social

OK, the mainstream Lens client hey.xyz launched a Pro version for $5 /month, and now I can... yeah, change the icon to purple and tweak the font on my profile page. Seems like Lens client devs are also facing a survival crisis, trying to profit from a small user base.

Hey.xyz client on Lens has officially launched Hey Pro to offer exclusive features. Subscriptions still seem to be one of the most effective ways for onchain social products to generate revenue.

previously priced at $5/month, Hey Pro now costs $20/year, a move that likely reflects a compromise between pricing and the number of subscribers, given that Lens currently has a relatively small user base (fewer than 5,000 daily active posters).

In contrast, Farcaster is able to charge $120/year thanks to a much larger and more active user base, a thriving eco of apps, and strong network effects, the top 10k have already gained benefits that far exceed the subscription fee. and this large base of paying users helps sustain the network, supporting quality services, rewarding top creators and builders, and powering a positive flywheel effect.

It’s unclear if Hey can sustain itself this way, given other Lens clients have sunset or been acquired. would be glad if it stays a useful reference for the Farcaster eco.

crypto-anarchist · onchain social explorer, advisor · spread FC gospel in /chinese community · curate SocialSight.telegram· write 0xluo.xyz · host /luo ·中文 @luo

If they are facing an existential crisis and are forced to profit from a small number of users, does that mean they may be about to go out of business and should not be subscribed to?

Cryptocurrency meme enthusiast / on-chain alpha exploration / Occasional artist🐸
Building /asiangroup


people can choose not to subscribe, but I hope they can keep going.