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$50 wouldn’t have nearly as much of a negative reaction. $100 is awfully steep for a community as small as Lemmy.
But I’m glad the yearly sub is only $17, so I may get that instead.
It’s not “only” $17, it’s $17 every single year, indefinitely. In six years you’ll be over the $100 price it’s at now.
Subscription services are a scam meant to quietly part a large population of their money without their realizing it.
I’ll be dead in 6 years.
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We’ll all wish we were dead by then.
First, $17 is a lot more affordable for some people. We don’t all have $100 we can just throw at a app whenever we like.
Second, a cheap yearly subscription is not a big deal to some people, especially those that want to help the dev out.
And thirdly, subscriptions are not scams unless you’re tricked into signing up for one.
It’s steep because Lemmy is a small community
A small community of people who are probably mostly not interested in paying quite this much for an app.
If this is what it costs to continue development then I’m going to be surprised if enough people pay it to ensure its long term viability as a business in the first place.
I personally would never pay a subscription for a 3rd party Lemmy app. That defeats some part of why I moved to Lemmy to begin with.
at that price you could afford the reddit api… not that i’d want to
wow isn’t that like 6 years of subscription? so expensive
I mean, I used sync for reddit for like 10 years.
But it’s not Sync, is Lemmy…
So?
Yeah, but Lemmy’s a newer platform and might not stick around for 6 years, IF it takes off like Reddit did. $100 is a bit too steep, if I’m being honest.
Then buy the monthly or yearly? The lifetime is just a third option.
I used Reddit Is Fun for so long I’m just sort of oblivious to tiny ads in my scroll feed.
8 years if you invest the money and get a 10% roi each year. Not that I was going to.
Yea something in the 3ish year sub price would be more reasonable
Yikes
Why would anyone pay for this while there are better alternatives?
Because “better” is entirely subjective and some people probably disagree with you that the options you feel are better are actually better.
If there are better alternatives, I have yet to find them. Much happier right now than I was with Jerboa or Voyager.
Thunder. Literally the same thing. Open-source, no ads, doesn’t track your fucking data for targeted ads.
Paying $100 for this is so absurd.
Liftoff has been treating me well so far. I used RiF prior to Lemmy and Liftoff is almost* scratching the itch, but there are some kinks to work out.
Plus no ads and no $100+ premium fee.
I don’t think it can display upvote and downvote counts separately. For me I consider that useful information. Also, my comments written while using it don’t show in my profile, so it seems a little glitchy still. And it can’t create posts yet. I’ll stick with the kbin PWA for now.
Even Apollo Ultra was $50, and people thought that was expensive…
I would pay sync prices for Apollo ultra if it were to convert to Lemmy.
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It is only $12.99 to remove ads; the subscriptions also remove ads, but add extra features that you may not need
It’s 22usd here to remove ads
Yeah, 22 Euros here as well. A little too much for just removing ads…
I was eagerly waiting to be able to pay to remove ads, but this pricing really struck me by surprise, was expecting it to be closer to the old pricing, but instead it’s like 4-5 times higher? Enough of a price increase to make me think twice, instead of immediately buying it like I was planning to.
You’re paying to support the dev. The ad removal is just a bonus, you could do that by other means.
The Lemmy community doesn’t even compare to Reddit’s. Of course it’d charge more. Well worth it though, Sync is fantastic.
I’ll pay if it’s in the oven a bit more, but not like this. This is barebone
100% agree
I always pay to remove ads from apps I use, as opposed to using blockers, to support the devs, but this is the first time ever I see it cost this much.
Especially since Sync Pro (the ad-free version) for Reddit was like, less than 5€
And Sync pro have more function than this ad-free version planned to have.
Honestly, if you’re paying to support the dev, ads won’t even needed to be added to the app.
While I do like Sync and Laurence, your argument is far from the truth, there are people that will think about paying just to remove the ads. Supporting the dev will be just the bonus there.
Edit:
Also valid to say that a smaller user base don’t suddenly mean that you have to charge more, that thinking is, in all honesty, mind boggling to me.
On Reddit we had native ads, that paying for Sync Pro removed, a lot of tracking and data scrapping, well lots of negative points on using the official app, Sync there was a solution to have a better experience, here it’s just prettier (imo at least), smother, well polished and makes Lemmy feels like home since it’s the same way we used to browse reddit.
Other than that, it actually made the opposite, bringing ads to an ad free experience.
I know Laurence needs to have a income, everyone does. Sync is indeed awesome and being closed source is not a bad thing as some like to argue about, but again not an excuse to raise the price because there is less users currently.
If wasn’t for Lemmy existing Sync would be just dead. Simple as that, but I guess no one really think about this.
Anyway, I reached out to Laurence to see if there is a way Sync can at least help with instances also, that would make a huge difference on the way people feel about paying for a app that works on a 100% free and opensource platform.
Not anymore, it’s bumped up to $19.99
How do I remove the ads without the ultra subscription? I can only see the full ultra suite options.
maybe you didn’t update the app?
I checked and ensured there were no updates pending. Where is the ad removal options in the settings?
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There is nothing to argue with. You are bashing a program without any correct facts. Its like watching an anti vaxer demand facts about why the microchips are sterilizing the penguins. It only makes sense in your head.
FYI lifetime Ad free is 12 bucks (20 now). Ultra lifetime is something else entirely.
20 bucks
You will attract the fanboys base. But, I second this. People should give the same amount of money to an instance before giving to these closed apps. Without the instances, they couldn’t use the apps.
Why assume that people paying for an app haven’t already donated to an instance or two?
I’m not assuming. My point is that the dev has to share the revenues with the instances. Without instances, the app is useless. It’s not the case so users should give the same.
The other point is that a paid third party client adds a layer what makes the instances less visible. This lack of visibility can lower the donation. Also, you will end with one or two people thinking they pay for the app and so for the instances.
A reminder is always good.
All you Sync dick suckers in this thread have lost your minds.
You should head to the discord. People there literally choking on dev’s balls, it’s insane.
Your point is correct. While I love the UX and UI, the data collection is a fucking disgrace. Good thing I know how to block trackers, as I’m going to use a patched version of the app as soon as somebody releases one.
My motto is if an app has ads, the dev must be not that good. Otherwise you’d be able to pay for features because they’d develop features worth paying for.
Glad some people here are pointing that out.
Also, having people pay to remove ads on a ad-free platform is just disgusting misuse of open source generosity.
Instead, try to add something instead of infiltrating it with ads just to make money off.
You’re right. Your local instance deserves that money more so than any app. Maybe if there was a revenue share I could get behind it but not like this.
It would be a logistical nightmare, but I would love a Pay What You Want model with a percentage going to the Lemmy backend developers and a percentage going to your local instance.
There’s a discussion to be had about the pricing structure of subscription based apps, but I catch the drift you’re not here for a debate.
There’s two options here:
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you deliberately chose to ignore the cheaper $20 ad removal option and chose to engage in bad-faith flamebaiting instead
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you’re incompetent and never even saw the cheaper option and instead of chosing to leave sync behind and use one of the myriad of other apps, chose to engage in bad-faith flamebaiting instead.
Take that attitude of yours and get right the fuck out of here. Discussions like you’re inciting them are not welcome here. Get the fuck out, where you and that mental diarrhea of an opinion of yours belong.
Take a deep breath, relax, no need to get all worked up.
RIF Golden Platinum was less than 5$ onetime. This app is equivalent to a web browser. It’s not like they are hosting lemmy themselves. No need for monthly subscription. Stop being a little bitch.
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there is an option to just remove ads at 20$ one time payment.
Honestly that’s fair. There’s way less of a subscriber base here, development time is expensive, and you need to foresee circumstances for the future (look how many people Apollo dev had to refund). Sync is also such a great app, I’m personally just using the ad version at the moment on my android phone (and this is from Memmy on iOS). Sync is still one of the best apps I’ve ever used and keep an android phone just for it.
How does less of a subscriber base lead to way more expensive price? Unless the dev is greedy and wanting to suck the souls of all the early adopters.
I guess best way to put it is imagine Sync Reddit had 10,000 subscribers with each paying $10 lifetime. You’re netting $100,000 for those signups.
Now the dev time hasn’t changed (in fact I’d say it actually increased as he has to research and test with a brand new API), and now his potential subscribers have decreased dramatically. To accommodate for that you need to charge a lot more as the developer is expecting only ~1000 subscribers.
Well, let’s just do the math: the original pro version has over 100,000 downloads over it’s 10 years of life. At $3, that means the dev earn at least $300,000 over 10 years, minus 30% play store fee. Let’s say they earn at least $27,000 per year, which is almost twice the minimum wage at the very least.
Now lets do the math for Lemmy version: some metrics say we have 1 million users. Let’s assume 10% of them are active users (100,000), and among those active users, lets assume 10% of them (10,000) buy Sync for Lemmy at $3 (the original price) one time purchase (a very generous estimate). This means the dev will get $27,000 (after 30% cut from play store) from those users, ever. Even more likely is only less than 1% of active users buy it, which means the dev would earn something like $3000. Even if they sell it for $20 it’s likely they still won’t earn the same amount as the old Reddit version.
So yeah, I don’t think the dev is greedy. In fact, I’m concerned that they won’t get enough money to earn their living and we’ll all have to go back to Jerboa (it’s good though, but not as good as sync).
Explained way better than I hahah. Comparatively, developers of his caliber should be making $200k a year salary (though the market has cooled recently).
$3? I paid $40 cdn for Sync lifetime in May 2022. Toss an extra zero on some of your numbers there, it might have been $3 initially but it definitely went up.
3x the price for the lemmy edition is a steep hike.
I think some lines got confused between the calculations being originally done. The person you replied to was referring to the price of Sync Pro (Removed ads) whereas I’m pretty sure you and the original commenter are referring to Sync Ultra (extra features).
Sync Pro was certainly never that high, but Ultra was for the lifetime purchase option.
Can’t estimate how much sales the dev actually got on ultra lifetime because the sales data is not public. This is just an estimate for sync pro.
It was 1$ at the beginning for the pro version.
It feels expensive, but I’m considering the annual. If I compare it to Netflix or Spotify. I spent way more time on this app
Why is everyone comparing it so a service that has a ton of overhead like having to pay artists, tons of servers and storage, etc…
I think they are comparing it to the value they get from the service as an individual. As a consumer, I don’t care about the company’s overhead. I would only care if I get my money’s worth with the service I’m paying for.
I just look at it in time spent. I spent more time in de fediverse because of this app. I don’t want ads, I feel like it’s worth it. Especially the pine Time, 20-25 euro no ads option.
I’m considering annual too, but I’m waiting for two things before pulling the trigger. First is push notifications, second is the release of Boost for Lemmy. I want to compare features and prices before making a decision.
Right now there is no other app that feels as nice as Sync, and I don’t mind supporting that, but Boost is a worthy challenger. And I could only really justify paying for one.
I know I’m cheap and I know this app is great and is a lot of work but fuck, this is expensive. Subscriptions are the worst model capitalism can offer. And the one time payment price is ridiculous, I can’t afford that.
that is one time payment for sync ultra.
there is also a one time payment to just remove ads, at 20$.
I feel as though this information is left intentionally absent in this post.
App development ain’t cheap and lifetime subscriptions are an incredible deal if you like the features and intend to keep using the app for the next decade plus. But you’ve got to look at it that way or else it’s not worth it.
if you like the features and intend to keep using the app for the next decade plus and it remains available for that long
FTFY
Great point. I am not familiar with sync or the dev so I couldn’t speak to their reliability, although the outpouring of support suggests they’ll be active.
And most of the ultra features are things that require hosting or external paid apis.
the free one works well. and I got an adblocker I think
Realistically it’s the only way he can sustain the development costs with such a small userbase. I’ve subscribed monthly to show my support. It’s not really that much money considering how much I use sync.
I did yearly and I’ll probably get lifetime once we’re out of beta. 18 bucks a year is the price for 1 month of Netflix, which ain’t that bad at all.
These models are designed in such a way that those who can afford to support do, and those who can’t afford to still have access through the free version.
They certainly don’t expect everyone to purchase ultra, let alone lifetime.
I recently cancelled my Netflix and Spotify accounts because of horrible support and constant rate hikes. It’s the perfect time to splurge and support a dev that deserves the money.
Just run your phone through a free private DNS server and never see an ad again. I use dns.adguard.com.
None of my free apps show any ads on my phone.
I do that too on my Samsung phone. Do you know a way to do it on iPhone?
You either need to set the DNS in your phone settings somewhere or route all traffic through a VPN (should be a setting somewhere too). You can then use a VPN where you can set the DNS. I use tailscale for this
Check out their instructions. You’ve got a couple options:
I do this. But I would still like to pay the dev. Just not those prices,
There’s also the ad removal option for 20$ one time. If you don’t need the other features of ultra.
I mean sure, but that doesn’t support the hard work the developer or into this… So…
Just donate whatever amount you want directly to them then.
Those donation buttons, rarely ever get used. Because everyone would rather just think that everyone else donated so it’s fine if they don’t. And sure, some do donate (I’ve donated before) but that’s the actions of the very few.
I just can’t get myself to trust an ex Russian, offshore company with my dns traffic
Nextdns.io works well, and lets you customize tons of features. Alternatively, you can run a pihole on pretty much any spare computer to work as an home adblocker. You can also route up to an adblocking dns with it to double up.
You want to get extra wild, setup a wireguard vpn server at home after that, and have your phone auto connect to it when you leave your home wifi.
No more ads ever.
Why would someone pay monthly for a social media app… That’s more fucked than spez.
At least the money goes to an independent dev that interacts well with their community instead of going to spez. Just think of it as donating (you can still use the free app with ad blocker if you want), just like you would donate to your instance admins.
These people probably don’t donate.
Wow that’s super expensive. Love the app, but this pricing can’t be justified given there are no API costs.
No API costs but Lemmy is still in constant and early development and would not doubt require many changes in the years to come.
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Well I’ve used Sync Pro for reddit for over 11 years with constant updates and I only paid 1.99 for that so I have pretty good faith in the developer this go around…
sync ultra is ongoing costs it’s mainly features that require dedicated servers and subscriptions from LJ like translation requiring paying google cloud setting sync requiring servers to store it there’s a plain ad free only that’s lifetime for $20
₹9900!!!
I bought 2 smartphones for my friends last month. Combined total cost of those was roughly ₹10200.
Sounds like I should buy my phones in India.
