The purchase options in RealDash can be somewhat confusing. We have plans to make this simpler, but there are some things we need to consider.
When RealDash was originally launched, it was available only from the app stores. Purchase options were a Full version activation and premium dashboards.
All purchases from the stores are done from the store owner. If you purchase from the Google Play store, you are purchasing from Google. Problem with this is that cross-selling is strictly forbidden by store rules, so any purchase from Google cannot be activated on Windows or Apple devices. If we would give you a full version on Windows when you purchase from Google, Microsoft would kick us out from their store (and vice versa). Think of this as if you buy a game for Playstation, you don’t get a free game for XBox. They all want their slice of the pie.
Some time back we introduced My RealDash service (https://my.realdash.net) which added another purchase option; an annual subscription which gives all features and premium content on all supported platforms. Obviously this is our preferred purchase option as it is a purchase from us, so we can give you a access to all versions with a single purchase, and stores won’t take their typical 30% from the top.
So why don’t we just remove the store purchases and offer only the My RealDash subscription? We would very much like to do that, but unfortunately there are some very strict store rules that apps must offer the store purchase as a main option for the user. This rule has recently relaxed a little bit, but still to our experience, the rules seem to be different for the small companies. For example, Spotify can offer their own subscription directly on first screen of the app, but we know very recent small game developers trying to do the same being kicked out from the store. Being able to distribute RealDash from the stores is vital, so we have to make decisions carefully.
When you purchase a full version from Google/Apple/Microsoft, you get:
- Unlimited drive time, no nagging screens
- Datalogging & Log Viewer
- Voice Commands
- Navigation
- Data Multicast
- Option to clear error codes (when available on ECU)
- Unlimited Trip Diary entries
- Option to use custom intro images, or skip intro
- Unlimited performance measurements
From stores (Google, Apple, Microsoft), all premium dashboards are separate purchase.
With My RealDash subscription you get:
- All full version features are available with any OS with RealDash (Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, OSX)
- All premium dashboards/content.
- File sync between RealDash and My RealDash. Supports Garage settings, datalogs, trip files, connection XML files and your custom dashboard files.
- Access to community dashboards.
- Ability to share your custom dashboards with other MRD users.
- Access to Linux and OSX version.
- Access to ‘Google Free’ Android version.
- Live Data Streaming from RealDash to MRD web page.
In summary; If you like RealDash, please purchase the My RealDash subscription. That ensures that most of your money goes into the development of the app. For now, the store purchases will remain as an option, but you need to understand the limitations that come with store purchases.