AppGratis Shuts Down

I'm still using Appshopper today. A pitty there hasn't been any love to this app since a long time.

How did they make revenue offering free apps?

Industries best negotiators got them a significant commission on all sales. Sometimes 75% or even double that.
Business plan as solid as many similar startups in the valley.

AppGratis today announced ('http://bye.appgratis.com/') that, after seven years of operations and more than 50 million app installs globally, it has shut down.



The service offered hand-picked apps for free or up to 90% off on a daily basis through its website and Android app, and formerly through its iPhone app, but its popularity had seemingly faded over the years.

Apple removed AppGratis from the App Store ('https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/08/apple-pulls-app-discovery-app-appgratis-from-app-store/') in April 2013 as part of a broader crackdown ('https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/10/apples-removal-of-appgratis-from-app-store-just-the-first-phase-of-broader-crackdown/') on apps which might be "similar to or confusing with the App Store." AppGratis said it was "far from finished ('https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/09/appgratis-ceo-explains-app-removal-says-appgratis-is-far-from-finished/')" despite the huge blow, and it went on to last nearly four more years until its shutdown today.

App discovery remains an issue on the App Store, which has some two million apps according to our sister website AppShopper ('http://appshopper.com/'). Last year, Apple introduced search ads on the App Store ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/08/apple-major-app-store-changes/') to help developers promote their apps, but the feature is not particularly helpful to those with limited marketing budgets.

(Thanks, Joe!)

Article Link: AppGratis Shuts Down ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/15/appgratis-shuts-down/')

[doublepost=1487183468][/doublepost]Really enjoyed AppGratis. Hard to believe it has been 4 years since Apple cut them off. That app was nice.
AppGratis seemed to be trending towards more games in recent months which made me less interested. But I'm sure they had analytics which showed games were the most popular apps that they featured.
Enjoyed the videos, although sometimes corny (.... well most times corny...), they did offer a quick chuckle.
The riddles were fun as well.
Thanks AppGratis. I've picked up some of my best utilities from your recommendations.

Side note, Apple search ads is atrocious, rip off, and difficult to get results, even the customer service team isn't really all that helpful unfortunately. I get the feeling they don't even understand the platform themselves. Half baked and a dodgy way to turn the $99 annual developer fee into a $299 fee effectively.
Apple should look at the facebook/instagram model where it's easier to manage, able to spend just a few cents and at least you leave with the feeling ads are showing.

This has been my daily app until apple penalized them and removed their ability to send notifications.
Then after updating to iOS 10 from 8, I could no longer launch the app without it freezing.
They did have the website which I visited but today it is the end.
Now there is no way a developer can promote their app apart from the app store.
For now I am using App Advice aka Apps Gone Free which is fair.
[doublepost=1487178076][/doublepost]

How did they make revenue offering free apps? Confused! Advertising presumably?

App developers could pay them to promote their app over other apps since they had a daily following.

Another example of how Apple kills businesses it doesn't like. The old "confused consumer" nonsense. Apple just wants total control of everything for better or worse.