[markchristian]

I wrote up my experiences on releasing outside of the App Store: http://writing.markchristian.org/2012/03/30/make-your-own-ap...

I use Stripe for payment processing with a custom in-app UI for buying the app. Stripe has been great — they charge 50c+2.9%, so I lose about 44c per copy of DragonDrop sold (versus losing about $1.50 to Apple in the App Store).

I suggest releasing in the App Store if possible, but selling independently, too. The whole thing took about a day to set up and has been totally automatic since then.

[pkamb]

Hey Mark, any chance you could break down your sales percentages for us? How many are coming via the Mac App Store vs. your website?

[markchristian]

As of August 21st, I've sold 5.9% of my copies through my independent store. This includes a few weeks at the beginning where the app wasn't available on the App Store at all.

The App Store utterly dominates.

However, I still think it's good to have your own release path as well, because it gives you a bit more courage to argue with Apple when you need to. :)

[hahainternet]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that by selling outside the app store, you revoke the contract you have with Apple.

Without this contract, wouldn't simple use of any API involve infringement? Aren't you opening yourself up here to actual serious issues?

[pmjordan]

You're thinking of iOS. On the Mac, you can distribute apps out-of-band, although you still need to pay Apple for the digital signature, or else your app won't run on a default Mountain Lion installation.

[hahainternet]

Ah my mistake! I wonder if this will persist.

[Bill_Dimm]

Stripe is $0.30 + 2.9%, not $0.50 + 2.9%.

[markchristian]

You're right; thanks for the correction. I was giving the figures from my faulty memory. :)

My app is $4.99, so I net $4.55 from each copy sold independently, and $3.50 from each copy sold from Apple. That's a substantial bump.