Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#1

Post by Eire_Banshee » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 3:24 PM UTC

So Im close to finishing an electron (yeah, I know...) application that helps run competitive weightlifting events. Im not really looking to build a business out of it, but I would like to monetize it in some way.

Normally this would be relatively easy... just have a subscription model for $x/mo and move on. But the weightlifting events are rarely held at locations with internet. So the software is written to 100% functional offline... but Im having trouble thinking of a way of monetizing it.

So far my idea is to encrypt the results of the competition after it is complete. The user would then need to connect to the internet after the competition, log in, pay, and then could get their decrypted competition results. Alternatively, I could just sell it like a normal product, $x/per download...

That all feels so obtuse though... Id love any feedback, better ideas, or discussion.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#2

Post by burtonator » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 3:38 PM UTC

I'm writing an Electron app too:

https://getpolarized.io/

We're pretty far ahead so you could probably look at the source code repo if you want to look for ideas.

Anyway.

Do this...

Create a public/private key pair. Require the user to enter a 'key'. The key is just ascii armoured encrypted data from the private key. Just make sure the key validates.

They're competitive body builders not alpha hackers. Just obscure it in some way and you're probably good.

This system works offline too since you distribute the public key with the app.

The ASAR stuff in Electron has some obfuscation related framework but I haven't looked at it much.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#3

Post by ebiester » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:29 PM UTC

Sell it like a normal product. This was the way commercial software worked for decades. They buy a license. They download it and register it while connected to the internet. They then take it offsite. Then, have an option to be paid to be on call for support when a meet is happening. That way nobody is surprised if something doesn't work.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#4

Post by hprotagonist » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:29 PM UTC

I should think a standard license key should be fine.

Sublime Text isn’t a bad model.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#5

Post by Meph504 » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:32 PM UTC

I would venture selling the application would be your best bet.

The idea of having to login to see the results, is frustrating.

If you are looking to do pay per model, you could sell usage credits, and have them buy them before hand, or require to purchase one to see the results?

Additionally you could do a split functional option, with basic free functionality always available, and then enhanced functionality available only when connected.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#6

Post by eesmith » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:41 PM UTC

Do a normal product with a time-based license key.

Results are read-only without a valid key. Don't encrypt the data as it will irritate all your users. People will want to review results during the event, if only to verify that it was correct. Or contest results a few days later. In races, people are sometimes disqualified even months later - I don't know about weightlifting.

On the other hand, new input/modifications require a valid key.

Keys are renewed either automatically (with an online license check / renewing payment) or through an online purchase which returns a license key to input.

You can have a start/end date to the license to bracket the event, with a few days/weeks on either side for flexibility.

Note: I've never done anything like this; these are proposal only.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#7

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:45 PM UTC

ebiester wrote: post #3

Sell it like a normal product. This was the way commercial software worked for decades. They buy a license. They download it and register it while connected to the internet. They then take it offsite. Then, have an option to be paid to be on call for support when a meet is happening. That way nobody is surprised if something doesn't work.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#8

Post by sys_64738 » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:50 PM UTC

I'd be thinking about the next version. How could that next version be leveraged to require an always connected model? E.g. is there an iOS version that needs cloud sync or is it possible to generate a subscription model?

IMO, non-techies are generally in tune and generally accept that there should be an iOS app for the software and aren't adverse to sub models given the plethora of other things they do. In fact, some might see it as a negative for the tool to not be iOS based and have cloud-type presence.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#9

Post by aerojoe23 » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:56 PM UTC

ebiester wrote: post #3

Sell it like a normal product. This was the way commercial software worked for decades. They buy a license. They download it and register it while connected to the internet. They then take it offsite. Then, have an option to be paid to be on call for support when a meet is happening. That way nobody is surprised if something doesn't work.

When you say normal product, do you mean users will have to buy the next version?

We should be responsible developers with the ability to patch insecurities in the software we sell. You're also going to have feature requests you'd like to publish to your users. As a sole developer one evergreen version seems much easier to maintain for both these concerns. And I think a subscription model or some recurring payment model makes more sense both for you and your users. Explaining this to your users maybe difficult, but if they actually find a product useful they should want the developer behind it to be able to support it.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#10

Post by saluki » Sun, Mar 03, 2019, 4:59 PM UTC

Try to make an online portion that is subscription provides all the value.

Use the electron portion as an offline data collector for the web app.

Once the event is over the electron app uploads the data to the web app where they interact with it, share it etc.

Then you can handle your subscriptions through the web application.