For macOS for 99/year you're getting nice green pass on Gatekeeper.

For 400$/ year you're getting nothing. I was told here that I could go lower, but this is what I was paying for last decade.

> I will definitely pull this thread out next time someone complain that Apple is too expensive and that they are milking the poor developers...

Other companies also milking their developers does not invalidate this argument.

They're both too expensive?

(The only acceptable price is $0, IMO.)

You can deliver unsigned Windows apps.

You can deliver unsigned Mac apps too, just not on the MAS.

Running an unsigned app requires a separate option that's reasonably well-hidden, however [0], so it's difficult to avoid the signing requirement if you're going to distribute your app to a wide audience.

[0] https://www.macworld.com/article/3140183/how-to-install-an-a...

The are blocked by default from the latest two of three versions of macOS. You'll have to explain your users to right-click on the app icon and click Open to launch your app.

You can buy a Comodo Code Sign cert for $95 if you buy from a reseller rather than direct.

According to juliusmusseau's comment, you can even get it down to $61/year. (I've used KSoftware for signing certs before and would recommend them too.)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19330504