I've been hesitating whether to chip in, as there has recently been a lengthy discussion about Accrescent in another thread already, where I got involved and volunteered my unsolicited advice. But now that I see @cuckflared expressing a similar viewpoint to mine here, it encourages me to share my thoughts as well. Brace yourself (and I'll try to be more succint this time):
There is a business model for Accrescent to explore since they don't limit themselves to FLOSS apps:
- The entire user base of GrapheneOS run Pixel phones.
- GrapheneOS users generally do not want to depend on Play Services and thus Play Store.
- Even if they install Play Services, they generally don't want to log in with a Google account.
- Even if they log in, they generally don't want to enter their billing information and/or use it for purchases.
- As a result, a large portion of GrapheneOS users are precluded from being able to access paid apps that depend on Google for licensing.
Yet Pixel phones are also remarkable for their camera quality. There is then a particularly strong case for trying to attract quality apps like ProShot or MotionCam, very much targeted at Pixel users in particular, to list on Accrescent.
This would be a mutually beneficial, win-win scenario, allowing app developers to access a broader user base on better terms than what they're getting from Google, while at the same time providing a steady stream of income for Accrescent, not dependent on donations but on a commercial basis.
It could then be expanded to other quality apps, not directly related to Pixel hardware features but in my opinion focusing on this particular niche would make a very good starting point.
The recent Epic Games v Google ruling with related litigation and regulatory action even opens up the possibility that the Accrescent app store client could eventually become listed on the Play Store, if the developers so wish, and for Accrescent to truly grow as an alternate platform, also for commercial apps.
Again, this is just unsolicited advice from a random person on the Internet. But the problem usually isn't money, even where it seems it is. In my view, the challenge here in particular is to differentiate yourself, and deliver added value compared to all the pre-existing solutions in the broader landscape of Android app distribution that are already "good enough." We here all know Accrescent is better thought out and engineered but more than that is needed to gain momentum and more users.
The above is just food for thought, yet another way to go at it, as I see it. Regardless of the strategy adopted, I wish the developers all the best, and hope Accrescent keeps growing.