Since adding new words is the check Skritter puts for making users pay for it and that now there is and IOs app one of the payment options could be InApp purchse on the basis of words/characters one add.

5$ 100 words/characters
10$ 300 words/characters

and so on.
This will be useful for advanced users who have added quite a few words in their accounts and tend to add few words after say two year of Skritter usage.

Comments ?

We thought about it, but it was too complicated and we couldn't make the pricing work.

I agree Nick. I think the current plan that you guys works well - so please don't change it!! :-). Also - and while I am not an expert on this - don't you have to give Apple a cut of in-app purchases?

I'd say support the Skritter project buy paying or if you're really not around cancel for the time you don't need it or use the vacation feature.

Skritter market is changing. Now that they are in iOS market, the audience is much wider. It can't be denied that many people are put off by the subscription based payment so I think it worth thinking about change. It might be difficult to get the number work for single payment though..

What Sandeep suggested will hurt people who knew lot of characters before they found Skritter. No body would want to pay for characters that they aready know but might still want them in their lists to keep track.

Skritter business model isn't easy.

Despite the market changing, there are other apps out there that require a monthly fees- take Chinesepod as one an example.

If some concession wants to be made to bring new users in, maybe start a free first 50 characters or something like that with the app purchase. After that, in order to add more words, they'd have to sign up. That MIGHT be less off putting to those that are against having to sign up for the free trial right after downloading.

But really, the free one week trial is essentially the same thing. I don't see a huge need to change it, unless they think people are not trying it out because of the subscription.