docs/MONETIZATION.md (5222 bytes)
1 # Monetization models for Rebind 2 3 ## Decision of the owner, 2026-09-21 4 5 A device with no Google Play gets the full app at no charge. The owner accepts 6 that some users turn Google Play off to get this. The US$9.99 licence for the 7 `full` build is dropped. Income comes from the Pro unlock on Google Play and 8 from a tip link (Ko-fi) with no feature behind it. The text below is the 9 research as it was written, before this decision. 10 11 ## Recommendation 12 13 Keep the free core for everyone. Sell Pro through two one-time unlocks, not a 14 subscription. On Google Play, sell the `play` build's Pro unlock for **US$4.99** 15 (already coded). Off Play, sell the `full` build's licence through Lemon 16 Squeezy for **US$9.99**, for e-ink readers that have no Play Store. Add a 17 no-gate tip link (Ko-fi or GitHub Sponsors) for people who want to give more. 18 This combination reaches paying users and non-paying users at the same time, 19 which matches the goal to help people improve their devices. 20 21 ## Model comparison 22 23 | Model | Real example | User pays | Policy risk | Dev effort | Revenue potential | Goodwill / reach | 24 |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| 25 | Free + Play one-time Pro IAP | Button Mapper (~US$9.99), MacroDroid (~US$4-5) | Once, in the Play build | Low on Play; no reach off Play | Low, code exists | Modest, small niche | High, free core for all | 26 | Paid app, free trial off Play | Tasker (Play ~US$3.49, free 7-day trial APK) | Once, after trial | None, direct download | Low, `full` build exists | Modest, reaches non-Play devices | Medium, trial ends | 27 | Donations / tip jar | KOReader (~€47/week, Liberapay) | Any amount, or none | None, allowed everywhere | Very low, one link | Small, uneven | Very high, nothing locked | 28 | Open-core, paid extras | Key Mapper (open source, paid convenience) | For extras only | Low; F-Droid lists only the FOSS part | Medium, needs a clean split | Modest | Very high, source stays open | 29 | Pay-what-you-want / sponsorware | Common on itch.io, Gumroad | Any amount they pick | None | Low-medium, needs a store page | Variable, often low | Very high, ends up free | 30 31 ## Generous but paid 32 33 Three ways to help people and still earn money: 34 35 1. **Free forever, no trial timer:** basic remap of two buttons stays free on 36 every device, always. This covers the most common hardware-hacking need. 37 2. **Free licence on request:** anyone who cannot pay gets a full Pro licence 38 by email. Do not ask for proof. Trust the request. 39 3. **All e-ink profiles are free:** device profiles for Viwoods, Boox, and 40 other e-ink readers stay free, because these readers are the project's 41 reason to exist. Pro sells only power features, such as multi-tap, 42 combinations, menus and the full Power button. Settings export and import 43 stay free (see the rules below). 44 45 ## Risks and rules 46 47 - **Play payments policy:** the Play-distributed APK must use Play Billing 48 for purchases used inside it. Do not add an external payment link inside 49 the `play` build. Sell the Lemon Squeezy licence only in the `full` build. 50 - **No prohibited claims:** do not call the app a "RAM booster" or "battery 51 saver." These claims are false for a button remapper, and Play bans them. 52 - **Refunds:** Play handles its own refund window. For the Lemon Squeezy 53 licence, publish one rule: refund within 14 days, no questions asked. 54 - **Never lock behind payment:** the control that turns off Power-button 55 handling, and settings export and import. A user must always undo a bad 56 remap and keep their own data. 57 58 ## Launch sequence and kill criteria 59 60 1. Ship the free public beta now, on both builds. Collect the 12 testers for 61 14 days that Play requires. 62 2. Open Play production: free core, plus the US$4.99 Pro one-time unlock. 63 3. At the same time, open the Lemon Squeezy US$9.99 licence for the `full` 64 build. This reaches e-ink readers with no Play Store, the audience the 65 owner most wants to help. 66 4. Add a tip link (Ko-fi or GitHub Sponsors) to the README of the public 67 repository and to the Licence screen of the `full` build, with no feature 68 gate attached. Do not put it in the `play` build. 69 70 **Kill criteria:** fewer than 25 paid unlocks, counting Play and Lemon 71 Squeezy together, in the 60 days after Play production. If this happens, drop 72 the paid Pro tier and keep the free app plus the tip link only. 73 74 ## Sources 75 76 - [Button Mapper - Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.homebutton) 77 - [Key Mapper - F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/packages/io.github.sds100.keymapper/) 78 - [Tasker - trial and pricing](https://tasker.joaoapps.com/) 79 - [MacroDroid pricing - Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42254890) 80 - [Nova Launcher Prime pricing - XDA Forums](https://xdaforums.com/t/nova-launcher-prime-is-down-to-0-99-down-from-4-99-on-the-play-store-once-again.4379115/) 81 - [Niagara Pro price](https://help.niagaralauncher.app/article/104-price-of-niagara-pro) 82 - [KOReader - Liberapay donations](https://en.liberapay.com/KOReader/donate) 83 - [Shizuku - GitHub](https://github.com/RikkaApps/Shizuku) 84 - [F-Droid Anti-Features policy](https://f-droid.org/en/docs/Anti-Features/) 85 - [Google Play App Licensing overview](https://developer.android.com/google/play/licensing/overview)