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Ask HN: Is it possible to ditch Google Play as a solo mobile app dev?

19 points appsDev | 1 comments | 17 Oct 24 20:39 UTC | HN request time: 0.254s | source

Hey everyone! I need some advice..

I am a student and solo app dev, and I recently made a game on iOS that reached the top of the front page on Hacker News. I want to bring the game to Android, but am struggling with Google Play's policies for solo devs.

The one that is bothering me most is having to display my physical, home address on the play store for paid apps. I personally think this would be a pretty big security and privacy hazard, but there isn't any way around it that I have seen. There are also other things like requiring solo devs to test any new app with 20 testers for 2 weeks.

My Point Is: If I launch the app instead on the Epic Game Store / Amazon App Store, or even both, do you think the app can still be successful? Is it really possible to get good reach without the Play store, or will users just ignore the app if it's not on Google Play?

I am on iOS and don't know too much about the Android stores / user behavior, so any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Link to app for reference: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6720712299

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mcsniff ◴[18 Oct 24 00:45 UTC] No.41875322[source]▶
IMO, most users will ignore it if it's not on Play store, they have never heard of side-loading or F-Droid or alternative app stores and dealing with trying to get them to install an APK or otherwise, no thank you.

Boy am I glad I published my app before the 20 tester rule came in, and am slowly moving everything to a corporation to deal with having to make an address and phone number public -- this is primarily due to Apple and EU "trader" rules.

If you plan on making any real money, I would bite the bullet and go with org/corp.

replies(1): >>41882215 #
1. appsDev ◴[18 Oct 24 18:38 UTC] No.41882215[source]▶
Yup. that seems like the unfortunate hard truth. It's just I am super early and wanted to make the app before competitors, but right now going through all the "company making process" would take a lot of time, and also some money probably..