App subscriptions were always inevitable

Evolving App Store Business Models - David Smith, Independent iOS Developer

I’ve been thinking this past week (as I often do) about the ever-changing landscape of the App Store. This year has seen some of the biggest changes in policy and structure that I can remember. We have new subscription pricing models, search ads, a substantial purge of older apps, new requirements for app names and a variety of little changes to the App Store app itself in iOS 10.

Paid game subscriptions now live on iOS

Apple has rolled out its subscription model for mobile game developers. Announced in June, Apple is encouraging developers to adopt the new model by offerin...

Why freemium apps suck for everyone (and how Apple is killing paid apps)

I work on an iPhone app called Reps & Sets as a hobby project in my spare time. This week, my partner and I came to the conclusion that there is no

Tim Sweeney on Twitter / X

Google is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we've settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE! https://t.co/Dq6eXNnZd0— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) March 4, 2026

Tim Sweeney on Twitter / X

Finally, American developers will be free to compete with Apple’s App Store and payment systems here at home!A solid move to free the United States from the crony capitalist intentions of Big Tech and Big Law. https://t.co/7NXHiQxhEf— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 1, 2025

Matt Pocock on Twitter / X

I don't know what the fuss is about. Anthropic's rules on using subscriptions are very simple:Claude Code = OKClaude's online platform = OKAgent SDK running in personal software = OK... ish?Agent SDK running in commercial software = NOT OKClaude Code running in CI = ??Oh,… https://t.co/IDYSh7QPOo— Matt Pocock (@mattpocockuk) April 4, 2026

Why we charge for Apps when other apps are free — Chimbori

We respect your privacy, and do not make any money from ads or from selling your personal information. We only make money from Premium purchases.

tokens are getting more expensive

"language models will get cheaper by 10x" will not save ai subscriptions from the short squeeze

Manus launches paid subscription plans and a mobile app | TechCrunch

Manus, the viral AI agent platform out of China, has launched paid subscription plans, a mobile app, and other upgrades.

GREG ISENBERG on Twitter / X

Apple JUST quietly announced something that’s a lot BIGGER than it looks: "the Mini Apps Partner Program"Apple is admitting that the future of software is embedded, lightweight, vertical mini-apps distributed inside bigger appFor founders who want to make $$ building apps:… pic.twitter.com/jZz7dU6w07— GREG ISENBERG (@gregisenberg) November 14, 2025

The Proto-App Thesis

Why the next great wave of apps is already upon us

Pocketstars: The creator site where payments don’t always happen

With the influx of creator sites such as Onlyfans, rivals have been popping up everywhere. However, all are not equal and it’s vital that…

Has Substack’s subscription model really “maxed out?”

Scott Carney and Taylor Lorenz posted on Substack about downward subscriber trends they’re seeing. Carney pins it on subscription fatigue and feeling like “The only way to grow is to pillage the paid subscribers from other creators.” Lorenz questions Substack’s direction, saying “more and more like this app is becoming another social media feed.” When we recently wrote about writers who are leaving Substack, they mentioned control, pricing, and the social feature creep among their reasons for choosing competitors like Ghost and Behiiv. [Link: Writers are fleeing the Substack Tax | https://www.theverge.com/tech/927294/substack-tax-ghost-beehiiv | The Verge]