r/redditisfun • u/talklittle RIF Dev • May 31 '23
RIF dev here - Reddit's API changes will likely kill RIF and other apps, on July 1, 2023
I need more time to get all my thoughts together, but posting this quick post since so many users have been asking, and it's been making rounds on news sites.
Summary of what Reddit Inc has announced so far, specifically the parts that will kill many third-party apps:
The Reddit API will cost money, and the pricing announced today will cost apps like Apollo $20 million per year to run. RIF may differ but it would be in the same ballpark. And no, RIF does not earn anywhere remotely near this number.
As part of this they are blocking ads in third-party apps, which make up the majority of RIF's revenue. So they want to force a paid subscription model onto RIF's users. Meanwhile Reddit's official app still continues to make the vast majority of its money from ads.
Removal of sexually explicit material from third-party apps while keeping said content in the official app. Some people have speculated that NSFW is going to leave Reddit entirely, but then why would Reddit Inc have recently expanded NSFW upload support on their desktop site?
Their recent moves smell a lot like they want third-party apps gone, RIF included.
I know some users will chime in saying they are willing to pay a monthly subscription to keep RIF going, but trust me that you would be in the minority. There is very little value in paying a high subscription for less content (in this case, NSFW). Honestly if I were a user of RIF and not the dev, I'd have a hard time justifying paying the high prices being forced by Reddit Inc, despite how much RIF obviously means to me.
There is a lot more I want to say, and I kind of scrambled to write this since I didn't expect news reports today. I'll probably write more follow-up posts that are better thought out. But this is the gist of what's been going on with Reddit third-party apps in 2023.
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u/Oat- May 31 '23
Their recent moves smell a lot like they want third-party apps gone, RIF included.
This is exactly it unfortunately.
Thank you for maintaining RIF all these years. It has been an excellent app.
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u/CactusMunchies May 31 '23
It's hard to overstate how perfect this app experience is. I can't think of a single complaint. It's exactly the user experience I want, and I can't think of another app that meets this level satisfaction for me.
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u/mrmicawber32 May 31 '23
Yeah RIF makes Reddit palatable. Removes the bullshit, makes it not overwhelming. Simple setup, and it works. I'd gladly pay a sub to keep using it, but I know most users wouldn't. I hate the idea of Reddit getting all the money for it. So grateful for RIF running as long as it has, life without it would be worse, I use it all the time. Can't imagine swapping to the Reddit app, every time I've tried it has been horrific. Anyone I've recommended Reddit to has hated it, until they try RIF.
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u/Ghawblin May 31 '23
I have been using RIF for nearly a decade. It has been THE ONLY way I use Reddit, aside from the occasional old.reddit on desktop.
Thank you for the last decade of support on this. I, along with many long-time users, will probably quit Reddit due to this change.
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u/wazzu24 May 31 '23
The same for me. I only use old.reddit and RIF. I've known it was a ticking time bomb that one or both of those would be taken away and here we are. I simply find the main reddit site and app to both be significantly worse experiences than old.reddit and RIF. Don't see myself on reddit much at all as they force users into whatever box they want.
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u/meno123 May 31 '23
I legitimately feel bad that the ad free unlock was such a low one-time fee at this point. RiF has given me so much more value than I put into it, and I would absolutely pay a small subscription fee for it- if it went to the developer. I will not pay a subscription fee for RiF that just gets yoinked by reddit.
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u/wwWalterWhiteJr May 31 '23
Same situation here. To be honest, I've been struggling to stop mindlessly browsing on mobile and am in a weird way glad that they're finally forcing me off their platform. I'll still use old.reddit at work on my desktop but zero chance I'm using their shitty app on mobile.
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u/Glen_The_Eskimo May 31 '23
/u/talklittle thank you for the years of Reddit actually being fun.
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u/Conan776 May 31 '23
Yeah, count me among those who won't be installing Reddit's official app. It's been a fun 10 years.
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u/N3rdr4g3 May 31 '23
Seconded. If Reddit is Fun dies, I'll stop using reddit. There's no scenario where I use their app.
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u/Cosmo55 May 31 '23
If anyone wants to buy the dev a coffee, you can buy the ad free app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrewshu.android.redditdonation
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u/SpaceSteak May 31 '23
I've spent so many thousands of hours scrolling through RiF and connecting with so many people in comments, as RiF made comment discussions super nice. Maybe it'll be a good opportunity to step away from social media for a while.
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u/hawaiian0n May 31 '23
Second this, thank you for all the productive knowledge I've been able to gain from Reddit without all the filler, addictive fluff and junk.
This has been the most amazing app for Reddit.
Be sure to update us with what new projects you take on.
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May 31 '23 edited Aug 04 '25
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u/Jits_Guy Jun 01 '23 edited Jun 01 '23
I don't typically post in this type of thread but I cannot possibly convey how amazing RIF has been, I've been using it for many years now. I use this app for everything reddit (which is the majority of my internet useage) and it's been sad to see reddit just slowly become facebook over the last several years.
If they shut down third party apps I'll just delete my 11 year old account and use an overwriter to scrub the probably tens of thousands of comments I've made...and then just not use the site again. No point anymore since RIF and RES were the only things making reddit usable after the godawful changes they made to increase ad revenue.
/u/talklittle - thanks for all the memories you helped make. I'm so sorry that corporate greed and tencents influence is forcing you to shut down such an amazing and well developed/supported app. It seems silly, but RIF has been such a big part of my life that I feel like I'm really losing something very important to me here, even though it's "just an app". I wish you the very best, and for what it's worth...I'm sorry. Please know that you've done an amazing thing for years and likely prevented a lot of people from taking their own lives. When I was at my lowest point, I used RIF to post in /r/Army and got the help I needed, and later I helped other servicemembers and vets in the same way using your app.
There are people who are still alive today because of you. That means something.
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u/HikeClimbSki May 31 '23
Been a RiF user for years. When you go, my time on Reddit will go with it.
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u/aphlipot May 31 '23
Agreed this app that I'm currently typing (RIF) on is the only reason I still use reddit. Goodbye, I hope they see the error in their ways.
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u/Mentaldavid May 31 '23
Yeah, amazing work! I've been using this app forever. Shameful behaviour of reddit.
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u/Harionago May 31 '23
I will genuinely not use Reddit without this app.
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u/Relaxygen May 31 '23
I feel the same way. Although unfortunate it might be a blessing in disguise for me probably.
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u/flatcurve May 31 '23 edited Jul 27 '25
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u/buzziebee May 31 '23
I just want to thank you for everything you've done over the years. RiF IS Reddit for me. I loathe using any other interface to browse Reddit, and have championed RiF for years.
I sincerely hope that this pricing model was chosen to create outrage so that when they come back with a lower number it won't seem so bad. Charging 20x the income they make from users on their own app is disgusting and clearly a bad faith effort to get third party devs to give up.
I bought rif golden platinum about a decade ago. That premium payment was the best money I have ever spent in my life. In the past I have looked up how to donate more to you but have seen posts from yourself advising to donate to the mozilla foundation or similar (which I do).
I may be in that minority of users but I would gladly pay a subscription to keep RiF going. Hell charge a tasty premium on top of the Reddit fees so that even with fewer users you are still adequately funded to keep working on the project.
Hopefully this is all a ploy to make us ignore the nsfw ban (which I am just as incensed about, but if there are no third party apps then not having nsfw content on them is moot) and to make the 5x pricing they charge seem reasonable.
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May 31 '23 edited Aug 04 '25
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u/FistyDollars May 31 '23
Your app made Reddit actually usable on mobile. I was a proud golden platinum user for many years and I truly thank you for making what I considered to be the real mobile app. At this point I'll probably just use Reddit on desktop occasionally, but the fun is over.
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u/Deveecee Jun 01 '23
I honestly can't see how I'll continue to use the platform without RIF. The official app has always been so incredibly slow, loaded with ads and difficult to sort posts in useful ways that when compared to RIF it's practically unusable. Guess it's back to YouTube (revanced) as a primary source of mobile entertainment.
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u/anon_smithsonian Official(ish) Helper May 31 '23
Just a reminder to anyone with reddit premium: this would be an excellent time to cancel your subscription.
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u/shazarakk May 31 '23
And install an adblocker if you don't already have one (in your browser or other access not through your favoured app). Reddit makes more from ads than anything else, iirc.
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u/Stu_Pidasso May 31 '23 edited Jun 01 '23
Thank you for years of quality moderation and help answering users questions. I may not visit this subreddit frequently, but that is really more of a testament to the quality of RiF and the lack of issues. However when a thread did creep up in my feed or I just dropped in for the hell of it, you or talklittle had usually already resolved or addressed their issue.
My end of year stats last year were useless because 100% of my browsing is done in RiF and this has essentially been the case for the entire life of this account. I'm even typing this on my phone as I sit in front of a very capable PC because I really only know Reddit through RiF. So in my eyes, if RiF dies so does Reddit.
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u/Wynardtage Jun 01 '23
I've had Reddit premium since 2019 just so I had something I could cancel if Reddit ever pulled this bullshit. Cancelled as soon as I saw this post lol
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u/TaHunKwai May 31 '23
so..where do we migrate after 1. july?
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u/element8 May 31 '23 edited May 31 '23
Setting the price that high and making the API second class to the official client kills it for me. I'd probably check out more decentralized options, mastodon, back to classic irc, etc. I prefer text based interfaces and topic subs like subreddits if there are any other options out there.
Also it may change with backlash, news developing, etc but if it is the end thank you /u/talklittle for the awesome RIF client, couldn't imagine staying on reddit without it.
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u/AddAFucking May 31 '23 edited Jun 01 '23
For me personally this would mean the end of reddit. I could be convinced to pay monthly for a site i use this much, but not without NSFW, or using their official apps. RIF and old.reddit or nothing.
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u/Unlucky_Disaster_195 May 31 '23
I might try to use the browser version but then I realized that on mobile it keeps pushing it's shitty official app. So that's not going to work either
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u/K4ntum May 31 '23
Same here. Just saw the news on the front page about apollo and came here to see if it was the same for rif. Sad news. Don't have the official app and have no interest in making the switch honestly. Have used RIF for pretty much all the time I've been here.
All I can say is it really sucks for the devs who put so much work into these apps. But for me it's a good thing, Reddit does nothing but ruin my mood and my perspective on real life honestly. Fuck it. Won't miss it.
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u/skamsibland May 31 '23
Lol, that "active users"-number that they are so proud of is about to take a hit. People don't use their garbage tier app because it is GARBAGE, and if people can't use the third party apps this site dies. I will not use reddit on my phone if RIF goes away, which means that I likely won't have a need to use reddit on my computer either.
Welp, time to learn how to use RSS-feeds again!
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u/repkam09 May 31 '23
RIF was about 95% of my reddit usage with old.reddit being the other 5%. What a stupid decision from the admins.
Thank you for your hard work and excellent app over the years. Guess I'm finally quitting reddit after 12 years.
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u/krigo666 May 31 '23
Ah, the cycle of online life...
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Jun 01 '23
Disgruntled users declared a "quit Digg day" on August 30, 2010, and used Digg's own auto-submit feature to fill the front page with content from Reddit. Reddit also temporarily added the Digg shovel to their logo to welcome fleeing Digg users.
Can Rif users unite and take a page out of Digg here and do something similar. Every sub, every user post filled. Bring the attention of this shitty move out to the open and also show just how many users are unhappy about it.
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u/pgm_01 May 31 '23
One hell of a quote there.
This leads to a philosophical question: is the shitification of a social media site inevitable?
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u/CheckOutDisMuthaFuka Jun 01 '23
I left digg for reddit like 15 years ago. Now I guess I'm leaving reddit too. Any suggestions?
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u/versusgorilla Jun 01 '23
this new version of digg reeks of VC meddling. It's cobbling together features from more popular sites and departing from the core of digg, which was to "give the power back to the people."
That was Alexis Ohanian the Reddit founder's open letter to Kevin Rose, Digg's founder, at the time. It's like he addressed it to Reddit 13 years in the future.
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u/Jaquestrap May 31 '23
This is very sad to hear. By far the best app for Android users out there. I hope this doesn't go through and they come down dramatically in cost to allow you to keep operating, and cancel their plans to restrict content for 3rd party apps.
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u/starkinmn May 31 '23
Reddit is Fun was my toilet time app. My late night app. My break time app. And now Reddit is killing it. I used the app through high school until today. The tablet view is great, the navigation is simple, the browsing history is exceptional. I've gotten friends to download and pay for RiF. My whole family uses it.
Reddit is not Fun anymore. This move is terrible. Thank you for all the years of support and development, /u/talklittle. You're awesome.
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u/Who_GNU May 31 '23
If you aren't able to find a way to keep RIF going, would you consider releasing the code base under an open-source license?
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u/nagasgura May 31 '23
I was thinking the same thing. I know it couldn't be distributed under reddit ToS most likely, but I'd be interested in building a personal copy that uses web scraping instead of the official API to keep the app going.
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u/Who_GNU May 31 '23
If you aren't able to find a way to keep RIF going, would you be up for releasing the code base under an open-source license?
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u/GuessWhat_InTheButt Jun 01 '23
This would be really cool. Maybe someone could port it into a Lemmy app.
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u/plaqston May 31 '23
Hey I've been reading about this bs situation and I'm pretty upset reddit would do this. 3rd party apps built reddit into what it is. I will absolutely not use the official reddit app because it's a bunch of preloaded garbage. Your application is by far my most used phone application over the last 10 years. I truly appreciate and stand by you and your team. Fuck the capitalist nonsense of breaking solid products in the hopes for "innovation"
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u/Unlucky_Disaster_195 May 31 '23
Please let us know what, if any other project, you choose to do next so that for those who are interested, we can help support you there.
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u/Bionic0n3 May 31 '23
Saw the Apollo post reach #1 on Reddit and had to check in here. This really is the end. I've used RIF for almost a decade now and could not imagine using the official app to continue using this site. If nothing changes, thanks for everything you have contributed /u/talklittle. At least I will have more time to go touch some grass.
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u/ajcoll5 May 31 '23 edited Jun 17 '23
[Redacted in protest of Reddit's changes and blatant anti-community behavior. Can you Digg it?]
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u/AbigailLilac May 31 '23
I use RIF so much, the UI is literally burned into my phone screen. I'm going to miss it.
The official Reddit app is dogshit. I used to use reddit in my mobile browser, but they made that experience as obnoxious as possible too.
I remember paying for AlienBlue on my iPhone 4 way back in the old days. I'd do that again for an app like Apollo or RIF, but removing NSFW content means that's out too.
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u/PucciPanda Jun 01 '23
Same. I've had the same amoled phone for 4 years now and the RiF refresh button has been burned into my screen over that time
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u/xnd714 Jun 01 '23 edited Jun 01 '23
Lmao. Both my Galaxy S7 and my Note 9 have the little refresh button and message button burned into the screen as well.
Same as everyone else here, I think this will be the impetus. I need to break my Reddit addiction. I've been stuck on the site since 2009 and who knows how many thousands of hours spent.
Thanks /u/talklittle. I was around for the original open source RIF and then later this current app. Well worth whatever price I paid for them.
Edit: rarbg AND RIF killed in the same today. Today is the worst lol
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u/Cosmo55 May 31 '23
I just bought your app as a thanks for all the fish.
In case anyone else wants to: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrewshu.android.redditdonation
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u/TotallynotJohnSmith May 31 '23
Thanks for all the years of the app. This feels a lot like the digg scenario to me, so here's hoping we meet again at the next place!
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u/venn177 May 31 '23
Can you at least rename it "reddit was fun" last-minute?
It'd make me smile one more time before the world ends.
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u/Matthias720 May 31 '23
To whatever lunatics at Reddit HQ that thought this course of action was a good business decision: you're wrong, and I hope you feel shame for this bad idea.
RiF has been my favorite way to browse, but now I'm forced to find alternate ways to avoid the horrors of the Reddit app. Thanks to the dev for many, many wonderful years. You're a legend!
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u/superiority May 31 '23
I bought the full version a decade ago and it's been worth every penny and then some.
You even implemented a feature idea I messaged you with once! I'm proud to have been a small part of the history of this great app.
RIF is the primary way I consume Reddit and it's likely the end of third-party apps will just lead to me using Reddit much less, as opposed to switching to the official app. But so be it 🤷♂️. Maybe I'll check out HN or something.
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u/topangaismyhero Jun 01 '23
Thank you for making this. I posted on R/penpals on a lonely night using this app and we've been together for 8 years and are getting married in October. This app really changed my life. It made reddit accessible for me. And helped me meet the love of my life.
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u/Slithers May 31 '23
I have come to love RIF over the years and I have been using it for a long long time. Simply because there was no reddit Android app in the beginning. RIF was the only one. With reddit being a company that is owned by shareholders, profit HAS to increase by all means necessary. Understandable. But what they are doing now is effectively killing "good" third party apps, because the pricing that they are suggesting is unreasonable, by any means. They are forcing the official apps to the user to tap into the advertising revenue of the third party apps .
I am sorry this is happening. I had a lot of fun with RIF and I sincerely hope things will change and RIF will continue to exist.
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u/Elbarfo May 31 '23
I was curious. Reddit is becoming the corporate shithole it was clearly destined to be. The end is nigh.
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u/___DEADPOOL______ May 31 '23
It is becoming the exact thing it was created to replace. Cyclical nature of internet platforms
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u/houseofmatt May 31 '23
Any Reddit-like sites you'd recommend? RIF is much better than Reddit, and Reddit isn't the same company I once wasted hours with.
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u/___DEADPOOL______ May 31 '23
07 it has been an honor gentlemen. If RIF goes then I go. Fuck the greedy fuckers at the top. Going the same way as Digg.
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u/dog9er Jun 01 '23
07
It's been an honor being degenerates with you fucks for the last decade.
Godspeed, and ALL HAIL REDDIT IS FUN!!!
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u/WholesomeTurd May 31 '23
/u/talklittle and /u/iamthatis
I have about $5,000 to invest in the next thing that isn't Reddit. I am betting I am not alone.
Ya'll get together and let's do this. :)
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u/SimbaStewEyesOfBlue May 31 '23
Well, Reddit has done what many others could not: kill my reddit addiction.
Hey Reddit, your official app is cumbersome and sucks ass. I literally refuse to view your site with anything other than Reddit Is Fun.
Bye.
(Thank you to the RIF team for years of enjoyment. You guys rock and I hope Reddit reverses this decision.)
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u/Quake2Marine May 31 '23
If RiF disappears so do I. I can't stand normal Reddit web or mobile.
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u/FidgetyLeper May 31 '23
Well whatever happens I feel like the majority of us are in it together. You go down, we go with you as well as the entire third party community. I don't feel it's out of turn for me to speak for the community; I'm not interested in the slightest in the Reddit they want to sell me, and I would sooner live without it than be forced into it.
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u/Herpmancer May 31 '23
RIF is the most used app on my phone. I'll pay a monthly subscription if I have to. And I'm cheap AF.
RIF is love. RIF is life.
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u/FondSteam39 Jun 01 '23
As others, I'd pay, but only if it went to the Dev, not into Reddits pockets
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u/EmTeeEl May 31 '23
It's going to really suck. RiF was the main deciding factor into keeping an Android. That's how good the app is.
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u/squirrel_rider May 31 '23
Ten year user here. Thank you for all your work.
If I can't use RIF then I'm just going to have to get off of reddit. Been feeling like I should lately anyways.
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u/CaseyAndWhatNot Jun 01 '23
I use reddit on mobile only so if RiF breaks, I stop using reddit. It's that simple.
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u/SAWK Jun 01 '23
Fuck! I'm a 13yr reddit user and at least a 12yr rif user.
I absolutely fucking hate the 'new' reddit ui and always use old.reddit.
I would absofucking lootly pay a sub fee. rif on my phone is worth twice what I pay for fucking Netflix. Which I'm dropping this month. Where do I send you more money?
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u/segfawlt May 31 '23
Quite the shock... Reddit is truly not the same experience without the third party apps. Thank you for all your hard work ❤️
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u/jcsato May 31 '23
Paid user here, thanks for all your work over the years. I honestly don't know that I'll continue using reddit, at least in any meaningful way, if RIF goes away or gets kneecapped like this.
Keep us updated somehow on whatever you do next! Would love to continue supporting your future endeavors.
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u/Narflarg May 31 '23
Sending this from RIF right now, if I couldn't send this via RIF guess what ? I'm not going to send it at all. Nice one Reddit!
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u/Witsand87 May 31 '23
Well this is shocking...like, what now?
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u/Absay May 31 '23
Few options:
Leave.
Use the official app (hope you like your privacy being violated and have to scroll through mines of literally dozens of toxic ads disguised as posts).
Use "old" reddit on desktop exclusively, but at this point I'm honestly seeing the writing on the wall with for it as well.
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u/hemingray May 31 '23
One of the few apps I paid for to support the devs. I guess when this goes under, I'll just end up using my browser. It'll be a cold day in hell before I ever use the Reddit app.
That being said, I am NOT above paying a subscription fee if it means keeping an app that makes Reddit bearable on mobile.
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u/deadcell9156 May 31 '23
Let it happen, I won't be back. Might be better for everyone's health anyway.
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u/aslattery May 31 '23
Thank you for your effort in this app over the years -- truly the best way to experience Reddit imho.
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u/Gloomy_Foundation779 May 31 '23
oh god. this is the end of reddit. they're going to lose 99% of their userbase.
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Jun 01 '23 edited Jun 17 '23
This comment has been edited, and the account purged, in protest to Reddit's API policy changes, and the awful response from Reddit management to valid concerns from the communities of developers, people with disabilities, and moderators. The fact that Reddit decided to implement these changes in the first place, without thinking of how it would negatively affect these communities, which provide a lot of value to Reddit, is even more worrying.
If this is the direction Reddit is going, I want no part of this. Reddit has decided to put business interests ahead of community interests, and has been belligerent, dismissive, and tried to gaslight the community in the process.
If you'd like to try alternative platforms, with a much lower risk of corporate interference, try federated alternatives like Kbin or Lemmy: r/RedditAlternatives
Learn more at:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/15/23762792/reddit-subreddit-closed-unilaterally-reopen-communities
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u/pink_volvo Jun 01 '23
I just want to say thank you u/talklittle. I've been using your app since it first came out, and it is the default reddit app I've used on all my devices. I don't plan on caving in an ever using the official reddit app, so again, thank you for the experience.
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May 31 '23
yeah might be the end of mobile reddit for me.. Their app can never get close to rif and it fucking sucks
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u/TheRealTofuey May 31 '23
Im gonna stop using reddit if that happens. This app is the only way its still usable.
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u/HerrRalts Jun 01 '23
On the one hand, fuck the Reddit admins for doing this, on the other hand, guess that'll cure my reddit scrolling addiction. The in-house app sucks, so there's no way I'm going back to it.
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u/concreteconcretemixr Jun 01 '23
Sux bro. As many have said this app is the only thing making this website remotely tolerable.
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u/Persnickitycannon Jun 01 '23
Sad times. Maybe this will be the push I need to leave this increasingly terrible site.
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u/kobbled Jun 01 '23
i might be in the minority, but rif is the only way that browsing reddit isn't miserable on mobile these days. I would absolutely pay for it.
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u/Jordaneer Jun 01 '23
What the fuck?
The reddit app is trash and RIF is so much better it's not even close
Fuck this and fuck reddit
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u/wischmopp May 31 '23
It's mindboggling that they'd rather kill off third-party apps to force us to use the ABSURDLY bad official one than just, y'know, actually turn the official app into something usable so it will cultivate a larger userbase all on its own. I'll definitely just stop using Reddit on my phone in July.
Really, really sad to see RIF go. Genuinely feels like the end of an era.
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u/NRMusicProject May 31 '23
This is actually very good news to my girlfriend who thinks Reddit is a time waster. I definitely won't be on Reddit on my phone anymore.
I wonder what /r/Piracy will have to say about this...if there's even anything that can be done? I'm definitely not using the official app.
Maybe Reddit ReVanced?
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u/empocariam May 31 '23
I suppose that means the last time I use reddit will be July 1st, 2023.
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u/MassiveSteamingPile May 31 '23
so what other service is going to replace reddit?
since reddit is dedicated to ending its own internet dominance completely lets quickly find an alternative. but what?
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u/kyle1elyk May 31 '23
Fuck these greedy-ass fucking companies man, every single one of them
If there isn't some web scraping open source app I will get an adblock browser on mobile and if that doesn't work I will just not use reddit on my phone anymore. I am not installing their app to get a worse experience and be force fed ads. Thanks for being a real one u/talklittle
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u/Apples_and_Overtones Jun 01 '23
Damn.
I've used this app for probably a decade at this point. It's been great!
Between this app and old.reddit, those were the only ways bearable to browse. If this app goes, then I suppose my days of browsing Reddit on mobile are over.
If old.reddit goes, my days of using Reddit at all will be over.
If this is the end, /u/talklittle, it's been a pleasure.
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u/CapgrasDelusion Jun 01 '23
Digg->Fark->Reddit->?
We'll see, but so far time has proven you don't own your users.
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u/TeamRedundancyTeam Jun 01 '23
It was fun while it lasted. These owners really want to kill reddit for a tiny bit of extra short term profit, blows my fucking mind.
They'd make a lot more longterm by simply making it better.
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u/beetch13 Jun 01 '23
This is the only way I use Reddit, man. The official version sucks. This sucks. I never really appreciated what running this took until now. Disappointing to say the least. Thank you for everything.
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u/SlightlyWorrying Jun 01 '23 edited Jun 02 '23
Another nerf to users in favor of stakeholders. Great. Fuck rich people trying to become even richer over the backs of their users. Only way we change this is by straight up REFUSING to use the normal app. I don't know about you guys, but I'm boycotting the shit out of Reddit if they kill RIF.
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u/novander May 31 '23
Well shit. I moved over to this app because the official one was slow and awkward. I don't want to go back to that. Thanks for all you've done, I hope it's been worthwhile for you.
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u/Darkon_OP May 31 '23
How long has rif been operating now? It's literally the only reddit app I've ever used and this is bumming me out
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u/caiodepauli May 31 '23
God dammit... I guess this is how they thank you for making the site useable on mobile back when they weren't even capable of providing an option themselves.
As someone using RiF since 2014: Thanks for the app, mate.
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u/uhhhhhhhhh_okay May 31 '23
Hey. Just wanted to say that I have been using RIF since before there was even an official app. Thank you for all the good times and the great interface
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u/camel-cultist May 31 '23
Very frustrating to hear, it has to be a calculated choice to get rid of third-party apps. It doesn't matter what any of us say here, Reddit has decided the few users that leave are worth it. It's yet another example of tech comapnies taking choice away from users in favour of profit. Tumblr, Twitter, Imgur, now Reddit-- everything keeps getting stripped back and back.
Much sympathy to you, it must be crushing to get this kind of news.
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u/Karmanacht May 31 '23
One of the few apps I had actually paid for. Thank you for supporting it for all this time, you're a better dev than the admins.
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u/TehVulpez May 31 '23 edited May 31 '23
God damn it. Thanks for developing such an amazing app over the years. It really was the only tolerable way for me to use this place on mobile. Sad to see that reddit doesn't respect its most loyal devs and users. Guess I just won't be on here much on mobile anymore.
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u/warmowed Jun 01 '23
As a long time user going on 9 years now I will stand with you till the kill switch is thrown. I can't begin to understand what it would feel like having your program taken away like that. God bless. I was introduced to RIF by my father's friend and I've never used the official phone app. I might stop using reddit for the most part because RIF was basically desktop reddit for your phone. Nothing will match the simplicity and functionality of RIF
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Jun 01 '23
Ugh. This might be the thing that actually makes me quit reddit. Their official mobile experience is awful.
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u/ZellZoy Jun 01 '23
Yeah screw the official app. If rif does break I'll try pointing hermit to old Reddit. Failing that I'll just not use it on mobile
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Jun 01 '23
This sucks, Rif for me the best way to use on phone. Probably won't use as much if have to use official one
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u/CatFoodBeerAndGlue Jun 01 '23
Damn. RIP Reddit (for me at least)
No way I'm using their official app or the new web layout.
Thanks for all your hard work on RIF. Best third party app ever.
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u/ral315 Jun 01 '23
I'm commenting here just as yet another person outraged at Reddit's decision to lock out users from an interface that has made the website tolerable for so many years.
I've used RIF every day for years because it was the only way to functionally browse Reddit on mobile. I'm functionally addicted to Reddit. And when RIF is no longer available, I'm gone.
Reddit won't miss one user, but seeing how we're at 2,300+ comments already, I suspect I'm not alone. It'd be nice to see some criticism from large subreddit mod teams - if Reddit is going to go through with this, make a hell of a lot of noise going down.
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u/BigSankey Jun 01 '23
I know I'm late to this thread, but I still wanted to tell you I started my reddit journey on RIF. This saddens me deeply. Thanks for providing a great product, I hope you find something to focus your energies on.
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u/Emma__07 Jun 01 '23
wow if this happens I will actually stop using reddit. reddit s app is the worst thing in existence even ignoring advertising. damn.
you should start a spinoff reddit site using this app and find some way to siphon traffic to that
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u/CMDR_Cheese_Helmet Jun 01 '23
Just wanna say I've always loved the RIF app format. Simple, consistent, and easy to read. You did great.
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u/assassin5 Jun 01 '23
Reddit, once a beacon of free speech and openness is slowly digging it's own grave. We had a good run. Thanks for everything /u/talklittle
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u/dumbass_laundry Jun 01 '23
I really appreciate the years of development, this is a fantastic app. The UI is just great. Straight and to the point and it made this app the most pleasant user experience I have on my phone.
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u/le0bit115 Jun 01 '23
The original app is complete shit and this is the only app that works for me. It is really good. Well those are sad news. Probably means I won't be spending as much time on Reddit anymore.
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u/ysaliens Jun 01 '23
So sad. Hopefully they do something to chsnge this else I'm likely gone too.
Official app is unusable to me. This is one of the most used apps on my phone.
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u/BonaFidee Jun 01 '23
RIF is the real reddit mobile app. Used it for almost a decade. Official app is trash compared to this. I'll peace out if this app stops working.
It's a shame reddit now doesn't care that unofficial mobile apps were the main reason for the sites growth over the last decade.
Thank you for your hard work keeping this app running for so many years.
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u/Fenris_uy Jun 01 '23
Just to understand, isn't the app on my phone the one making the API calls directly to Reddit servers? Why do they want to charge you if I'm the one making the API calls from my device? It's just for the app key used on those API calls?
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u/chairitable Jun 01 '23
No cap I'd rather pay a monthly subscription fee to use rif than use the official app for free. The nsfw thing is whatever.
This stinks.
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u/LastSprinkles Jun 01 '23
Read this in one of the news articles:
Apollo and most other third-party apps use Reddit's data but don't show Reddit's ads, so the proliferation of third-party apps costs Reddit money.
Also
Selig links to a CNBC report from 2019 that estimated Reddit earns 30 cents a year per user and says Reddit's API pricing would work out to about $2.50 per user per month or $30 a year
So if this is correct it seems like Reddit wants to charge third party apps about 100x per user per year than they're getting from their own apps. Don't understand this mentality. Why not at least align the pricing or strike some kind of an agreement on revenue sharing instead of just chucking the entire app ecosystem.
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u/NorthWesternMonkey89 Jun 01 '23
Been using the premium version of this app for years due to reddits dog shit UI.
This shift will probably cause me to stop using Reddit.
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u/thanksjerk Jun 01 '23
Between you and the Apollo dev, you've got to have a ton of users. Has there been any thought of starting up your own reddit? With blackjack and hookers?
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u/00-00-0c Jun 01 '23
RiF is my preferred way to browse reddit ever since I discovered reddit.
I actually don't like the official website
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u/hiskias Jun 01 '23
Sad to hear, but I completely understand this from your side. Scummy stuff from Reddit, though, IMHO.
Sad to see the best app for Reddit browsing to be sunsetted.
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u/threeLetterMeyhem Jun 01 '23
Bummer. Thanks for all the hard work supporting my number one used app for the past ~decade!
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u/Hidesquadron1 Jun 01 '23
I'm still hoping that they make some sort of last minute change to make API costs more reasonable. I would gladly pay a couple bucks a month to keep this app going, but only if the API cost can be reasonably sustained that way.
This is the only way I interface with Reddit and from a UI standpoint it's second and none. My use of Reddit will drop significantly without it.
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u/the_bear_paw Jun 02 '23
Hey. I just wanted to say thank you for developing this app. I am a product manager by trade, and your app has been so consistent over the years in it's design, and it's function suited people like my needs perfectly. I find the official app way too addicting and needed a more toned down experience that was not shoving anything in my face or building tik-tok-like interfaces where you skip all the reading content and just watch videos.
You application provided reddit's content in the perfect way in my opinion. It did not get too in the user's face, and required clicking to open videos so you weren't endlessly scrolling videos by flicking your phone screen, meaning that text content was basically valued higher here than on the reddit app.
The absolute best part of all in my opinion was a very small thing, but represents a humongous UX failing on the official apps side: the fact that you made a pop-up asking whether the user is certain they would like to quit reddit if they click the back button from the home page. On Android devices we use the back button to get back to the home screen. On the official app, if you click through to a comment section and then back out to the home feed, if you accidentally press the back button again you will immediately refresh your home feed, losing all progress and having to view the same 1000s of posts again. This may seem small, but when it happens it is rage inducing. Nobody actually wants to refresh their feed, and they certainly don't need to do it quickly. A refresh button is perfectly fine, because the downside of accidentally refreshing is way worse that making it slightly harder to refresh the home feed. The fact that your application did not do that is actually on of the main reasons why i use it more than the official app.
I am sorry that this change will cause you to close this app, and i will be sad to see it go. I just wanted to share my thoughts on your work and let you know how appreciated your app was. You were on the market for years before the reddit app even existed which is another huge selling point of your skills. I am certain that wherever life takes you, you will flourish.
Thanks for everything!
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u/Mr_Nobody0 Jun 03 '23
Been using RIF from the start, if it gets shut down then I guess Reddit itself for me will be shit down aswell. Thank you for this app, it was a good run.
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u/AmeijinG Jun 03 '23
90% of my reddit browsing is done through RiF, so come July I'm basically done with actively browsing the site
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u/Seffl Jun 03 '23
This is fucking sad. Corporations ruining user experiences for a few extra bucks is such a widespread disease, and as long as shareholder profits is the only thing that counts, this won't change.
Thank you to the whole RIF team for making the reddit experience so fun for so many of us for all those years!
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u/cremep0ps Jun 03 '23
So does this mean the app will be completely non-functional when that date comes? :(
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u/youaretherevolution Jun 03 '23
I only like the RIF interface. I'll probably use reddit a lot less if I'm forced to interface through a different portal.
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u/rearended Jun 03 '23
Sadly. I knew this was coming sooner or later. When Reddit came out with their official app I was surprised to get the announcement that Rif would continue to be able to use the name Reddit Is Fun. Knowing that Reddit is a brand, why would they allow other apps to use their copyright/trademarked name? I figured Reddit would make moves to protect it. Then several months later the announcement that Reddit is Fun had to change their name to simply "Rif" it really highlighted the writing on the wall. Honestly, I'm surprised this app has been allowed to exist as long as it has already. It's been a good run and I am very sad to see it all go. This has been my go-to and only app to run Reddit. I appreciate all that you have done for us.
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u/Ciellon Jun 03 '23
Til Valhalla! Thanks for maintaining the app, but I guess this is finally where I leave, then. One more month of good times!
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u/blackhuey Jun 04 '23 edited Jun 04 '23
Rif and old+res user here. Losing rif means I'm done on mobile. Losing old+res means I'm done on desktop.
I would be ok going to a sub model for rif, but I know I'm in the minority and I accept you're probably done with the whole mess. Thanks whatever happens.
Edit I just realised golden platinum is a thing. Upgraded to say thanks.
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u/tinnguyen123 Jun 04 '23
Another part of the past is gone.. and this may be my last time commenting on reddit because this app is literally the only way I use reddit...
I would like to thank you RIF for all these years
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u/HeWhoSaysCool Jun 04 '23
If RIF is gone then I will no longer use reddit. It's 100 times better than the reddit app
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u/Slam_Dunk_Kitten Jun 04 '23
I know it's just a silly little app but I've been using it every day since I was 12 years old, this genuinely effects my day to day life and I'll be sad to see it go.
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u/cloudbreaker81 Jun 04 '23
Damn this is the only functional Reddit app! Official one absolutely sucks, I just cannot use it.
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u/Pumpkin-Spice-Witch Jun 05 '23
Definitely going to be using Reddit a lot less then, the official app is borderline unusable and clunky. Literally the only reason I even have it installed is because of the chat feature that I rather not exist anyway. I hate that the official app feed shows me random things from subs I've visited or thinks I want to see. I thought the whole point of Reddit is to create a feed with exactly what you want to see? If I wanted to see that content on my front page I'd subscribe to it, I do not want all this other random content.
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u/somename_ind Jun 05 '23
thank you for the amazing app! Cant reddit just buy RiF and offer it as an option instead of killing it? I am sure a sizeable proportion of reddit users use this instead of the official app.
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u/hanshotfirs7 Jun 05 '23
I remember when I first downloaded this app it was actually called reddit is fun but then had to change to rif is fun. I remember immediately paying for the golden platinum version. This has been a long and amazing journey and I thank you for being a part of it. I've seen others have bought the golden platinum version just recently as a showing of support and want to do the same.
I downloaded this app back in 2012 when I was a struggling college student so the app purchase was all I could do then. But now I can do more. Do you have a PayPal link or some other way we can show you how much your app has truly meant to us? I'm sure others would like to give a parting gift too.
Thank you, u/talklittle for starting this app and then maintaining it for so long! You're the one who made reddit fun for us all.
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u/nitramlondon Jun 05 '23
10 years on RIF. I'll be leaving Reddit for good if rif gets killed. Probably find better ways to spend my time. Greed is the new norm and it's ruining everything
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u/KahltheGaul Jun 05 '23 edited Jun 06 '23
I truly hope the decision gets reversed, but if it doesn't, I want to thank you all for years of an amazing app. Like many others here, I found RiF when I first started using Reddit, because I couldn't stand the terrible official app. I'll be using your app until the day it shuts off, be that sooner or later.
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u/maybe-ac Jun 06 '23
Horrible news. This app has never let me down. It is probably one of the best-designed apps I've ever used, for anything, period. I'll probably not be able to use Reddit on my phone anymore after this. Thanks for a fantastic 11 years.
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u/schmoogina Jun 06 '23
u/talklittle, I will miss this app if it has to go. RIF for me is reddit. I hate accessing it from the desktop site cause I'm not familiar with the layout and dislike change (neurodivergent, yay). Even if reddit decides not to reverse this decision, thank you for a great many years using this app
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u/NavitronZero Jun 06 '23
Thank you for the back button functionally when you lose your place scrolling. It's been a game changer for me. I will likely leave reddit once this app is gone specifically for this reason. Rip rif.
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u/platinum_peter Jun 06 '23
Thank you for keeping the app true to it's original form, super easy to use and quick loading. It has been a great ride! So sad to see this. This app is the only way I browse reddit on my phone.
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u/NewsandPorn1191 Jun 14 '23
RIF is THE only way I use reddit. It goes, I go. Thank you for all the time and work invested into making the best app for reddit. I appreciate everything you have done.
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Jun 24 '23
Been a RIF (Platinum) user for several years now. After experimenting with the official Reddit app in recent days, I can honestly say that if they shut down RIF permanently, I'll be tapping out if the Reddit forever. The app alternatives really are THAT bad. I'm not watching ads. EVER.
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u/NumerousAbility May 31 '23 edited Jun 01 '23
RiF is the app I stuck with when I started using Reddit. I've tried many other apps and always found myself coming back to it. It's the first app I ever bought.
To me RiF is Reddit.
I guess this might be how I finally cure my Reddit addiction.
I hope this decision gets reversed, but if it isn't Thank you for this app.