I'm a Frustated developer!!

[xperia2995]

So I spent days and nights working on this one app. Tested it out. Dreamed about posting it on Playstore for free & getting a few downloads.

Then I realize to be posted on playstore, one must pay google 25$ !! Even though I have no intention of making money from my app.

I am clueless why google does this eventhough they have a very good Bouncer Bot that detects virus & spams. I wouldnt even mind if they took a few months to review it.

25$ is a very high price in my poor country.
What are my options now ??

 

[SpookDroid]

It's called a developer fee and AFAIK, all mainstream stores charge for it (just ask our iFriends). They do, after all, provide the network infrastructure and storage, even if you just want to give away your app.

Now, if you just want your app out there, you can always give the APK file for free on other 'non-official' stores. However, you need to include the note that unless the user allows the 'Install from unkown sources' option (sideloading), they won't be able to install your app.

 

[xperia2995]

I figured they would force us to post an Ad supported app and the revenue would go to google. (Since all the free apps I used had ads)

'Non official stores' such as?
Kindly giv me names of a popular few

 

[SpookDroid]

I don't really know any except probably GetJAR but don't know if they charge a fee or not. Most people that don't want to go through these channels just post their APKs on forums like this one or over at XDA.

 

[mxvilla]

$25 is not a lot of money. But if it is to you, I'm thinking you could show us your app and we could help you out with some donations

Remember that fee will allow you to upload all your future apps too.

 

[Julien Bertozzi]

You can also try slideMe

 

[Moshe Barash]

You could get a $25 loan then pay the person(s) back via ad money.

 

[KM-Games]

You can also try Mobango, it`s a free App Store for Android.

 

[LordNedox]

There are other stores to post your app for free (as mentioned, GetJar or SlideMe are great examples)

 

[AderoGames]

Still the lowest fee for any big market out there. Worth investing in if your serous about making android apps.

 

[angrynapkin]

Google play store is the cheapest of the bunch. Apple charges $99 / yr. Windows used to be $99 / yr but I think they dropped it recently.

 

[zarych]

You should try it buddy, i'm sure you will have that money back very soon.

 

[mioamioa]

If it's your first app, and you plan to make more in the future, see it as an investment especially if you plan to make money from your apps. It is a lot cheaper than Apple so save up if you can. $25 is also a lot where I come from too, but I managed to save up while improving my app and it's worth it in the end.

 

[techpie]

There's also Amazon appstore. Not sure about their fees though or if they have any.

 

[BillyWestCode]

Don't forget the fee is one time unlike Apple's $99 yearly fee

 

[Mythul_ro]

I think WIndows store has one time fee only now.
Android is still very very cheap at $25.

But you get what you paid for, like terrible customer support (inexistant), bans and warnings without anything you can do about etc.

 

[mattty]

Is the $25 a one off fee?

 

[Mopers]

Yes, 25$ is one time fee for google play.