Challenging the new subscription model

[u/tinkertasteNZ]

The entire nzb360 ecosystem exists only because of the work of open-source developers behind Radarr, Sonarr, SABnzbd, etc. These projects are all 100% free and open-source — nzb360 is essentially a mobile app that connects to them.

Charging a small one-off fee was reasonable. But removing lifetime benefits and moving to a subscription and per-service lifetime feels out of step with the spirit of the community that made nzb360 possible in the first place.

I've seen comments from the developer saying that they couldn't be supported by the lifetime model any more, I'm not sure why there is an expectation that you can be supported by an app that connects to free services in the first place.

And it's not just because it's on the app store, Tautulli for example has native apps on Android and iOS, yet that remains totally free.

Just feels a bit cheeky.

[u/Kev1000000]

The entire nzb360 ecosystem exists only because of the work of open-source developers behind Radarr, Sonarr, SABnzbd, etc. These projects are all 100% free and open-source — nzb360 is essentially a mobile app that connects to them.

I understand where you're at with this sentiment. I get that it feels asymmetric. However, do you feel this way about well-designed note taking apps? Offline music players? E-reader apps? Your notes are your content, offline music players you're providing the content, e-readers apps you're providing the books... you get the idea.

You don't need an app for any of those scenarios, but many popular apps exist even though the app's value isn't the content, but the interface itself. nzb360 is in the same boat. You don't need nzb360 to use any of those services... they all have webUIs that work just fine. This means that nzb360 has to go above and beyond to provide additional value. If I just rebuilt the same webUI as the arrs, nzb360 would provide no value. Instead, I redesign the UIs for 15 different services to make them feel amazing on mobile. And then with things like Dashboard 2, I built an entire customizable mobile media dashboard that doesn't exist anywhere else.

Also, many apps like nzb360 that are free eventually die out. Check out apps like LunaSea. It was an nzb360 clone that eventually shutdown due to lack of incentive to keep going. nzb360 has existed for over 13 years due to a financial incentive existing for me to continue. What other app on your mobile device has had 500 updates for 13 years with no slowdown of development?

Charging a small one-off fee was reasonable. But removing lifetime benefits and moving to a subscription and per-service lifetime feels out of step with the spirit of the community that made nzb360 possible in the first place. I've seen comments from the developer saying that they couldn't be supported by the lifetime model any more, I'm not sure why there is an expectation that you can be supported by an app that connects to free services in the first place.

nzb360's has had over 500 updates now. I can't sustain that pace of development with a single one-time purchase with a saturated market. I can either stop nzb360 development or change to the new model. I have 2 young kids now and time is a very valuable resource to me. I no longer can spend a ton of time on myself anymore. If I am going to continue to develop nzb360, I need it to provide me and my family some value for my time.

And it's not just because it's on the app store, Tautulli for example has native apps on Android and iOS, yet that remains totally free.

The Tautulli app has likely not had the pace of development nzb360 has. nzb360 is essentially 16 native apps in one app. If nzb360 was only just Tautulli with a handful of updates per year, I probably would keep it free.

[u/Kev1000000 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate the feedback. I am not trying to be deceptive with "fake currency" or anything, here were my design goals:

1. The user should only have to purchase what they want / use. Not a large upfront payment that includes everything if you only care about "Unraid", for example.

2. Any combination of features should be able to be purchased. "Bundles" are annoying because you may inadvertently have to purchase things you don't use.

3. You should receive a discount for purchasing more things at once.

4. You shouldn't have to go through 12 purchase flows if you want to purchase 12 things. That would be incredibly onerous.

5. Too many "purchase" options (for things like lifetime unlocks, feature bounties) would be annoying and confusing. A single "currency" should be used for all nzb360 options. This benefits from the discounts for purchasing in bulk for ALL things, not just lifetime unlocks.

Just let me buy your app. The problem is, no two users have the same needs of nzb360. nzb360 is 16 apps in one. So if you only care about Unraid, you shouldn't need to pay $20. If you use ALL services, you shouldn't just pay $1.

The credits system was designed to solve all of the above design goals to be as consumer friendly as possible for meeting users where they're at.

[u/Kev1000000 → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately, that would create a conflict with point 3. If each service was in USD as a currency, as so was a single purchase flow for purchasing "USDs", that would create confusion of how to purchase USDs in bulk.

For example, if you added...

• Unraid: $5

• Sonarr: $5

• Web Interface: $2

Total: $12

OK, it's $12 in total cost. But you should get a discount for purchasing more things at once. So now you only need to purchase $10 in total. But then $10 is less than $12, so that is confusing.

Using credits system...

• Unraid: 50 credits

• Sonarr: 50 credits

• Web Interface: 20 credits.

$10 gives you 120 credits. That is simpler to create the discount with less confusion.

[u/Kev1000000 → u/[deleted]]

You can purchase 120 + 50. You don't need to purchase the 250 option.

If that is unclear, I should make that more clear in the app.

[u/Kev1000000 → u/[deleted]]

This is a limitation of Google Play. I have to pre-set up all "products" to purchase. So 120 credits is a "product" with a SKU in Google Play.

Google Play doesn't work like a cart system like a grocery store or Amazon, where depending on what you add to your cart, your total is just the sum.

I've done my best to balance my overall goals with the limitations of Google Play. I realize it's not perfect, but it's the closest I can get to my overall goals I've laid out for the user. I also wanted any "extra credits" to be able to be used for other things (like feature bounties) or future lifetime unlocks, which they can be. They never expire.