App Store or dev sites?

I was trying to search for a thread with this question. I know a lot of us have apps previously bought or installed from a developer site directly and with the app store now the same apps are available.

I don't buy any apps from the app store (I prefer the dev getting the 100% of the money rather than 70% after Apple's cut) and use AppFresh to ensure I am up to date with the newer versions. Is there any other advantage other than auto updates to buy it from Apple and not from the dev sites?

I know some people might think about hard drive crash and/or re-installation but I guess I am well covered there with my backup system...

Apps in the App Store are sometimes considerably cheaper. Let me give you an example - Linkinus (an IRC client) is $9.99 in the MAS and $28.07 (after conversion) if you buy it right from the developer.

Other than re-download capabilities in the event of disaster recovery, and updates.. nope. At least none yet that I've seen.

And allowing 5 computers with every piece of software downloaded from the App store vs 1 computer buying direct (a lot of them, but not all).

+1 for all the above. Another example of price difference - iStudio Publisher from the developer's site is $49.95, $17.99 from the MAS.

chscag said:

+1 for all the above. Another example of price difference - iStudio Publisher from the developer's site is $49.95, $17.99 from the MAS.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the other example chscag.

I'm amazed at the price differences especially when you consider that Apple takes a 30% cut. Using your example, the developer gets $49.95 from their own store and only $12.59 from the MAS copy. I guess it must be worth the easy distribution and market size.

the price difference is corrected or offset with the bundle packages that are available every quarter. I guess there is no one right answer. It is just preference, I assume

After speaking to a number of developers about this, the price difference becomes more obvious: even with Apple's cut, they sell a TON more copies through the MAS than they do from their own site. Even accounting for the cost differences, the license differences and the update differences (if any).

PS. While sau124's sentiment is quite admirable, it's not generally realistic: MOST developers who sell wares directly off their site pay a service like Kagi, Paypal or what have you a percentage of the sale, PLUS the credit card percentage and so on. Not many developers sell a product for $X and actually make $X. It's more like $X-$Y everywhere you go, and though Apple's cut may seem high, compared to the amount charged to actually put software ON SHELVES it's a cheap steal of a deal.

Agree with chas_m. Developers actually come out ahead by using the MAS even with Apple's service charge.

I never thought of the other charges... I guess common sense is not that common (in me )...

Wife picked up a new Pop Cap game yesterday - a new Zuma game called Zuma's Revenge - $19.99 from their site or $9.99 from the App Store.

I'll always be looking both places from now on.

Good find on Zuma's Revenge, it's a great game.