listings. Third-party app stores may advertise your products more effectively since you stand a greater chances of being featured on an app of the day, or as part of other promotion offerings
- Alternatives can be more lucrative in comparison to Google as well as Apple stores when app developers offer localized apps which target certain countries
But there are benefits to distributing apps through Google Play and Apple Store. The stores are not only are regarded by consumers as an appropriate place to download and install apps, but they are also simple to deploy apps through the channels.
Spotlight: How One Developer earns money selling outside the Big App Stores
The moment Christian Tietze started selling his products on the internet, he wanted to make revenue and greater control.
Tietze posted about his experience in a blog on his website. There were a variety of problems with selling through the Mac App Store, including:
- Cost of revenue 30% (excluding VAT)
- You can't provide a demo
- You can't provide upgrade pricing
- It's impossible to get to know your clients.
So, he started looking for ways to sell outside of his Mac App Store.
"Distributing through the App Store is handy; everybody can view your products as well as download and update it all from one location," Tietze says.
"On the other hand, you lose more money with each transaction, you're subject to strictly enforced App Store Sandboxing policies You are not able to create any promotions - and should Apple shuts down your account the business will be closed.
"This does not happen very often, but it can happen."
Tietze claims that he (and many other indie developers) are distributing their apps through their individual platforms. He uses to distribute his application, and the platform allows him to bundle discounts, sales and a custom store API.
" offers a test storefront online and within the application when you make in-app transactions. This is a convenient way to check whether your payment method works, and if your app transitions between "locked" and then "paid," he says.
The Wrapping Up
With regards to the ways to distribute apps for app developers, it's evident that things are evolving.
In the past, the two principal gamers in the app game, Google Play and Apple Store had all the chips. If app developers wanted to offer their app a shot at succeeding, they had no choice but to distribute their app across the two platforms and pay the 30% cost.
But, app developers are now getting back in control of their applications and their revenue streams.
Whether or not you choose a full-service provider that to offer your apps direct through your site or distribute them using alternative apps stores, there are other options that you can use to sell your goods. If you're looking to connect with those who are difficult to reach and distribute your app within the company and offer it to customers as a one-click download There are many options to choose from.
Remember to remember that Google Play and Apple Store have a good reason for their popularity--millions of people around the globe trust these platforms. But with the number of apps that are downloaded via different distribution channels every single daily, it's evident that users are flexible when it comes to choosing the right apps.
It is possible to see how simple to turn your website into a shop by using Examples. Using the examples, you are able to make a number of fake stores to test the waters at the tools capabilities using Store Builder API. Store Builder API. Examples also provide links or the documentation pages or CodePen-like examples of code.