Ask HN: Why would you pay for this free tiny app? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Why would you pay for this free tiny app?

3 pointss-xyz7 comments

As an indie hacker, I launched this app a year ago:

https://umbrellatoday.app

The primary function of the app is to send rain alerts via email to users before they leave their locations. Without almost zero effort, I managed to attract close to 1000 users, send out 90,000 notifications across +190 locations and 51 timezones.

Now I am wondering if it makes any sense to pursue this indie project further, and to try to consider monetising it, and perhaps as well expanding the user base.

I know that the product can be improved significantly (e.g. an app with push notifications instead of email) - its a serious MVP. But before jumping ship, I would like to think of the potential direction to take, and thats why your help would be appreciated.

What would be some ideas on how to achieve this? Or which approach to take? Even better: under which conditions would you pay for a solution like this?

I purchase good apps on the App store for a few bucks. If I needed an app like this I'd be happy to pay it once. But I wouldn't pay a recurring fee for this.

Interesting, why is this? And how much premium do you put on keeping your feet dry?

I look out the window before I leave, and check my weather app. Maybe if I lived in Taiwan or something then I would want an app that notifies me when it's going to rain.

Been a very long time since I used https://ifttt.com, they seem to charge for more than 2 apps now. But, I feel like this is something that could easily be done with IFTTT, potentially for free if you don't already have 2 apps. So why wouldn't/shouldn't I just use IFTTT?

Direct link: https://umbrellatoday.app

Just put ads in the emails.

Kudos to you but why wouldn’t people just set up notifications in the weather app?

Good question, what do you think?

The main difference for me is that I haven't seen yet the ability of the weather apps to setup the time of when a notification/alert is issued, and as well the lookahead hours. The primarily focus of this app was to warn before you leave your premises (e.g. going to work). If you receive an alert while you are already on your commute, its already too late.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com