I removed ads, subscriptions, and tracking from HadisKu (my Islamic app)
Just shipped HadisKu v3.0.0.
One of the biggest changes:
I removed ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions, and unnecessary tracking.
For context: HadisKu is an Islamic app I built to help users read and study hadith from 14 major sources.
This wasn’t a revenue optimization move 😅
It was more of a product clarity / values decision.
Over time, I felt the app was drifting away from what I originally wanted it to be:
- simple
- calm
- lightweight
- respectful of user attention
- focused on learning
Ads may be normal in mobile apps, but in this case, they started to feel wrong.
People open HadisKu to read hadith, search, and learn quietly.
Interrupting that experience with ads didn’t feel aligned anymore.
So in v3.0.0, I decided to simplify the product and bring it closer to its original purpose.
Also included in this release:
- New app icon
- Arabic text search
- Hadith detail order settings
- Arabic text alignment settings
What I’m curious about:
Have any of you removed monetization or simplified a product in a way that felt better for the product, even if it looked worse on paper?
Would love to hear how you think about those tradeoffs.
If anyone wants context, I wrote the longer story here:
https://blog.cahyanudien.site/aplikasi-hadisku-sekarang-tanpa-iklan
