My Timetable - Quick & Simple

The Velvet Rope: Onboarding & The Soft Paywall

The journey starts cleanly: "Create simple and unique Timetable." Minimalist, focused. But simplicity doesn't mean free. Almost immediately, users hit a soft paywall disguised as a "Welcome Offer."

✨ The Offer: Try 7 days for free, then $29.99 annually.

This isn't a hard gate; users can likely bypass it (though the video flow shows immediate "purchase success" perhaps simulating a test environment or immediate opt-in). The paywall screen itself leverages classic conversion tactics:

Social Proof: "Join over 600,000 satisfied users!" and "Over 5,000 ratings (4.6 star average)."
Testimonials: Quotes from happy users like "Planta" and "Jayden" add qualitative trust.
Clear Pricing: The trial-to-paid structure is upfront.

This 4-step onboarding (including the paywall interaction and subsequent permission prompts) is lean. Post-"purchase," the app strategically asks for ratings ("Enjoying Timetable?") and notification permissions ("Get notified when It's time."). Placing these asks after a moment of commitment (even a free trial start) is a classic move to increase opt-in rates. Users are feeling positive; they're more likely to say yes.

Core Flow: Building the Schedule Brick by Brick

Creating an event is refreshingly straightforward. Tap the "+" (implied, as the flow starts mid-creation), and you're in the "New event" screen.

Here's the breakdown:

Event Naming: Simple text input. Interestingly, previously entered names ("Biology," "Math") appear as suggestion bubbles, speeding up recurring entries. Smart. 💡
Reminders: A toggle activates notifications, with quick-select options (5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1h) appearing below the event name. Clean integration.
Time & Day: Standard pickers for selecting the day (Tue, Wed, Mon shown), start time, and end time. The UI is native-feeling and intuitive.
Color Coding: A palette of distinct colors allows visual organization. Standard, but essential for timetable clarity.
Notes: A dedicated field for adding extra details, like "Prepare assignments."

The entire creation process feels frictionless. Kodeon, Inc. nailed the "Quick & Simple" promise here. There's no clutter, no unnecessary steps.

Making it Yours: Customization & Beyond

My Timetable understands that a schedule needs to feel personal. Customization options, while not overwhelmingly complex, offer key personalization touches:

Timetable Naming: Defaulting to "Timetable," users can easily rename schedules (e.g., "First Year Class 1"), crucial for managing multiple contexts (school, work, personal).
Active Days: Simple toggles activate/deactivate days of the week (defaults seem to be Mon-Fri), allowing users to tailor the view to their specific schedule structure (e.g., adding Saturday/Sunday).
Themes: Beyond basic colors, the app offers pre-designed themes and, significantly, allows users to set a custom background image from their photo library. This triggers the standard iOS permission prompt for photo access – a powerful personalization feature often reserved for premium tiers.
Widget Guidance: The app includes clear, illustrated instructions on how to add the timetable widget to the Home Screen – recognizing that visibility outside the app is a core value proposition.

The ability to manage and switch between multiple, uniquely named and themed timetables elevates the app beyond a basic scheduler.

The $0 Revenue Question: Where's the Disconnect?

Here lies the puzzle. An app with 15k monthly downloads, a clear (if soft) paywall offering premium features (presumably customization, multiple timetables, possibly ad-free experience though no ads are run), and a functional UI... reporting zero revenue. 🤔

Several possibilities exist:

Data Lag/Inaccuracy: The revenue data might be incorrect or outdated.
Ineffective Paywall: The soft paywall might be too easy to dismiss, or users don't perceive enough value beyond the basic free functionality to warrant $29.99/year. The core scheduling might be "good enough" for free.
Trial Conversion Failure: Users might start the trial but cancel before the first charge. Is the long-term value proposition clear enough during the trial week?
Target Audience Mismatch: Perhaps the target audience (students, potentially?) is highly price-sensitive and unwilling to pay for a utility they feel should be free or can get elsewhere.
Generous Free Tier: The free offering might be too feature-rich, negating the need for the upgrade.

Without internal conversion data, it's hard to pinpoint the exact cause. However, the presence of a paywall and premium-feeling features like deep customization suggests Kodeon, Inc. intended to monetize. The current structure, despite its clean UX, isn't converting intent into dollars.

Final Thoughts: Simplicity Needs a Strategy

My Timetable successfully delivers on its promise of a "Quick & Simple" scheduling experience. The UI is clean, the core flow is intuitive, and the customization options add a layer of personalization. It’s a well-executed utility app.

However, its apparent struggle to monetize highlights a critical lesson: a good product isn't enough. The strategy connecting the user experience to the business model is paramount. Why upgrade? Is the value proposition crystal clear and compelling enough to justify the annual fee?

Analyzing apps like My Timetable reveals the intricate dance between usability, features, onboarding, and monetization. Understanding these patterns—how paywalls are presented, how value is communicated, where friction exists—is key to building apps that not only attract users but also build sustainable businesses. Kodeon, Inc. has built a solid foundation; the next step is figuring out how to build a bridge to revenue. 🚀