Windows Phone Apps Cost More Than iPhone Apps and Android Apps?

[SurferDale]

I've noticed that Windows Phone Apps seem to be much more expensive than the same exact app on the iOS App Store or Android Market (now Google Play). This is kind of irritating because you're paying MORE money for a SMALLER selection of applications. I'm guessing that because there are fewer users, developers need to charge more to recoup the cost of development, but do you see any other reasons for the higher prices?

Or maybe I'm imagining the higher prices? Curious to see what everyone else things. Especially for those who have used multiple operating systems in the past couple years.

[puffinpuffer2985]

i think its because developers realize the pool of people they have to pull from on windows phone is a lot smaller, so they try to charge more per app. blackberry apps are a lot more expensive than other apps too because businesses are willing to pay more.

[markaskey]

They are, but for some reason I don't have problems paying $2.00 or $2.99 for a WP7 app. I think it is because I tend to be pickier about apps on this platform. Honestly didn't buy a lot of apps on android either but on my Ipad I tend to buy ones that have value.

Plus the Try feature makes it easy to see if its worth the $2.99.

[anoxy]

Sort of a related note, I thought microsoft was going to ditch the whole XBL points system? Why can't we just directly buy stuff instead of working through their currency system? It's so annoying.

[Tom Mohammed]

I blame xbox live :/ It was one of the biggest turn offs when I bought the phone angry birds... ouch

[Lordkiwi]

I cant fault the app developers for charging more. When you selling vs 20 other simular apps, the prices come down on average.

[techblitz]

Google Play often features free apps with ads inside, and Android users are less "willing" to pay for apps (see here: Android users less willing to pay for premium apps, says Papermill developer | The Verge). Meanwhile, iOS is so popular that apps that aren't free are less likely to be bought; therefore developers need to make apps cheaper or free to gain users. I hate to rationalize the high app prices, but I think this is what's going on. When more users come to Windows Phone, the devs. will start pricing more competitively.