If an app, or even a website (Pinterest), requires an account when one is not obviously needed for it to function then I don't use it.

Any app that requires me to link my Facebook, Gmail, LinkedIn, Twitter etc account is instantly deleted.

For Facebook because I don't have one and I yet have to meet the app that would make me consider creating one (and edit my hosts to stop blocking all known Facebook domains)

If it requires me to create a username an password where the username is an email address, I decide per app if it makes sense. That means if I have to sign up before I can determine if it makes sense, it's insta-delete as well.

If your service is insanely great or if you are Elon Musk I will likely be more forgiving (but will still not create an FB account).

If I'm curious about an app or service and see a mandatory account requirement then I'm done being curious.

Depends, if it makes sense for them to require an account (like an MMORPG then I don't mind. As long as I don't have to use Google or Facebook. As soon as an app specifically wants some social media SSO I assume they are going to attempt to scan all my contacts and gather everything out of my profile.

> What makes it absolutely necessary for users to sign up before they can try your app?

Offer some kind of reward, like cashapp, paypal, etc...

> Why do I have to give my email even for apps that should be able to work perfectly fine without an internet connection?

Number of users lead to monetization ad a way to reach them a channel to do it.

> Do you track how many potential users are disgusted by this, i.e. by comparing the number of total downloads versus signups?

You should definitely do this. These numbers are vital to create strategies for growth

I do. But we are in minority, I see my non-tech friends giving up their info in all kind of stupid apps, even when it is optional.

I look for alternatives, preferably open-source. I often find them. ("Often" being qualified by the number of apps I install, that isn't many compared to most people.)

P.S. If you use such an app, and there's a route for donating (one way or another), do so. Feed the ecosystem.

Some apps do this to give you access to your data across devices/ecosystems. Especially true of apps that were websites first.

Perhaps Solid data pods will solve this.

The reason is mostly for activation. You have less signups, but more active users as 1) people who care enough to signup stick around more, and 2) with an email you can reactivate users later on.

I’m not saying this is right or wrong, just that these numbers are really well tracked.

I don't buy my gas at those places either...

I have a secondary gmail I use for some signups.

All the time!

I mostly do