Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
We wanted to know from our readers, so we ran a poll. The results can be viewed below.
Andy Walker / Android AuthorityWe offered readers three distinct options, with a fourth that encapsulates all three.
The most important single feature for our readers in a free app is the lack of ads. Over a third (33.6%) of respondents picked this particular option. While ads are certainly annoying, what’s more interesting is that these readers specifically picked this option over the broader, all-inclusive option we made available. This suggests just how much disdain our readers have for advertising in free apps.
Notably, 12.4% see “no paywall” as an important aspect, suggesting these readers wouldn’t be too fussed by ads but do not welcome gatekept features on their devices.
The least important aspect of a free app for readers is open access to its source code. Only 5.7% value the “open source” requirement for their free apps. I have a slew of open source apps installed on my device, but it certainly isn’t the most important consideration for me.
The vast majority of readers (48.2%) believe that all three items are of utmost and equal importance.
What do you consider when picking a free app? Is it the lack of ads, the paywall, the open-source code, or something else? Let us know in the comments.
Thank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before posting.
