From my understanding apps are able to have versions for their free and pro apps without having to keep them separate. The dev has stated that all of the trackers present in the app are google trackers for him to get revenue from ads and are stripped from the paid version. I only know this cause over the years on his reddit app it would come up from time to time, one memorable example when someone was complaining about getting NSFW ads in the app and how any self-respecting user would use an app that showed those ads… Turns out they had ad personalization turned on and their history shared some light about the sorts of sites they were searching for lol.

What, yeah, definitely points against having tracking. But also small time developers don’t have to follow FOSS when they just want to provide a good service for free with ads, and Google Play Store is the easiest way to make that happen for him. He made enough from Boost for Reddit monthly that it negatively impacted him during the API change. Maybe I’m a fool for having some trust here and there, but I also just don’t care too much.

But, I know others do so that’s why I always mention that as a possible shortcoming and let people decide from there.