Monetization

When launching an app in 2026, there are always two big elephants in the room: monetization and the use of AI. Given the track record of many websites, I think that's a very fair concern, and something websites should be transparent about. Therefore I've decided to lay out my vision for this website in a couple of blog posts, starting with monetization.

Where things stand now

The app is completely free to use, there is no limit to user actions, and I don't see that changing in the foreseeable future. This website is a passion project, mainly there to suit my own needs. The costs are currently negligible and I'm more than happy to pay them out of my own pocket. This is not something put together to generate passive income or make a huge financial success out of it.
That being said, I would love to grow a like-minded community on this website and see other people enjoying it too. But more users mean higher costs, and there is a limit to what I want to spend on a hobby project.
As mentioned, I truly believe websites should be clear about their intentions, so I've laid out three potential scenarios and what monetization would look like in each.

The three scenarios

Scenario 1 is probably the most likely outcome, and it's where we stand now. The website is mainly used by me, my friends and a couple of internet strangers. There won't be any form of monetization, and the small recurring monthly fees are paid out of my own pocket. The website will be slowly developed but maintained for the coming years.

Scenario 2 is the most fun outcome. The website is a small success, with a community of around 200 growers actively using it. Costs increase but remain manageable. They are hopefully split between me and donations from hardcore users, plus maybe some non-intrusive advertisements, but core features remain free and unlimited. The website will be more actively developed based on user feedback and maintained as long as the costs are manageable.

Scenario 3 is the most unlikely. The website becomes a huge success and quickly sees thousands of users. This will skyrocket the monthly hosting costs, and the website can't survive without monetization. There will be premium features and accounts, and a limit on free accounts. The website will be professionally maintained by multiple people.

Some final words

I hope my intentions for this website are clear. To be honest, each scenario has its charm and would be fun to maintain and grow. But what I really hope is that you have fun with this website and that it helps you grow, maintain and develop an awesome bonsai collection, while you share your journey with us along the way.

Cheers!