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Yes, we hate subscriptions. However, which apps do you choose to subscribe to?

MacBH928 said:
How does it compare to 1password? better or worse?
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I used both Enpass and 1Password as I knew I would eventually be phasing out the latter due to its subscription (though for now I am paying it).

Enpass is excellent. It is probably the best 1Password replacement. The interface is not as slick, but it does work just as well.

There is a one-time payment you must make on both the OS X and iOS platforms for the app.

You can even import all of your 1Password data into it
 
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I like App Subscriptions if it's an app that deserves it. For example, Netflix and Spotify shouldn't be single payments really for what you get. So that's fine.

  • Apple Music (for me)
  • iTunes Match (too many songs that aren't on Apple Music)
  • Spotify (kids prefer it)
  • Netflix (although might drop it)
  • Amazon Prime (Free student account)
  • Bear (It's $2 a month for device syncing)
  • Strava
  • Apple Arcade (for the kids)
 
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Akrapovic said:
I like App Subscriptions if it's an app that deserves it. For example, Netflix and Spotify shouldn't be single payments really for what you get. So that's fine.

  • Apple Music (for me)
  • iTunes Match (too many songs that aren't on Apple Music)
  • Spotify (kids prefer it)
  • Netflix (although might drop it)
  • Amazon Prime (Free student account)
  • Bear (It's $2 a month for device syncing)
  • Strava
  • Apple Arcade (for the kids)
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Those are mostly cloud-based services, though. I'm more than fine paying subscription for those.

What I resent is having to pay a continuous monthly subscription for something that's built-in to the app and doesn't require the developer to provide server-based support.
 
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rui no onna said:
Those are mostly cloud-based services, though. I'm more than fine paying subscription for those.

What I resent is having to pay a continuous monthly subscription for something that's built-in to the app and doesn't require the developer to provide server-based support.
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That is THE most important point to make here.

Many apps who don't rely on any service that is costing them extra chose to get greedy and go to a subscription model.
 
Netflix, Prime (For video, shopping, and music), Audible

Office365, Private Internet Access

Calm (I meditated regularly for a few months. It's faded away, but it's useful and I will get back to it),
Peppa Pig (It makes my kid do useful things on iPad and I find it worth it. Probably worth it for a few months.)

Storage - iCloud 50 GB.

Few apps I have bought that have gone subscription route: (Well, there are several such apps, but these are ones I regularly use, so would be worth it to have paid subscription if that was the only option) - Polar photo editor, iCardio workout tracker.
 
I think subscriptions can only be justified if the company provides an ongoing service. Netflix for example keeps adding shows, a hosting provider will keep operating the servers that host your site. A one off app that has no costs to run shouldn't charge a subscription, no matter how much the developers might try to justify it.
 
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I think what you have are services mostly, except like 1Password etc. I am okay with service subscription, but I'm not okay with things like a gym logger or calculator app asking for a $139 subscription per year. Apple Music, VPN, etc., those are okay.
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Namara said:
I don't hate subscriptions; for some apps, they're useful.

Spotify, Prime Video (I switch streaming services every month or so), iCloud, FileBrowserGo.
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exactly, if the app is a portal for on-going services, that's a good business model, but for apps that are just apps, it's just disgusting.
 
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Akrapovic said:
I like App Subscriptions if it's an app that deserves it. For example, Netflix and Spotify shouldn't be single payments really for what you get. So that's fine.

  • Apple Music (for me)
  • iTunes Match (too many songs that aren't on Apple Music)
  • Spotify (kids prefer it)
  • Netflix (although might drop it)
  • Amazon Prime (Free student account)
  • Bear (It's $2 a month for device syncing)
  • Strava
  • Apple Arcade (for the kids)
Click to expand...

Doesn't Apple Music include iTunes Match?
 
I think we forget how many subscriptions we pay for and I remember an app a while ago that would track those for you but i can't remember the name now.

1Password - £35/year
Amazon Prime - £79/year
Office 365 - £75/year
Netflix - £144/year
iCloud 2TB - £84/year
Disney+ - £49/year
Spotify Premium - £99/year
YNAB - £60/year

Total: £625 - OUCH!!
 
mnsportsgeek said:
Doesn't Apple Music include iTunes Match?
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Nope. It does more or less the same thing, but your music tracks will be DRM-ed by Apple Music. Not with iTunes Match. Even if your track is matched, your track will be DRM free with iTunes Match. So you can download it and it'll play after your iTunes Match subscription ends, any Apple Music download will stop playing after you stop your subscription.

Concerning software subscriptions. I don't consider the service based apps software subscriptions (Netflix, iCloud, VPN, etc.). You subscribe to the service and you just need the app to make use of that service. Pure software subscriptions are a no go for me (Cyberlink, Nero, Parallels, etc.). Luckily most that I use still offer perpetual licenses, but for how long? Office 365 falls somewhere in between. For the money you pay MS you would only get the cloud storage if you go to the competition, the Office apps are more or less a free bonus. I'm still reluctant to switch though and stick to my perpetual license of Office 2019.
 
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mdekker said:
Nope. It does more or less the same thing, but your music tracks will be DRM-ed by Apple Music. Not with iTunes Match. Even if your track is matched, your track will be DRM free with iTunes Match. So you can download it and it'll play after your iTunes Match subscription ends, any Apple Music download will stop playing after you stop your subscription.

Concerning software subscriptions. I don't consider the service based apps software subscriptions (Netflix, iCloud, VPN, etc.). You subscribe to the service and you just need the app to make use of that service. Pure software subscriptions are a no go for me (Cyberlink, Nero, Parallels, etc.). Luckily most that I use still offer perpetual licenses, but for how long? Office 365 falls somewhere in between. For the money you pay MS you would only get the cloud storage if you go to the competition, the Office apps are more or less a free bonus. I'm still reluctant to switch though and stick to my perpetual license of Office 2019.
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Ah thanks! I didn't even know you could subscribe to both separately.
 
mdekker said:
Pure software subscriptions are a no go for me (Cyberlink, Nero, Parallels, etc.). Luckily most that I use still offer perpetual licenses, but for how long? Office 365 falls somewhere in between. For the money you pay MS you would only get the cloud storage if you go to the competition, the Office apps are more or less a free bonus. I'm still reluctant to switch though and stick to my perpetual license of Office 2019.
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Sadly, if you want Office on >10.1" iPads, you'll need Office 365 so I'm forced to get that. Before, I used to buy non-auto renew versions discounted from Amazon for ~$80 or so. I don't think that's an option in future so I might just subscribe via iTunes and pay using 15-20% discount iTunes gift cards.

Personally, even if I have 365, I'm still using a perpetual Office 2010 license on the desktops.
 
Google:

Multiple Google Apps Subscriptions for my Company

Google Drive Extra Storage 1TB

YouTube Premium Family

Microsoft 365 Family

2 iCloud

Apple Music

Truecaller

Tinder

Bumble

Aisle

Floh

EverNote

Altbalaji

Amazon Prime Multiple

Netflix

Hulu

Zee5

SonyLiv

Voot

Gaana

Apple TV+

Apple Music

ExpressVPN

HotStar Disney

Boomerang Gmail

Bananatag

Invoicely

SyncGene

Probably a few more.
 
BeatCrazy said:
Curious, why?
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Office 2010 does everything I require and it's already paid for. It will continue working even if I don't renew Office 365. I have let my sub lapse since I don't always need Excel on the iPad and just renew as-needed. Plus, lower chance I hit the device limit on Office 365.

I did something similar with HBO Now. Sign up when Game of Thrones starts and then cancel when it's done.
 
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rui no onna said:
Office 2010 does everything I require and it's already paid for. It will continue working even if I don't renew Office 365. I have let my sub lapse since I don't always need Excel on the iPad and just renew as-needed. Plus, lower chance I hit the device limit on Office 365.

I did something similar with HBO Now. Sign up when Game of Thrones starts and then cancel when it's done.
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I do the same. I was given Office 2010 through work for mainly Excel but now that I am retired a rarely have a personal use for it. When I finally upgrade from Sierra I will probably just use Numbers when I need a spreadsheet. It turns out as far as Office is concerned for home I have no need for it.
 
None. No streaming subscriptions or monthly software “rentals”.

I run a perpetual licensed copy of:

Lightroom 6.14
Office 2016

I’ve also paid for licenses of many software apps/utilities:

Carbon Copy Cloner
Cyclemeter
Myki
Tapatalk
...
 
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