Apollo Now Offers Option to Decline Refund Ahead of June 30 Shutdown

Popular third-party Reddit app Apollo was updated today with an option for users to decline a refund for their remaining subscription time ahead of the app shutting down. Users who do not exercise this option will automatically receive a pro-rated refund.

Apollo for Reddit Feature
"If you've been happy with the service I've provided over the years, please consider declining the refund as they are refunded out-of-pocket," said Apollo developer Christian Selig, who previously estimated that the refunds could cost him around $250,000. "It's been the pleasure of a lifetime building Apollo for you over the last nine years. I thank you so much for your kindness, input, and generosity over the years."

Starting on July 1, Reddit plans to begin charging for its main API, which provides third-party apps like Apollo with access to the website's data, like posts and comments. Selig said it is understandable for Reddit to begin charging for the API, but he said the pricing is prohibitively expensive and that he was given minimal time to prepare for the change. For these reasons, Apollo is shutting down and will stop working on June 30.

"Reddit recently announced some very, very expensive API prices for developers, and in combination with only providing 30 days to enact the changes, Apollo won't be able to afford continuing beyond Reddit's cutoff date," said Selig.

The latest version of Apollo also includes a new "Goodbye Apollo" wallpaper pack that can be unlocked with a donation, which Selig said will help with refund costs.

"If you want to remember Apollo for years to come after its shut down date, and support its creator one last time, consider checking out the incredible set of Apollo themed wallpapers, created by talented designers who have built Apollo icons over the years," said Selig. There are over 20 wallpapers in the set.

Reddit's decision to begin charging expensive fees for its API has been controversial. Thousands of subreddits were marked as private or restricted earlier this month in protest of the upcoming changes, and some moderators on the site continue to criticize the plans. Despite the backlash, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has refused to reverse course, and Reddit has threatened to take action against moderators who are uncooperative.

Apollo launched in 2017 and has been downloaded over two million times, according to Selig, who previously interned at Apple. The app closely adheres to Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and is highly regarded for its polished design.

Tags: Apollo, Reddit

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Top Rated Comments

ChristianSelig Avatar
22 months ago
As the developer, I just want to say, I don't think you're a bad person or anything if you take the refund, but I do really appreciate the folks who are kind in declining it.

For reference, 30 days ago Reddit was still being very promising with their claims for the API pricing to be equitable and based in reality, and 4 months before that Reddit told me they had no plans to change the API this year, so this level of refund really hit me out of nowhere.

It's a gut punch, and I loved building Apollo, but the kindness and support people have shown over the last few weeks really means a lot in making this easier to swallow, so I genuinely really do appreciate those folks considering declining the refund.
Score: 233 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fidget08 Avatar
22 months ago

Call me unsympathetic but this pity party is pathetic. "The refund is out of pocket", is actually a massive lie. A refund is simply returning funds you collected, I do not care that you spent the money. Personally I call it a big scam taking advantage of the "hate on reddit policy" and "kindness of people". Do not fall for it folks, actively tell this developer to go F himself for even asking. Give your money to a real charity, you owe this stranger nothing. He entered into a business and knew the risks getting in! He also likely enjoyed some very nice reward while the going was good, pathetic is my polite word, don't reward stupid.
Yikes take. This guy made one of the best apps ever. Better than whole companies can put out. Does anyone owe this dev anything? Absolutely not. But I also have pity for a guys main source of revenue shutting down seemingly overnight.
Score: 112 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TMRJIJ Avatar
22 months ago

Can you blame Reddit for saying "yah umm.... you are profiting off our intellectual property, so um like we are stopping that".
What intellectual property? The users provide the content.
Score: 83 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechGod Avatar
22 months ago

Can you blame Reddit for saying "yah umm.... you are profiting off our intellectual property, so um like we are stopping that". ? It is entirely legitimate stance & frankly every rationale person in this room would have done the same.

I am genuinely mad this developer "thinks" he deserves some form of charity, which he is going to stuff into his fat pockets. Sounds like he has made a lot of money over the years.
You need to stop getting worked up. This developer provided an excellent app and if people want to support him, they can.
Score: 76 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
22 months ago

As the developer, I just want to say, I don't think you're a bad person or anything if you take the refund, but I do really appreciate the folks who are kind in declining it.

For reference, 30 days ago Reddit was still being very promising with their claims for the API pricing to be equitable and based in reality, and 4 months before that Reddit told me they had no plans to change the API this year, so this level of refund really hit me out of nowhere.

It's a gut punch, and I loved building Apollo, but the kindness and support really means a lot so I genuinely really do appreciate those folks considering it.
I had an old lifetime sub, so this doesn't apply to me, but if I had a subscription I probably would have declined a refund.

Some other people in this thread don't seem to understand that in the end it's just a few dollars for each of us users but collectively for you it's a large amount of money that you were counting on. Think of it as a tip for providing such a great app experience over the years.

Seriously, if you don't want to decline the refund, then don't. Nobody will think less of you for it. There's no need to be a jerk about it though.
Score: 65 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Frozonecold Avatar
22 months ago
It's a bit surprising to see so many people piling on this developer. In the last month he found out his primary revenue stream was going to be cut off imminently, and then the CEO of Reddit posts libelous attacks on him (discredited by the recordings shared by Christian). Now, he's essentially saying to the app users "You can have your money back or not" and somehow he's a jerk?
Score: 65 Votes (Like | Disagree)