XenForo Mobile | Android/iOS App [Paid] Beta Testing

[Mendalla]

I want to see how it looks / runs on a smartphone ... so isn't an Android device needed ?

The Android SDK includes an emulator/VM for testing apps on a PC. My dev team at work use it. I think the SDK is a free download but you have to register or something like that. I forget just now. The manager of that team looks after this stuff, not me.

$100 a month would only make sense if you had good uptake among your membership and only offered to paying members (so you can recoup the cost). For a site with no revenue, it's useless and the PWA gets the job done anyhow.

 

[Mbx]

Is your app supports custom add-ons? For example this app does not support any third party add-on. Can we use any add-on on your app?

View attachment 325517

To clarify, you can’t simply install a XenForo plugin and have it work in the app. Each plugin needs to be custom coded into the app from scratch. This is definitely possible, but it depends on the specific plugin and the amount of work involved. If you have a particular plugin in mind, I can review it and see if it’s feasible to implement—especially if it’s not a very large or complex plugin.

As I was trying to explain ^ before. Its all not so easy.

 

[Mbx]

The Android SDK includes an emulator/VM for testing apps on a PC. My dev team at work use it. I think the SDK is a free download but you have to register or something like that. I forget just now. The manager of that team looks after this stuff, not me.

$100 a month would only make sense if you had good uptake among your membership and only offered to paying members (so you can recoup the cost). For a site with no revenue, it's useless and the PWA gets the job done anyhow.

Instead of an emulator -- just buy a cheap phone for about 50 bucks

 

[Digital Doctor]

Is this the same problem previous apps have faced .... each forum's addon needs to be approved individually by the apps stores ?

 

[Digital Doctor]

the PWA gets the job done anyhow.

The fact that the PWA dies on attachments makes it quite a bit less than "getting the job done" IMO.

I'm glad people wanting an app have another choice.

Good luck @Mbx

 

[Mbx]

Is this the same problem previous apps have faced .... each forum's addon needs to be approved individually by the apps stores ?

Sure, that is normal for app publishment, I guess.

 

[Itworx4me]

First, it’s important to understand that this isn’t just a simple script you can install and forget. Ongoing maintenance is essential, including custom/initial design updates, security key management, and implementing features based on your requirements. Even compiling the app takes around 30 minutes for each change—and that’s just one part of the process. Because of the complexity and the need for continuous development, you won’t find anything comparable readily available online; it takes months of dedicated work.

From a pricing perspective, launching your project on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store can be a huge advantage—for example especially for larger communities looking to grow or monetize through advertising and so on (In-App Sales and such too).

As mentioned, this app was originally developed for my own use, so everything is based on real-world needs and experience—not just theory.

I get that this app isn't just a simple one-time install and that ongoing development and maintenance are involved—but charging $100 per month is pretty outrageous, especially for forum admins who are already covering hosting, licenses, and other operational costs.

Unless this fee includes hands-on support, regular updates, publishing to app stores, and actual development time tailored to each customer, it’s hard to justify that kind of monthly cost. Most communities simply can’t absorb that, especially when similar tools or PWA solutions exist at a fraction of the price—or even free.

If the goal is to see adoption and support more communities, this pricing model is going to scare off 98% of potential users—myself included.