Ask HN: How do we monetize our free app without getting on users' nerves?

[jabo]

Our simple app has more than 11,000 users currently and so far everyone has given us rave reviews about the app. Given our huge user base, we're now considering monetizing it.

Of course, we aren't going to start charging users for the existing app. Instead we were thinking of building some of the frequently requested features into a paid version. Is this a good idea? If you are a user, would you like the fact we are charging for the features you requested?

[sorbus]

A paid version with more features seems like a safe way to go; moving into the freemium model, somewhat. If not enough people buy it, you can always fold the features into the free version (though be careful about that; people who do buy a paid version may feel ripped off if the free version has all the same features). Other than that, you can always put a donate buttons somewhere, though I'm not sure how effective that would be.

[glimcat]

Firstly, you might want to consider making your description more "dead simple." I had to read way too much of that before it became clear what your extension actually does. Fixing this could improve your bounce rate and lead to more users.

I would have suggested cloud backup and access as a monetization strategy since it's a useful recurring addon...but you appear to have recently added that for free. Whoops.

How about a paid Android or iOS interface?

[jabo → glimcat]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll work on the description. I thought those media quotes pretty much summarized the app, and hence added them at the top.

Sync was one thing that too many people were asking for. So we immediately built it and put it out. We really weren't thinking of monetization back then.

An android / iphone app is a frequently requested feature.. We could charge for that and still not annoy people, because hey, it costs us money to get into Apple's developer program!

[jabo]

Here's a clickable link to the app: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/offpaifnchmpbnjhjb...

Though it's a Chrome App, you can also visit it directly on a HTML5 browser at http://scribble.wreally.com

[priv_acy]

Go ahead and get on their nerves. Nobody likes to pay for stuff. Hopefully your users like your stuff enough that the mere thought of paying for it doesn't drive them away. If it does, you need to get back to work.

[jabo]

@Person at Tapjoy: Why did you delete your comment? Would love to know. Thanks!