Hacker News Reader

Comment by kelnos | Hacker News Reader

While most people do install apps through the Play Store, Google doesn't lock down their platform to make it the only option. I have one alternative store (F-Droid) installed, and also have a couple apps side-loaded.

Google's 30% isn't the only option on Android. Apple's 30% is the only option on iOS.

Regardless, Google gets plenty of flak here for a variety of things, including how they run the Play Store.

View on HN

Also, Google doesn't have a developer fee. How's that Apple both have 30% commission and a "membership" fee - https://developer.apple.com/support/enrollment/

Unfortunately, many corporations only leave the choice of Windows or Macos. Open source operating systems are treated like 3rd class passengers..

Google does have a developer fee. It’s a one-off fee rather than a yearly fee, but they do have it.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...

Developer fee for the Play Store yes, but no developer fee for using the open stores (although I'm well aware that in certain environments it is disallowed to use other than the Play Store) or developing local apps.

I really don’t think it’s about side-loading, principles of freedom, the spirit of hacking, etc. HN’s full of indie app developers trying to make money. They know iOS users more often pay for things so it’s their target audience.

I doubt existence of F-Droid is even a drop in the bucket of fee savings for those developers on Android. Otherwise, Google would do something about it to get their cut.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com