I can’t understand this platform after the recent updates. The monthly subscription must remain active when the app is published on the App Store, otherwise, it gets deactivated. The monthly subscription is $59 per app. The revenue from ads on an app without a large user base doesn’t exceed $20, and yet the platform also takes a share of that ad revenue. So, you’re required to subscribe and also share ad profits with them.
The question is: what does the developer actually gain from their apps other than losses? I’m now looking for an alternative. Why is Thunkable doing this? Why must the subscription remain active even after the app is published
Hi @samer_111k4, thanks for reaching out about this.
Thunkable operates as and provides you with a proprietary, no-code platform that empowers users to build and maintain mobile applications without writing code. To ensure your app remains active and accessible on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, maintaining an active Thunkable subscription is essential.
If your subscription lapses or downgrades to the Free plan, your app may become inaccessible to end-users, displaying an error message instead of functioning as intended. This policy is in place because Thunkable’s infrastructure supports various backend services critical to your app’s operation, including hosting, updates, and maintenance.
Moreover, Thunkable’s paid plans offer additional benefits such as the ability to keep projects private, access to advanced features, and the capacity to manage multiple active apps, depending on your subscription level.
We understand that ongoing costs can be a concern, but the subscription ensures that your app continues to function smoothly and remains available to your users without interruption.
I’ve been using Thunkable for years, and one reason I joined was that apps could stay live on the App Store without needing to keep a subscription active. Now, with the new policy, I feel stuck—I can’t remove my app or replace it easily, and I’m forced to pay $59/month just to keep it live.
On top of that, sharing ad revenue too makes it very hard for small developers like me to make any profit. Other platforms like Kodular or App Inventor don’t take ad revenue and only charge around $4/month.
I hope you can consider more flexible or affordable plans—especially for developers who just want to keep their apps running with low traffic.