Even simple apps nowadays have become subscription only. Whilst I used to pirate most stuff in the past, but if the app in question is a small one time purchase, it's not bad considering you don't need to sideload updated apk's from Mobilism each time a new version is released (looks at some great cheap apps like Pano Scrobbler).

However, the trend has shifted towards the other side with everything from video recording apps(AZ Recorder), Weather apps(Today Weather) and Battery monitoring apps(Battery guru) offering subscriptions. Some have a high one time purchase option but some like the latter don't.

Battery Guru is an example of enshittification. If phones still came with removable batteries and companies supported them, then for the price of say, a 4 year subscription to the app, I could have just gotten a new replaceable battery. It's not like the app will magically stop my battery from degrading.

Whilst I have done piracy ( and still pirate stuff like films because no alternative, screw you Netflix), I tried to go the legal route for some apps since then updation and management of them becomes easier. But with the subscription scourge, I doubt devs are going in the right direction.

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[–] Shimitar@downonthestreet.eu 21 points 5 months ago

I stay away from any subscription like that. It works like credit cart debt: you pile it and in no time you bleed money like no tomorrow.

I understand the need of the Dev for a reasonably guaranteed flow of money, specially for online services, but also keep a software house going cost money.

But I am free to choose where not to put my money.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I refuse to subscribe to apps. Devs doing so for no good reason get 1 star, and I delete the app.

Screw em.

Now, if an app has a back end, or has to host a resolver (Resilio Sync, Tailscale, etc), or provide other necessary services, that's different.

[–] Shimitar@downonthestreet.eu 11 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Running a business works better if you have a steady flow of income. I don't blame them for trying.

But I vote with my wallet.

I stick to open source apps more and more, and not only for the lack of subscriptions.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 points 5 months ago

Oh, I get what they're doing, but I resent their approach.

So many just introduced the subscription to sucker the naive.

I don't mind paying for software. So let me pay for a major version, and if I want a major update, that costs too. I have so much software where a given version works just fine (FolderSync for example, and Office 2016),that I see no need to upgrade.

[–] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 5 months ago

I've been downloading more and more FOSS apps either from GitHub or F-Droid. I've been trying to avoid anything Google or from the Play Store.

Like others have said, I don't mind paying a subscription if there's a service on the backend that I find useful, such as SoundCloud or Burner.

Even then, I'm thinking I might end my SoundCloud subscription. I use it and Spotify to get listening suggestions but I'm hoping to find a better way to find music I might like but don't know anything about.

[–] ladfrombrad@lemdro.id 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I kinda disagree on the weather app subscription model.

The API usage cost devs a fair whack depending on the sources they scrape from and while I've never used Today Weather, I have used FlowX (formerly WeatherBomb) for ages and the free version has no crap / ads/ nag pages with basic radar models available, but I decided to subscribe since it (besides supporting the dev) gives me high resolution radars for longer time-spans. And since I'm an outdoor worker too I thought it best to be on top of the weather.

But overall I do agree some of the forced "subscribe or ads" model can die in a fire.

[–] kirk781@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Today Weather is decent otherwise, has multiple sources as options and a clean, somewhat customizable UI. It also has a proper Wear OS app with complications support.

[–] ladfrombrad@lemdro.id 3 points 5 months ago

Yeah I checked it out and it seems nice with all the other info not available in FlowX such as sunrise/sunset times etc in a Material theme. But I like FlowX simply for its information density and accuracy, latter being my most favourite thing since I can switch between high res models and predict myself if I need freezer pantie time/weather proofs.

[–] Jonnsy@slrpnk.net 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I don't know where you're getting Pano Scrobbler from. But I install quite a few apps through Obtainium. You can paste the link to e.g. the github page and it will automatically install and update your app. Obtainium is on Fdroid or you can get it from github aswell.

[–] kirk781@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 5 months ago

I use Obtanium actually since my main mobile browser is Iceraven which isn't on F-Droid by default. [It supports sideloading extensions that official Firefox doesn't].

IIRC, Pano Scrobbler is free but has a premium version as well on Google Play. I scanned through their Github and as of August 2024, the dev was working on implementing payment features without Play integration [like donating to the app and then getting a key for it which will be validated against license servers]. I used to sideload Premium variant of Pano Scrobbler before from Mobilism.