In the not-to-distant past, I would buy every other major release of software titles. Usually, I’d upgrade when the version I owned was the last one still eligible for upgrade pricing. Rarely did a new release of the software I use seem compelling enough to justify an immediate expense.
Software customers like me clearly annoyed Adobe, Corel, and Microsoft. Though upgrades were expensive, skipping releases reduced the revenue streams of these publishers. It wasn’t only the software giants, either.
Many niche applications carry painful price tags. Updating those every few years was also a painful necessity.
How did the software publishers respond? They turned to the “Software as a Service” (Saas) model and introduced “subscription pricing.”
Technically, software was also licensed to a person, a computer, or an organization. It was never something we “owned” the way you might own a table or chair. Yes, you could purchase a “perpetual license” but that license only worked as long as your computer and its operating system supported the software.
Today, Susan and I have subscriptions from Adobe, Apple, Microsoft, and more. We need the Adobe Creative Cloud for projects, despite its hefty cost. The business world also requires Microsoft Office applications, especially Word and Excel. The “free” alternatives lack perfect compatibility and lack some features.
We added an Apple One subscription because all four members of our household use Apple computers and devices. The subscription offers a decent value, with Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and additional iCloud storage.
And then there are the niche apps with their subscriptions. Technically, some simply “auto-renew” annually. Still, the costs add up.
Just as video streaming subscriptions quickly add up, so do software subscriptions. The services want you to forget that $4.99 for your favorite British crime shows and $9.99 for classic cinema get added to Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max, and whatever else you pay to stream.
Software subscriptions rely users rationalizing, “Hey, it’s only $10 a month and I do use this application.” What if you only use that app two or three times a year? Is it worth $120 for the year?
Recently, I terminated some software subscriptions. I didn’t renew anything I don’t use at least twice a month. If I’m not using the application that often, I can and should find a free or inexpensive alternative.
As a podcaster, I ended my Zencastr and Descript subscriptions because Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and YouTube all offer ways to transcribe audio files.
MyFitnessPal went to a subscription model for the iOS app. FitBit (“By Google”) wants users to pay annually for premium features. I paid for one year of MyFitnessPal to track my diabetes and used the six months of FitBit Premium. Apple Fitness is included with Apple One. That one subscription for health and fitness was enough.
Check your expenses. Are you paying for software that cannot justify its annual and ongoing cost?