- Welcome to the App StoreDon't Get Lost
- Quickly Find Specific Apps You Want or Need
- Learn About a Specific App
- How to Buy an App
- Why Some Apps Are Free, While Others Cost Money
- Keep Your Apps Up-to-Date
Why Some Apps Are Free, While Others Cost Money
There are several reasons why app developers offer their apps for free to iPhone and iPad users, including the following:
- To allow a user to preview an app that offers limited functionality or an expiration date. Some free apps are scaled-down versions of paid apps (which have key features and functions blocked). Others have a 7-, 14-, or 30-day trial period associated with them, after which the app will lock up unless you purchase it.
- Some apps are offered for free because they have advertisements built into them. In order to utilize the app, you'll need to view text or graphic-based ads for other apps, products, or services, which are displayed as part of the app's various screens. If you're willing to view the ads, there are many quality apps available for free. However, to get rid of the sometimes distracting ads, you'll need to purchase the full version of the app.
- There are programmers and developers out there who create apps simply for the fun of it and who want to share their work with the iPhone and iPad community. These free apps are often less professional or not as sophisticated as apps you'd pay for. However, if you look carefully, there are some free "gems" out there that cost nothing.
Contrary to popular belief, higher-priced apps don't automatically translate to better quality apps. Some apps that cost 99 cents are as good (if not better than) apps costing several dollars. So if you're comparing two or three apps that appear to be similar but have different prices, focus more on their descriptions, screen shots, and ratings when making your purchase decision.