How developers can sell their App beyond the App Store --
The luster of distribution an app quickly wears off once developers learn that the stores such as Google Play and Apple Store take a chunk of the earnings.
The price isn't a modest chunk--it's 30%. It's a significant price that has developers looking for other solutions. Good news for app those who are like you is that there are ways to distribute the app with no need to distribute the earnings with the mainstream media.
In this piece this article, we will cover one way that developers could avoid the 30% cost that comes from Google Play and Apple Store.
Let's dive in.
Pros and Cons of using Mainstream App Distribution Channels
Before we get into alternative ways of distributing apps, let's take a glance at how traditional app channels work.
We've previously mentioned previously, Google Play and Apple Store consume nearly a third the profits of each app that is sold via their stores. This isn't the sole issue with distribution through these channels.
The majority of apps available have distributors who market their apps. There are a lot of apps offered through two different stores. Another issue: how do distributors make their applications stick out?
Aha! Through advertising, naturally.
On top of the 30percent fee, distributors are also paying for advertisements to make their apps noticed. One case study found the true cost of app advertising. The company took a $10k budget and spread it across four different ad networks:
- Google AdWords
- Facebook Ads
- Twitter Ads
- IAds
The findings showed that the price for each app was varying from $1.43 up to $5.36.
If we add this price on top of the standard distribution fee and the distribution fee, we can see why developers are searching for other options. Some of the most downloaded apps, like Spotify and Netflix are available through Play as well as the App Store. However, rather than letting the distributor handle the payment, these companies have developed their own billing system to manage their subscriptions.
And companies like Epic Games have taken matters to their own and made uber-popular game Fortnite accessible to download via their website and on the Samsung Store. By doing so they've gotten around the huge 30% charge that the main distributors charge.
Other advantages that selling outside the Google Play and Apple Store include:
- Alternative distributors rarely charge an app listing fee. Third-party app stores may advertise your products more effectively since you stand a greater chance of getting featured as an app of the week or as part of other promotion offerings
- Alternatives are more profitable in comparison to Google as well as Apple stores, if app creators are offering localized apps that target specific countries
There are advantages to distributing apps through Google Play and Apple Store. In addition to being trusted by customers as a safe place to download and install apps, but they are also simple to deploy apps through the channels.
Spotlight: How One App Developer Makes Money Selling Outside the Major App Stores
As Christian Tietze started selling his products on the internet, he wanted the two main things he wanted: More money and greater control.
Tietze posted about his experiences in a blog post on his site. He found several issues with selling on Mac App Store, including: Mac App Store, including:
- Cost of revenue 30% (excluding VAT)
- You can't provide a demo
- You can't provide upgrade pricing
- You won't be able to meet the people who are your customers
Then, he began looking at ways to market outside of his Mac App Store.
"Distributing via the App Store is handy; anyone can access your app as well as download and update it all from one location," Tietze says.
"On the flip side, you lose more in cash for each transaction. you're bound to the strict App Store Sandboxing policy, you cannot create special deals - and, if Apple shuts down your account then your company is closed.
"This does not happen very often, but it can be a possibility."
Tietze states that his (and several other developers indie) are distributing applications via their individual platforms. Tietze uses the platform to market his application, and the platform gives him the tools to offer bundled sales, discounts, as well as a store API that is custom.
" provides a trial storefront via the internet and inside the app, if you do in-app transactions. This is a convenient way to check if your checkout works and also if the app changes from "locked" and then "paid," he declares.
Wrapping up
In terms of ways to distribute apps for developers, it's clear that the times have changed.
The two major participants in the game of apps, Google Play and Apple Store had all the chips. If developers were looking to give their apps the chance of being successful, they would have the option of distributing their app across the two platforms and pay the 30 percent cost.
But, app developers are now returning control over their apps and the revenue streams.
If you decide to use a full-service provider that to offer your apps direct through your site or make them available through alternative app stores or other stores, there are plenty of options available to sell your goods. No matter if you're trying to reach people in difficult-to-reach areas, distribute your app internally or make it available as a one-click download there are no limits to the possibilities.
Remember the fact that Google Play and Apple Store are a hit because millions of users around the globe trust these platforms. However, with the amount of apps being downloaded through alternative distribution methods every each day, you can see that consumers are flexible when it comes to finding their ideal apps.
It is possible to see how simple it is to make your web site into a retail store by using examples. With the help of these examples, you will be able to set up different dummy stores to get a feeling about the capabilities of the Store Builder API. The examples also either contain or include links to documents and CodePpen-like demonstrations of source code.