Whenever I launch v1 of a product, I keep coming back to the same question: do I charge for it, or do I make it free?
Early on, I would just ship it and tell myself, “Let people use it first. If they like it, they’ll pay later.”
When people get something for free, they usually do not value it much. They try it casually, abandon it casually, and their behavior tells you very little.
Payment is a real signal.
When someone is willing to spend money on your product, even a small amount, it means you built something they believe is worth paying for. That matters more than compliments, likes, or vague positive feedback.
That is why now, whenever I launch a new app, I try to include some kind of pro functionality from the start.
Not because monetization is everything, but because charging forces clarity.
Either the product delivers enough value for someone to pay, or it does not.
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V.K.