The one question I could not answer

[ghost]

Hi, I feel as though it would make the app better to include if it is for-profit, not-for-profit, or something else. I have not been able to find any information on the money of the project. When using an app, I always check how the money is made (or not, as the case may be) as I feel that tells an incredible amount about the goals and ethos of the developer. Just an idea. Thanks for the app!

[beaucollins]

@mattrubin this person would like to pay you.

[mattrubin]

Hi @Zinkren,

As the primary developer of Authenticator, I don't make any money from the app, nor does anyone else. I released the app for free because I wanted this tool to be available to as many people as possible. It is also very important to me that the app respect the privacy of its users, so the app doesn't attempt to collect or share any information about the people who use it.

As for my goals as a developer: I started working on Authenticator because I was looking for a simple, free, and open-source alternative to the Google Authenticator app, and when I didn't find one I decided to make one myself. Because the app is open source, anyone is free to examine how it works, to verify that it is not doing anything malicious, and – if they want – to make their own changes to the code and possibly even release their own application based on it. Since Authenticator is an important security tool for many people, it is important to me to for the app to be developed in such a way that earns the trust of its users.

Do you have any concrete suggestions for how I could address the curiosity and/or concern of future users who might have the same questions you do? Would you find the app more trustworthy if it charged money? Would you find the app more trustworthy if I included an explanation like the one I gave above somewhere in the app? I'd appreciate your feedback!

[ghost]

Hi @mattrubin,

Thank you for the response, I appreciate it.

My suggestion would be to take the second option you mentioned and include a description like the one you gave me — which addressed my concern completely. It addresses questions quickly and provides reassurance without requiring knowledge of what the legalese text in reference to open-source means.

Namely, I would say include (like the headings “Backups” and “Open Source” you already have in the app, or in the App Store description) sections such as “privacy” and “background.” I think that it would increase trust to see privacy addressed directly, and “background” would explain why a top app in its class can be free without a premium mode.