I’m reporting a serious issue with SD Maid that violates F-Droid principles.
The Problem:
SD Maid’s core functionality (cache cleaning) is now blocked behind a mandatory payment. When trying to clean cache, the app shows a message requesting GitHub Sponsors payment and won’t proceed without it.
Details:
The cleanup function displays: “become a sponsor to unlock all features”
Closing this message and retrying brings it back every time
The app is unusable for its main purpose without paying
This is presented as a “request” but functions as a hard paywall
Why this matters:
App is listed as free but core features require payment
This violates F-Droid’s principle of fully functional free apps
Creates precedent for other developers to do the same
Misleads users who expect free, complete functionality
Current behavior:
The cache cleaning simply won’t work without accepting the sponsorship, making this essentially a paid app disguised as free.
This seems like a clear violation of F-Droid policies. Should this app be reviewed/removed?
Thanks for maintaining F-Droid’s integrity.Conciso, factual e respeitoso. Vai direto ao ponto do problema.
Kindly provide snapshots. Also, raise it with developer too.
BTW, which version of SD Maid are you on? Installed from Izzy/Git/F-Droid?
I just tried 1.4.24-rc0 from F-Droid build. Everything worked as required, atleast 3 times that I tried.
Is it on the first try itself? Maybe you installed from GS instead of F-Droid?
I respectfully disagree. The issue isn’t whether it’s “easily bypassed” - it’s the principle itself.
F-Droid’s core value is providing completely free software without ANY commercial pressure or monetization prompts. A payment request screen - even if it’s “just a reminder” - still violates this principle.
F-Droid explicitly states apps should not contain ads, payment prompts, or monetization features. The GitHub Sponsors integration built into the app crosses this line, regardless of how “polite” or “optional” it appears.
If we accept “harmless reminders,” where do we draw the line? Next it could be “harmless banner ads” or “optional premium features.” The F-Droid community chose this platform specifically to avoid ALL forms of commercial pressure.
The app is listed as “free” but displays payment requests during core functionality. This misleads users who expect truly free, pressure-free software from F-Droid.
Either an app is completely free (F-Droid standard) or it contains monetization features (which belongs elsewhere). There’s no middle ground here.
I believe this reflects the vision most people have of F-Droid: a platform free from ads and requests for help, especially when integrated into the main app functions. If this is allowed, what sets F-Droid apart from APKMirror or Play Store? I fear this could set a precedent, with other devs following suit, and the same justification being used. Given the already slow update pace here, why should I stay if I could switch to Play Store for faster updates? I remain with F-Droid because I trust its principles, unlike this stance, which seems to miss what F-Droid stands for.
I am still seeing you are stuck in some loop of understanding here mate. Free as in freedom of stuff, but developers have option to request for donations/some restrictions, that allows them to run.
Free as in do not pay for anything, I am sure world will come to a standstill and still users will say this is not right, so…
Rules matter less than the spirit of F-Droid. If we’re just following regulations, I might as well check the Play Store’s. I trust F-Droid and accept its slow updates because it prioritizes quality and freedom, like Tor Browser and other apps that defend privacy without placing help requests in the main function – they keep it optional in a corner. I never expected this issue to be dismissed so easily. I hope you reconsider the philosophy of 100% free software and don’t archive this post right away. Archiving it feels like ignoring what makes F-Droid special.
Ultimately, it seems like another person who doesn’t get it. F-Droid isn’t just about rules, but about a philosophy of 100% free software, without pressure like SD Maid. If even the moderators lose sight of this, what differentiates us from the Play Store? With that, I conclude my participation.
Note that developers have tried to get free food, free rent, free power, free transportation, and that did not work out. Hence… for the free work they’ve put in these apps, for the time they put in, they need to ask for a donation, else apps die.
Again, you are free to not give them anything, but pretty please with sugar on top don’t come and post entitled rants.
As the other thread said, Android tooling is free, Linux is free, use your free laptop to build the free app from the free source. It’s all in the licensing!
Um, how is asking for help bad? If developer asks for help (because they have to pay the bills), the alternative to people helping is often app just being abandones and dying out.
I would even argue it is morally right to support authors whose apps you use and who ask for help, if you have ANY money to spare.
I mean, even F-droid ITSELF asks for help/donations. It would be hypocritical begrudging others doing the same, would it not?
If this is allowed, what sets F-Droid apart from APKMirror or Play Store?
Apps themselves however might be of various levels of quality, or lacking features you might want, and moreso they could have various antifeatures (and in f-droid client settings you can filter out apps having certain antifeatures like e.g. ads or nonfree assets - I believe if you set f-droid to hide all apps with ANY antifeature, you wouldn’t even see “SD maid” in the app list?)
This Anti-Feature is applied to apps that, although Free Software themselves, promote other Non-Free applications or plugins.
(someone who uses the app should check that, and if needed provide screenshots in request for AF to be added in https://gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroiddata/-/issues/)
Also, charging money for free software is not only explicitly allowed, but software cannot be called “free software” if its license forbids asking for payments. (see e.g. why FUTO-licensed stuff cannot get into f-droid, despite it being gratis and having source available)
