In the aftermath of Twitter’s recent ban on third-party clients, two developers have made it their mission to update their apps with new functionality. However, rather than asking for refunds from users, they’ve opted for a different method: convincing subscribers to decline them by clicking a new “I don’t need a refund” button. This allows sympathetic users to offer support by not requesting their money back. Whether or not these apps will be successful in gaining new subscribers remains to be seen, but at least they’ve given some fans an option besides deleting them altogether.
Retaining subscribers is a critical part of any subscription-based iOS app, and the situation with Apple’s App Store review bombing is unprecedented. Without loyal customers, an iOS app simply cannot survive.
Both companies – Twitter and the third-party clients – could have done better to communicate the decision in advance. The lack of warning created chaos for businesses reliant on the API functionality, who were left scrambling to take action.
Twitter’s new API rules were met with backlash from its user base, who accuse the company of being unfair and uncompromising in their enforcement. However, Twitter clarified that their new API guidelines were actually enforced due to longstanding terms it had never made publicly available until after the backlash erupted. Whether or not this justifies the outcry from users is up for debate, but one thing is for sure: Twitter will always have a loyal following of developers who are always looking to create innovative tools using its platform.
Twitter may have never fully embraced the idea of apps offering alternative experiences, but it ultimately decided to leave these particular third-party apps alone. In doing so, the company acknowledged their long history of contributing positively to the ecosystem and supported some of Twitter’s most devoted users.
While the apps’ respective user bases were small compared to the much larger Twitter app, they were still large enough to sustain many indie developers’ businesses. And as such, when Twitter pulled the plug on its subscription apps, these companies were left in a difficult position. In some cases, those who had paid upfront for a year’s service would soon have to issue out-of-pocket refunds; for others, their income was almost immediately halted. Given that these apps indeed offered some unique features not found in the official app (particularly with regard to interaction between users), it is likely that many users will miss them dearly.
The updates to both apps seem to focus on making it easier for subscribers to get the most out of the services. Tweetbot now offers up suggested replies, while Twitterrific has added support for custom profiles and a number of new emoji. Though the two apps are quite different in terms of interface, they both make it easy for users to connect with other Twitter enthusiasts. Whether users are looking to bulk-send tweets or just want an easier way to keep tabs on their favorite accounts, these apps are sure to meet everyone’s needs.
Some customers are happy with the features of Tweetbot, so they don’t need a refund. Other customers may have had problems with Tweetbot and want to receive a pro-rated refund.
Since being created in early 2016, the social media platform Mastodon has rapidly grown in popularity. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Mastodon is a free and open source network that allows users to communicate online through messages and posts. Unlike some other social media platforms, such as Facebook, which require users to sign
Tapbots and Twitterrific have both created Mastodon clients to fill the void left by both Twitter and Google+, but they differ in how they handle pro-rated refunds. Whereas Tapbots offer a direct option to request a refund, Twitterrific presents an agreement screen that asks customers if they are satisfied with the product before allowing them to proceed. Apple will refund customers who choose not to renew their subscription with either app.
Twitterrific provides a wide array of tools for social media management, from posting updates to managing followers and networks. Additionally, the app connects directly to the Mastodon network for active conversations and community interaction. Whether you’re looking to keep up with your friends or join in on the conversation on Mastodon, Twitterrific has you covered.
Given that neither company could officially comment on their updates, it is likely that Apple made a special exception to its usual App Store rules in order to allow these apps more prominence. This could signify either how highly these two companies are valued by Apple, or an indication of the importance of the updates themselves.
One possible reason for Apple’s decision to allow subscription-based donation requests from apps is the high-profile nature of the Twitter fiasco. App developers may see this as a way to generate money that would be useful in order to continue providing their services, even if the app itself is not functioning.
Although pro-rated refunds may be the norm for mobile app subscriptions, it can be a hindrance when it comes to customer satisfaction. In this unique case, many customers have not been aware that their subscriptions are automatically refunding them in proportion to how much use they put the apps — even if they have redownloaded the apps and were presumably using them. This creates an unnecessary hassle for the companies involved, as well as forcing them to dig into their own pockets to refund many customers who are unaware of what is happening.
