I have released a few apps now on the Android Market and get maybe 1 download a week. I just released a free app and I still have gotten the same result. The same app, Kids Trucks: Preschool Learning gets around 600 downloads a day on the Apple App Store. What am I doing wrong here?
Here is a link: http://bit.ly/A9w2ZF
Any advice is appreciated!!
Thanks,
Scott [import]uid: 79834 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 322768[/import]
Scott,
Unfortunately, I don’t have any advice for you about the Android Market as I’m just about to release my first app. Our App is also an educational title and we want to avoid banner ads… It’s disappointing to hear download numbers are so low on Android!
Would you be willing to share your experience using In App Purchases on IOS? We keep flip-flopping between using IAP or just putting it up for $1.99. Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Chris
P.S. - We downloaded your app and my kids love it 
[import]uid: 60707 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 90871[/import]
This is purely my opinion (although many others agree) but I think it’s much harder to sell paid apps on Android.
RE the free version, how long has it been up? I have a couple of free Android apps and it took a week or so to start getting decent download numbers. (I have no idea why, more experienced Android devs might.)
Peach [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 90875[/import]
My info shows the same as Peach. Paid apps on Android do very poorly unless you have marketing behind them. Think of it this way, millions of people got free, cheap Android based phones. People who buy an iPhone have more disposable income.
This is further backed up by the fact that the larger Android based tablets do fairly well with paid apps. Why would they when those same paid apps do poorly in the rest of the Android market? Because the tablets cost more money, hence are purchased by people with more disposable income.
There are other factors like Apple actually takes the time to test and pass all iOS apps, whereas anyone can post an Android app in minutes and a LOT of them are pretty crappy. So the general experience that Android users have is there is a lot of poorly done apps out there so why pay unless they know of it (marketing).
All that said, a paid iOS app will have a LOT less downloads than a free iOS app with in-app purchases. This is the direction the market has been moving in for the past 6 months.
Luckily for us, Corona is about to support in-app purchases for Android. This means we can write Freemium style apps for both iOS and Android devices. If you can possibly design your app around in-app purchases then that is the best way to monetize most apps.
Ken [import]uid: 16734 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 90902[/import]
Am I right in thinking you don’t have to sell Android apps via the Android market?
Couldn’t the APK be available as a downloadable software just like ‘ordinary’ apps?
[import]uid: 108660 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 90913[/import]
Similar experience here.
Last week I released my first game for both Android Market and iTunes. Both are offered for free. The download numbers are drastically different.
I’m curious now for the next few weeks… Hopefully there will be positive change in download numbers for Android as Peach has described…
It might be that the Android Market is less discoverable, Apple might have figured something out - or they do a better job displaying “New Releases” so that people actually download stuff. Or Google takes some time to show things under a “New releases” category.
–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 90926[/import]
Actually, in the newer versions of Android Market there is not a “New releases” category. I’m afraid is the reason why the most of the apps we release are almost invisibles.
In Android Market is very important to be in a good rank in some kind of searches, i.e. “Apps for kids” or “Free alarm”
I’m still investigating how to improve the rank of this kind of searches, at this time I only know that is very important the reviews of the users, not only the rating, but the text is also.
I.E. if you have a kids game and want to be in a good rank in the Android Marketing in the searches of “Games for kids” you will need a lot of reviews saying:
“Good game for kids” “My kids are always playing with this!” rather than “Good game” or “Good app”
The time your app is avaiable in the market is also important, I think is the reason of the poor number of downloads in the first days…
I’m not an expert at all, just i’ve spended a few days investigating apps in the Android Market, and how the move in the rankings. Hope it helps [import]uid: 131209 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91421[/import]
sorry in case i am taking this thread to wrong direction but is there any particular reason why download in ios are high ? is there any section like “New releases” in ios?
[import]uid: 12482 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91428[/import]
Yes, there is. And, if you are lucky when releasing your app, it will stay 2 or 3 days in the main page of the category as a new release. (After that time another new releases will be dropping your app down). [import]uid: 131209 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91432[/import]
that’s wonderful thanks.
seems same as just in section in android market which has been removed now a days.
[import]uid: 12482 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91436[/import]
Thanks so much for every ones input! I have been keeping track of it so far and the progression still has been very slow. I do have 11 installs now, but that is very little. I have noticed it moving up in the list as I search for it. I am going to try and posting on as many forums as possible to see what effect that has. Also, I would love it if any of you would be willing to download and review the app with the criteria breathe listed above. I would be happy to share what impact it has.
The link goes to Kids Trucks Preschool Lite - http://bit.ly/A9w2ZF - which is free to download.
[import]uid: 79834 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91508[/import]
@scottadelman I’ve downloaded your app and reviewed it. Contragulations! It’s a nice app.
Could you do the same with mine? (It’s also free)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zengardenapps.aequalis
PD: If anyone needs reviews please send your link. Indie developers need to help indie developers 
Cheers [import]uid: 131209 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91676[/import]
@scottadelman And also retwitted your IDRTG post [import]uid: 131209 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91677[/import]
like peach said it will take weeks to get decent download. For my first app it took month for the beta to reach decent download, but now i am on 500+ downloads;)
i will review both your apps;)
Cheers [import]uid: 86417 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91682[/import]
Thank you Martin! Send us a link to your app to review yours too! [import]uid: 131209 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91684[/import]
My Android experience has been pretty much similar. My stats after a couple of weeks is 9 installs on 2 devices whatever that means. I suspect it means it’s been downloaded 9 times, but only two people have kept it (that doesn’t make me feel good).
On Amazon, while the app was free, I had 23 installs in just a couple of days. They fixed the price yesterday to 99 cents and I got no new installs over night (the Amazon version doesn’t have ads since Inneractive is broadcasting the deviceID in the clear)
I wish I could help you out by downloading and rating your games, but I’m currently dependent on others to make sure the app runs until I can secure an android device for myself. If you have an iOS version I’d love to rate and review it for you.
If you want to take a peak at Turkeys Revenge:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.omnigeekmedia.turkeysrevenge
I would appreciate it. [import]uid: 19626 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91704[/import]
great game i left you a review and rated it.
Your homepage look very professional;)
played it a bit with my son is here a iPad version too?
That would be great.
Other language support would be great.
rated it and left you review.
@robmiracle
will play it soon;)
@all my games are current on beta, but i have my card game as a beta version on the android market. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aces.games&feature=search_result
if somebody is interested to test my other games too. I can send you a testflight invite.
[import]uid: 86417 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91712[/import]
Thank you Martin
The homepage is done by a good friend of mine :
www.sl-design.com.pt
(Most of the graphics of the game too)
I’ve played a while with “2 aces”, I think is very promising, even for a beta version! Keep me on track of this development! I’ve reviewed the game and hoping to get updates soon!
Cheers
[import]uid: 131209 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91713[/import]
Thx man for the great feedback. I saw you developing a second game?
His homepage looks great seems to be a great artist;)
Cheers [import]uid: 86417 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91725[/import]
Thanks for everyone that has downloaded and rated the game and also to everyones insights on the Android Market.
@martin.edmaier - I do have a universal version of the app for iPhone and iPad: http://bit.ly/A9w2ZF
There is the additional ability to record messages and positive encouragement in that version.
I would be happy to download and rate any games; however, I still do not have an Android device aside from a Nook Tablet (I plan on rooting it so then I will be able to access the Android Market). If anyone has their games on iOS let me know.
[import]uid: 79834 topic_id: 22768 reply_id: 91829[/import]