Why are so many apps that cost money in the Apple App Store free in the Android Market? I had a friend gripe about this issue a few weeks ago, in regards to Angry Birds. Sure, the Android version has ads running over it, but the fact remains that it’s free, while it costs a few bucks on the iPhone/iPad. The reason might be as simple as this: Android users just aren’t as apt to pay for apps. At least, that’s what it feels like. For those wondering if there is any statistical backing to this anecdotal evidence, I turn you to a recent Distmo report that contains information about paid apps in the Android Market. It does seem to jibe with the general feeling about the app environment. The entire publication is a rather interesting read — or skim, at least, if you don’t have the time to read an in-depth report (there are plenty of charts and graphs). In a blog post to go along with it, Distmo lays out some interesting bullets. Most notably: “We found that only two paid applications have been downloaded more than half a million times in the Google Android Market worldwide to date, while six paid applications in the Apple App Store for iPhone generate the same number of downloads within a two month timeframe in the United States alone.” By to date, they mean since the Android Market’s inception in 2009. Also concerning is a statistic from another bullet: “80% of all paid applications have been downloaded less than 100 times in the Google Android Market worldwide to date.” Free is good, of course, but it comes with drawbacks. If ads aren’t properly compensating Android developers, they’ll eventually have to start charging in the same manner as the App Store. I’m not sure how that will change the appeal of the Android platform. But it’s something to consider.
7 comments… read them below or add one
People are not buying becausethey expect more from the quality of the app present in the marketplace….i’ll give you one elocvent example : i am a musician and i have a motorola xoom and ive been searching for a decent piano app for the xoom since i bought it,,,before this ive had a iphone and ive found a bounch of professional apps in the applestore…
So you go figure and do the math…until google wont hire or stimulate quality developers to deliver apple-like quality people wont pay good money for apps that are rushed to the market or poor-made.
Many android developers report an earn adsing of $8-$12 a day using ads, what’s the need to make paid apps then.
I think its a two-fold issue. As you state, a vast majority of apps have been downloaded less than 100 times. Most likely because they aren’t good or the developer hasn’t made any effort to market it. However, one area in which Android lags behind is the ability to make good looking applications easily.
A large part of this is the fact that there are hundreds of Android phones with a multitude of different screen sizes,screen resolutions, processing abilities, versions of the OS, etc. It’s more difficult to program for all of these factors. This has a significant impact on how the apps on Android look compared to the iPhone. Graphics and animations on the iPhone are easier to program because its a priority for Apple (more comprehensive UI guidelines) and there are a limited number of devices/OSes to worry about programming for. Time spent figuring out why an app doesn’t work with HTC’s Sense UI could be spent making the app better.
People like “eye candy” and its a lot easier to shell out a few bucks for a really sharp looking application than it is for one that isn’t as visually appealing and doesn’t have the cool animations. Even if its just as, or even more, functional than a corresponding iPhone app.
Combine that with a large number of subpar applications, and I think Android users as a whole don’t think most apps are worth the investment.
This makes it an uphill battle for smaller Android developers who rely on income from their apps to continue to make improvements and add features. Developers need to be responsive to user concerns/issues and work to improve their apps on a regular basis. Users need to get past the expectation of great apps for free and if they find an app they like with a good developer, then pay for the full version of the app. This helps out developers who want to continue to make improvements, but rely on the app to bring in some revenue to support their efforts.
If an app is worth it, I pay for it, period. Of course, Amazon.com is offering a free app-of-the-day just like the Apple Store does and I think that’s a great model. Of course, it depends on if a developer wants his app being free for a day, so not all Android apps are available.
I would love to pay for some apps if there were any that were worth paying for.
some of us want apps that we could use for work or for.other things. An app for being able to do damage assessment would be great. An app for reporting weather information to National Weather would be great. Apple has a far better app store in this regard.
Give us some meat and people will buy.
I’m sure this has already been said, but android users pay through ads and the revenue can be equal or more.
The apple app market is around 2 years ahead of the android app market. It is just normal, that the quality as well as the number of apps is different at the moment.
But apple has reached its peak, and the speed of the whole android thing is just extraordinary. Lets talk again end of the year!