Ask HN: Mobile Business Without an App? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Mobile Business Without an App?

7 pointsdheush8 comments

Apple’s 30% platform fee seriously impacts the unit economics of any media/content play. I’m considering a new mobile content business and am considering if it’s possible/viable/sustainable to create a mobile-first startup without having an app on either iOS or Android. If assuming all primary app features are possible through the browser can I create a better business in the long run without an app?

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I've tried this route both with my day job and a side project, and i am consistently blown away by the premium users put on "a real app" -- ostensibly just an icon they can put on their home screen. (Safari's "Add to home screen" feature doesn't count.)

Even my gf told me she would use my webapp way more if it were "an [iOS] app."

This is my broad gut feel too, I can’t really explain or understand the user premium here, but sense it has to do with immediacy and availability of the service ie feels more like a product than accessing a website.

Not really, although there is a proven model for apps that don't bill through the respective stores. Netflix and Spotify don't share their revenue with the platform providers.

But I think you probably need an app in the store(s) long term, even if it's a wrapped web app.

Spotify does share their revenue with Apple if the person signs up for Spotify using the app. That was one of the points that Spotify had against Apple when Spotify filed a complaint against Apple to the European Commission. I would assume that Netflix would have to share the revenue of individuals who sign up using the iOS app too.

One piece of advice: if you want to make payments easy on mobile, support the W3C Payment Request API.

Ultimately, it is up to your users - if they want to use the app or PWA website. You shouldn't be forcing them to change their behavior. Or, your engagement will suffer.

That’s fair, but taking Apple’s fee, you could offer engagement that leads to 30% lower revenue and it would still be better for the business no?

Possibly.

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