Hi All,
I've been playing with various spreadsheets and data costs to try and figure out a fair, sensible subscription model which works for our customers and also ensures we can keep the lights on in the app as well as investing for the future.
This is what I have got
Free Tier
You get the basic app. Unlimited locations. Pantheon, Weather Wheel, Weather Alerts, Siri, Sounds etc
Tier 1
Basic app plus severe weather alert notifications, widget and follow me
Tier 2
Everything in Tier 1 plus the Apple Watch and complications
Tier 3
Everything in Tier 2 plus notifications
Pricing
Tier 1 : $0.99 per month or $9.99 per annum
Tier 2: $2.49 per month or $24.99 per annum
Tier 3: $3.99 per month or $29.99 per annum
I want to re-iterate that I will strive to ensure that existing paid users will get Tier 3 automatically at no cost. Technically, I need to still figure it out. If it comes to it I will send people voucher codes!
Thoughts on the content and pricing please?
Thanks
Comments
very fair prices
Very fair prices.
Re: Very Fair Prices
Hi, I agree with Dennis on this one and would sign up for tier 3 in a heartbeat the minute it becomes available. As I said in another thread I have no problem paying for services I find useful and supporting with the power of my purchasing dollars that which is of value to me. And I never have a problem rewarding hard work whose fruits I enjoy. It's only right and fair. Take good care.
Question About Severe Weather Alerts
Hi! How will the costs apply in countries like New Zealand where severe weather alerts are not available? Also have you considered a lifetime subscription? I have an AppleWatch but only use Weather Gods on my phone as I prefer not to have too many apps on the watch. Keep up your good work, Weather Gods is the best weather app ever.
New Zealand Weather Alerts
Hi Tanya,
That's a good question. Unfortunately until we can get those from our data provider then we wont be able to include them.
They (AerisWeather) are working to bring additional weather alerts into their service, but I don't have any time frame.
Regarding life time subscription. I have been thinking about this but I feel a little uncomfortable with it. It's mostly to do with what a person considers to be the lifetime of an app? I'm not getting any younger and I don't know what the app market will look like in 5 years, let alone 10 years.
Prices
Thanks Dennis and Robin. Good to know the pricing seems fair.
Donate option
Just wondering if you've ever thought about a donate option? Reason I'm asking is I've already bought the app but wouldn't mind also donating just to help out wondering if you can even do this with the apple ecosystem? If it came down to it I would actually do your subscription since it's cheaper than carrot.
Very fair pricings.
Very fair pricings.
Re: Weather Gods subscriptions.
Given your commitment to accessibility and your willingness to listen to us the users, I would have no hesitation in taking out a subscription as you have outlined them.
I'm happy to pay a subscription
Hi! If it's decided that Weather Gods should continue with subscriptions, I'd be happy to pay, either monthly or annually, as the prices look very reasonable to me. I'd probably go for a tier 3 subscription: I don't have an Apple Watch, but I like the Weather Gods notifications, as well as so many other excellent features in this app. Please keep us posted as to whether we must subscribe in the future: in the meantime, thanks again for such a good and accessible weather app.
Donate option
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the suggestion about the donate option. It's has been requested quite a bit over the years and I keep pondering on it.
As I haven't added in-app purchases before I am going to add a Tip Jar to give me some developer experience before I add the subscriptions.
Very fair subscription with contemporary terminology
Hi Scott,
This is a very fair subscription model. also very appropriate since we in the UK have spent much of our time this year battling with the meaning of a tier; only your tiers are very clear and there's no tier 4. To really embrace the 2020 tiers for souvenirs you need to introduce some irrational ambiguity!
I, too, would be happy to make a donation, having bought the app long ago. it's superb and you engage with this place in a really constructive and good-humoured way.
All the best from a Tier 4 area...one of the original tier 4 areas as opposed to those who only joined the tier 4 party yesterday.
I agree with all of this.
Hi, I do agree with all of these pricings. Keep up the good work.
I like the prices
hey Scott
I love your weather app and have been using it since the beginning. One of the most unique thing I enjoy is all the sounds for the weather. It makes listening to the weather sound like your outside all the time.
I was wondering, since i payed for the app when it first began what subscription I will be on when this comes out? I'm willing to pay whatever I have to to support your great work.
Have a happy 2021
Check Main Article
In the main article, he states he will be trying to make sure existing subscribers get Tier 3 access.
Have a good one.
PS: I too think these prices are very fair.
Contemporary terminology!
Ha, nice one Bingo Little !
I did think of this as I was naming them LOL
I'm in Dorset so Tier 3 now, but the UK is looking a bit grim ðŸ˜
Thanks everyone for the feedback and I added a Tip Jar in tonight's beta.
Too little in Tiers 2 and 3
If you want people to pay premium prices for a premium weather service, then you need to add more features to tiers two and three. That means the free tier and tier one will need to be more bare bones. As it stands now, not enough premium features are in the upper tiers to induce people with the belief that they need them. Yes, accept you will have complainers from those who paid for the app. Instead of giving them tier three for an indefinite period, provide them with a credit worth the cost of the app toward a subscription.
I agree somewhat with the last poster
Hi. I just bought the app outright. I did this because I am unwilling to go for a subscription but that's because I don't care for that type of development, even though I understand this is how most apps make their money. saying such, the three tier should at least have the severe weather alerts. I live in Florida and if I were using the free app, I would definitely want to know about the lightning that's so common in this state. I'd be happy with tier three access seeing as those who have given money shouldn't really need to keep paying more annually or even another one time purchase. I wish you luck Scot. Maybe the sounds could cost money for the upper tiers one or two. I mean the sounds are cool but not necessary. Still nice job. I just need to find a podcast so I can learn how to use it better. Btw, thanks for putting the moon phases in, I love that.
Further thoughts
Happy New Year!
Thanks Kelly and Siobhan for the feedback.
The tiers need to reflect the data usage as that's the reason for a subscription model. For all the years Weather Gods has been running, it has never covered its running costs, and to keep the app running, I have personally paid those bills, data usage, server costs, support costs with IBM etc
With regards to the developments costs, that's all been my free time. For personal health reasons and the fact I'm not getting any younger (57 this year), I would like to hand off maintenance and development to a paid developer.
I accept Kelly's comments that the higher tiers don't offer a great incentive. So, now I am thinking of collapsing tier 2 and tier 3 into a single tier.
I understand your comment Siobhan about severe weather alerts for the free tier. Unfortunately it's just not sustainable. Tier 1 is really there so someone can get severe weather alerts without going to a more expensive tier.
I could do other stuff like charging for sounds and Siri but that doesn't really feel fair to me - they are not costs that will be ongoing to me, although, I did spend a lot on sourcing and licensing the sounds!
Here's my next proposal ...
Free Tier
You get the basic app. Unlimited locations. Pantheon, Weather Wheel, Weather Alerts, Siri, Sounds etc.
The free tier is actually a loss maker of about $1.20 per annum.
Tier 1
Basic app plus severe weather alert notifications.
Tier 2
Everything in Tier 1 plus the widget, follow me, Apple Watch, complications and the weather notifications; rain, snow, sunrise, daily summaries etc
Pricing
Tier 1 : $0.99 per month or $9.99 per annum
Tier 2: $2.99 per month or $29.99 per annum
What do people think about the free tier offering a single location and no GPS?
Thoughts?
lightning alerts
Scott,
I really enjoy Weather gods. I would love you to put lightning alerts in your APP. Would be great to set up more then 1 alert area. I thinking 10 mile radius.
I would be happy to pay for tear 3. Is this possible?
lightning alerts
Hi Tate,
We plan to add lightning alerts but these would be a bolt on, rather than included in a Tier. This would allow all tiers (including the free) to have this as a bolt on.
The main reason is that lightning data is incredibly expensive to get right.
I like the prices but I have…
I like the prices but I have a question. what's an annum. I presume it means anually? I've not heard gthat term before, maybe read it in some classics, but still. Keep up the good work. I would also consider a tip jar, even though I don't really donate to them as I cannot at this time. It still is a good idea.
Keep up the good work.
Per annum
Thanks KE7ZUM,
Yes, it's annually , might be a British thing rather than a international term.
Two Tiers
Ok, think we are there now.
Have received feedback from a few people via email and we are now settling on two tiers only.
Free:
You get the basic app. Unlimited locations. Pantheon, Weather Wheel, Weather Alerts, Siri, Sounds etc.
Premium:
Everything you have today; watch, complications, severe weather alerts, widget, follow me, weather notifications
$2.99 per month or $29.99 per annum
It keeps it simple and means the premium tier has some value.
I think I like that better,…
I think I like that better, or at least it's worth a try.
Thanks for all the work you have done.
Please add other possibilities
I have a suggestion for lifetime subscription as monthly fees may discourage users like me for instance. I prefer to pay once rather than each month or year. Hence I suggest 30 dollars for lifetime subscription and no matter when the app is useful with all functions. I agree that paid subscriptions should give as many benefits as possible. And, what about users who have already paid for the app. Will you give them a lifetime subscription, an annual subscription, or maybe another form of gratification? Greetings and best for the new year!
willing to pay a monthly fee if needed
I live along the coast in Texas and have quite a bit of severe weather passing through the area throughout the year because of that. Weather Gods is the only app I have that gives me notifications for my location and not just my county, and therefore the app is invaluable to me and because of that I'd be more than willing to pay a monthly fee if needed even though I purchased the app several years ago.