Multiplatform apps with different prices per platform?How to go (or not go) about it? example inside
So, an example will be helpful here.
Take Todoist. If you visit their marketing site, you get quoted $32 / year, or $3 / month.
However, if you use their mobile app, the price to upgrade to premium is $28.99.
Both plans are the same, just premium access to all their platforms, mobile, web apps, etc.
With everydayCheck I am in a similar situation. I'm about to release the mobile apps and find that the appStore and GPlay are quite opinionated when it comes to pricing your app. For example, the appStore forces you to go for prices like $11.99 instead of $12.
Right now my web application costs $12, and I am wondering if:
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Should I unify the prices everywhere (sounds the most reasonable) changing my marketing site to adapt to the $11.99 the app stores force me to go with or just have different prices like Todoist?
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Since the appstore/gplay get a way bigger cut (30%) it's in my interest that the users favorably subcribe via the web application (at least those who use both platforms!), so I've considered raising the price a little bit on the mobile apps, so that customers using both platforms can subscribe from the webapp for cheaper (it still means more $ to me). Does this sound fair/reasonable/good practise at all?
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How do you deal with different automated pricing in the appstore/gplay? They seem to adapt the price of your app to each country/currency which makes it very hard to communicate properly.
From a communication/fair pov unifying prices everywhere sounds the most reasonable but it comes with certain caveats, what are your thoughts?
My personal opinion is that people have a general understanding of the "$XX.99" marketing ploy nowadays and actually appreciate the honest $12 instead of $11.99. My business runs on a SaaS model as well where we charge $20 and not $19.99. On iOS we will offer in app purcahse for a "$XX.99" price just to make them happy but will not change it anywhere else. We also are going to be charging a premium if people pay through the app store to keep sustainable revenue per paid user going to the company. Instead of $20 we plan to charge $27.99. We are currently building out the in app purchase functionality so we will see what Apple has to say when we submit the new build and pricing.
thank you, very helpful. I am now struggling with the in-app purchase process myself. Especially because of the point 3.1.1 of the app store guidelines. Since my users would be able to unlock premium features to the iOS app by subscribing from the web app. Todoist.com does the very same I am trying to do and Amir from Todoist.com himself told me I should get it through... We'll see...
Btw, I decided not to change the $12 quote everywhere in my app since as you say I find it more honest. Good luck!