Recently, I stumbled upon some discussions where people talked about their favorite artists. I was surprised to see that fans are willing to pay $10 to $20 a month to support these artists.
I dug a bit more and realized that many regular people are actually quite willing to pay for subscriptions. They will subscribe to creators they admire, like artists, writers, YouTubers, or Twitch streamers. And they even pay quite a bit, with $5 a month being on the lower end. But if the creation is an app, then it’s a different story.
Maybe it’s because apps are obviously commodities, which makes them seem like a business. If I created a piece of artwork each month and sent it to my supporters, it wouldn’t feel like a business. If I made 3 videos a month for my supporters, it wouldn’t feel like a business. But apps are seen as products, and people are very sensitive to anything “commercial.”
Supporting writers and artists is like being a fan. When I go to a Jay Chou concert, I don’t feel like he’s just doing business. When I buy a David Tao CD, it doesn’t feel like a transaction. But when I buy an app, it feels like I’m buying a cheeseburger from McDonald’s. I’m giving you money, you better deliver. If you don’t deliver, I’ll leave a 1-star review on Google Maps.
So yeah, I finally understand why so many people don’t like to pay for apps.