I recently spoke with Jonathan Levit, and he shared something that struck me: he has semi-recently stopped developing The Stranger for Android devices. At first glance, this might not seem like a big deal, but there’s more to it. Unlike many apps, The Stranger doesn’t run on a subscription model. Instead, it relies on a significant amount of server power to create its unique effects, and managing its complex network of VOIP and SMS systems requires serious resources.
My guess is that Jonathan realized this setup isn’t sustainable in the long term and to keep profits stable, he had to make a cut somewhere, and it seems logical to focus on Apple users, who tend to spend more. This choice suggests a financial strategy that could feel risky—new purchases are essentially funding the app’s ongoing development. If the influx of new users slows down, so does the funding, and the system could potentially collapse. I predict The Stranger might only last another couple of years, so anyone who’s spent $1,000 on it might want to get the most out of it while they can.
Interestingly, a friend of mine announced he’s working on a more sustainable, Android-only alternative. We’ll see where that goes.