Free Is a Design Choice: Building a Board Game Platform Without Ads or Paywalls

YiBoard, a board game platform, operates on a free-forever model without ads, paywalls, or energy bars. This is not a traffic tactic, but a deliberate design choice. The product philosophy behind YiBoard is to define a category based on free access, rather than using free as a lure for monetization later on.

The philosophy behind this free model is that board games benefit from community growth, with value increasing as the community's quality rises. With free access, YiBoard can attract a larger player base more quickly, and players can face stronger opponents. This commitment to free access over paid features is more important than generating revenue.

Sustainability is key to this model, and YiBoard achieves this through cost discipline. The platform uses a browser-local AI engine, no-login matches, and decentralized record storage. These choices not only make the product more sustainable but also enhance the overall player experience.

YiBoard's business model allows for future optional payments, such as higher AI strength, commemorative badges, and tournament entries. However, these features are only introduced if players genuinely want them. The platform avoids ads entirely, as they would disrupt the match experience and go against the core purpose.

To ensure the model's effectiveness, YiBoard employs three tests for a genuinely free product. First, there should be no hidden paywalls – what is offered should be freely accessible. Second, ads should not interrupt the core gameplay loop; there should be no ad slots on the play page. Lastly, the free version should not be inferior to a paid version, as there should be no comparison point to justify monetization.