Starting with version 3.0.0, HadisKu is now completely ad-free.
I also removed:
- In-app purchases (IAP)
- Subscriptions
- Unnecessary tracking / analytics
For some people, this may sound like a small update.
But for me, it was a very important decision.
Because honestly, this was never just about removing ads.
It was about bringing HadisKu back to its original intention.
What is HadisKu?
HadisKu is an Islamic app I built to help Muslims read, search, and study hadith more comfortably.
It brings together collections from 14 major hadith sources in one place, with a focus on simplicity, accessibility, and a clean reading experience.
From the beginning, I wanted HadisKu to feel:
- calm
- lightweight
- useful
- respectful
- focused on learning
Not like a content app that tries to maximize attention.
Not like a product that keeps asking for money every few steps.
Just a simple place to read and learn.
Why removing ads mattered
Ads are common in mobile apps.
And I understand why.
For many indie developers, ads are often the easiest way to support development. Sometimes they are necessary. Sometimes they are the only practical option.
But HadisKu is not just another utility app.
This is an app people open to read hadith.
To reflect.
To learn quietly.
To search for knowledge.
And over time, I started to feel that ads created friction in a place that should feel calm.
Even if the ads were “normal,” they still changed the feeling of the app.
They made the experience less focused.
Less peaceful.
Less aligned with why I built HadisKu in the first place.
So eventually, I had to ask myself a simple question:
If this app is meant to help people learn hadith, why should that experience be interrupted?
That question stayed with me for a long time.
This is bigger than a product update
Removing ads sounds like a technical change.
But for me, it was also a values decision.
With HadisKu 3.0.0, I wanted to make the app feel more honest.
More intentional.
More aligned with the purpose of the project.
That’s why I removed not only ads, but also:
- in-app purchases
- subscriptions
- anything unnecessary that adds friction
I wanted HadisKu to become simpler again.
Not just in UI.
But in spirit.
I want it to be an app that feels comfortable to open without distractions.
An app that respects the user’s attention.
An app that doesn’t constantly try to monetize every interaction.
An app that feels better suited for learning religious knowledge.
HadisKu 3.0.0 is also a meaningful update
This release is not only about removing monetization.
Version 3.0.0 also includes several improvements that came directly from user feedback:
- A refreshed app icon
- Arabic text search
-
Hadith detail order settings
- Arabic → Indonesian
- Indonesian → Arabic
-
Arabic text alignment settings
- Left
- Right
- Justify
A few of these updates were inspired by suggestions from users who took the time to share thoughtful feedback.
That kind of support matters more than many people realize.
For an indie project, sometimes one message, one suggestion, or one kind review can shape the direction of an entire release.
And I’m genuinely grateful for that.
Building small apps teaches you strange things
One thing I keep learning as an indie developer is this:
Sometimes the best product decision is not adding more.
Sometimes it’s removing things.
Removing clutter.
Removing noise.
Removing monetization that no longer feels right.
Removing systems that slowly pull the project away from its purpose.
As developers, we often talk about features, growth, retention, and optimization.
But sometimes the real question is much simpler:
Does this still feel true to what I wanted to build?
For HadisKu, version 3.0.0 is my attempt to answer that question honestly.
I still want HadisKu to keep growing
Removing ads doesn’t mean I want the project to stop growing.
Actually, I want the opposite.
I want HadisKu to become more useful, more refined, and more beneficial over time.
There is still a lot I want to improve.
There are still features I want to build.
There are still platforms I want to support better.
But I want that growth to happen in a way that feels healthier for the product and more respectful to the people who use it.
For now, that means choosing a cleaner direction.
A quieter direction.
A more intentional direction.
If you use HadisKu, thank you
If you have ever downloaded HadisKu, used it, shared it, reviewed it, or sent feedback — thank you.
Projects like this are never built by one person alone, even if one person writes most of the code.
Every suggestion matters.
Every bug report matters.
Every kind word matters.
And sometimes, every honest discomfort matters too.
HadisKu 3.0.0 exists because of that.
Read the original story
If you want to read the original story behind this update, I wrote a longer version on my personal blog:
Original post:
HadisKu kini tanpa iklan
Try HadisKu
If you want to try the app:
Google Play:
HadisKu on Google Play
Final thought
HadisKu 3.0.0 is not the biggest app update in the world.
But for me, it might be one of the most honest ones.
Sometimes progress looks like adding features.
And sometimes progress looks like removing the things that no longer belong.
For HadisKu, this was one of those moments.
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