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Ask HN: What Happened to Apple App Clips?

5 points by tomtec ↗ HN
Apple introduced App Clips in iOS 14 as a way to instantly use small parts of an app without installing the full application. The idea seemed compelling: low friction, fast launch, contextual entry points (QR, NFC, links).

Five years later, I almost never encounter App Clips in the wild and Google killed Instant Apps already.

- Are there notable apps or companies where App Clips are a meaningful acquisition or engagement channel?

- Did you already decide to remove your App Clip to reduce maintainability?

10 comments

[ 1.9 ms ] story [ 21.3 ms ] thread
zeristor
I was wondering about this too, early on I was looking to try out in apps but couldn’t find many.
armchairhacker
Is there any advantage over a small normal app?

There’s already a flow to download an app from a link or QR code, apps can be configured so they’re not added to the home screen, and apps are automatically deleted (“offloaded”) on low storage.

keroro
Pretty sure partiful uses app clips in imessage
gloxkiqcza
I think most use cases for App Clips are better served by simple web apps, which is why App Clips never really took off.
mattmark
Follow up question: did anyone here implement app clips and saw any benefits for their app?
drcongo
I've come across quite a few of them, especially for ordering food / drinks in "restaurants", theatres, sports venues etc. In that setting, they're superb.
WaalkTheEaarth
I used to use App Clips for this fake cash app thing, so thats one thing lol
outcoldman
I believe the one I have seen a few times paying/ordering in the restaurants is Toast app.
al_borland
I can think of two reasons.

1. It seems move companies want to be on people’s phones. App Clip is for those one time use things, where people don’t want to install an app. Companies seem to hope you’ll install an app for a once time use, then leave it there forever, so they can brag about install numbers or send notifications.

2. Personally, I don’t trust random QR codes. I’ve been at several gas stations where they have stickers for Apple and Android with QR codes to scan and pay. They seem like an App Clip thing… but they are also haphazardly slapped on to the pump, nowhere near the payment stuff, and not even lined up or straight. I can only assume it’s a scam and someone is hoping a naive person scans the sticker and pays them $50.

When it was first announced I thought it sounded great, as I don’t want to install random apps to be a customer at a store. But between companies wanting app installs, and people who shouldn’t trust random QR codes, it kind of seems destine to fail.

mobile1stDan
App clips are being used by some big firms such as DoorDash and TikTok, among others. Notice how you can view a TikTok video even if you haven’t installed their app? Companies that aren’t as big as those use the primary app clip platform to work with app clips called Reactiv.ai

It seems as though app clips are getting to be more and more prevalent, finally.