[Updated] Backlash alert: Apollo users willing to leave Reddit if app goes away due to $20M API fee demand, replace latter suggest many

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on June 1, 2023) follows:

Apollo is a popular iOS app for browsing Reddit, built by a former Apple employee with feedback from thousands of Redditors. It has been praised for its beautiful design, power and speed.

However, the app’s future is now in jeopardy due to Reddit’s new API pricing model, which could result in a shocking $20 million-a-year bill for Apollo.

Reddit announced in April that it would start charging third-party apps for API access, following the footsteps of Twitter.

As reported by The New York Times, Reddit’s API will remain free to developers but companies that ‘crawl’ Reddit for data and ‘don’t return any of that value’ to users will have to pay up.

However, several third-party app developers and Apollo users are unhappy with Reddit’s decision, which they see as greedy and unreasonable.

Apollo’s developer, Christian Selig, said that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ with the price of 50 million requests for $12,000, which is far more than he ever could have imagined.

He compared it to Imgur, a similar site in user base and media, which charges only $166 for the same amount of API calls.

Selig estimated that it would cost him $20 million a year to keep Apollo running at its current scale, which is more than 66 times the revenue that Reddit earns per user per year.

Apollo made 7 billion requests last month, which would put it at about 1.7 million dollars per month, or 20 million US dollars per year. Even if I only kept subscription users, the average Apollo user uses 344 requests per day, which would cost $2.50 per month, which is over double what the subscription currently costs, so I’d be in the red every month.
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Apollo has millions of downloads and a loyal fan base that prefers it over the official Reddit app. So several users have expressed their support and sympathy for Selig (1,2,3,4).

They have also voiced their anger and frustration at Reddit for potentially killing their favorite app.

Users have suggested that they would leave Reddit as a platform if Apollo ceases operations due to the API pricing.

They said that they use Reddit mainly because of Apollo, and that they don’t like the official app or the website.

Reddit would lose a lot of traffic and engagement if they lose Apollo users as it’s a immensely popular app (1,2,3,4,5,6).

I downloaded the official app just to see if it was that bad and the ads are insane. I can’t browse Reddit like this. I think I’m done if Apollo goes.
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What a shame. Everything must come to an end eventually, so if Apollo goes down I’m done with Reddit also. I barely use it anyway, so I won’t be missing much
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Several individuals have suggested that Apollo should create an alternative or become clone for Reddit.

A lot of them agree that Apollo has a better user interface and experience than Reddit, and that it could attract more users if it becomes its own platform (1,2,3,4,5).

Some say that they would be willing to pay higher subscription fees or donate to support Apollo’s development.

Christian increases the subscription price to whatever he needs and we pay for it. I would be happy to contribute to cover this absurd price hike they have thrown at him and I imagine many of you would be too.
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A few Apollo users have also asked for refunds if the app stops working due to the API pricing.

They said that they paid for lifetime subscriptions or pro features expecting to use them indefinitely, and that they feel cheated by Reddit’s move.

However, some others have said that they don’t want refunds and that they appreciate Selig’s hard work and dedication.

If for some reason Apollo shall cease operations, I don’t want a refund.
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Selig said that he is still trying to figure out a solution for Apollo’s future, and that he hopes Reddit will reconsider its API pricing or offer some exceptions or discounts for third-party apps.

He said that he loves Reddit and Apollo, and that he doesn’t want to give up on them. He also thanked his users for their support and feedback.

Reddit is an enormously popular website, but it may risk alienating some of its most engaged and loyal users if it continues to charge exorbitant fees for API access.

Do let us know in the comments down below what are your thoughts regarding the Reddit $20M API fee demand from Apollo.

05:38 pm (IST): Apollo for Reddit has recently adjusted its subscription fee, raising it by $5 per month, possibly as a means to cover the API costs.

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