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I recently started using PHPStorm for some of my PHP coding. They have an interesting hybrid purchase model that I consider very fair. The way it works is that

I recently started using PHPStorm for some of my PHP coding. They have an interesting hybrid purchase model that I consider very fair. The way it works is that there's a monthly subscription to start using it. While you're paying monthly, you get every update included. The twist is that, after 12 months of payments, you obtain a perpetual license. If you decide to stop the subscription at any time, you're able to continue using up to the most recent update before you canceled.

modernerd 11y ago
The subscription also costs less in subsequent years if you pay yearly. From year three and onward you pay less than 60% of the year one price. Makes it seem very fair.
- emperioreric 11y ago
  I like that sort of discount. Could easily be setup to just be a 10% discount for every year you've been a paying customer. Encourages loyalty longterm as competitors pop up.
cortesoft 11y ago
So, sort of 'rent-to-own' on the internet?
reitanqild 11y ago
As much as jetbrains has annoyed me, I really love this new business model that they come up with. I almost want to buy a subscription, only I prefer Netbeans. We'll so how long it takes before Oracle finds out it owns Netbeans and destroys it and I have to go back.
- coldtea 11y ago
  I'd try IntelliJ if I were you -- really, Netbeans is no match.
  - reitanqild 11y ago
    I have, time and time again, and I still give it a try every time they release a new version. I even had a license back in the days. I just prefer Netbeans the same I prefer Linux or even modern Windows versions over Mac, even though I have used a Macbook pro for almost three years.
deleted 11y ago
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vallieresa 11y ago
Indeed very interesting. I would love to see Adobe get on that. But I'm sure they still prefer people to pay the full monthly license for ever. :(
dustinchilson 11y ago
That is not the model they use, you fallback farther than you think sometimes. https://sales.jetbrains.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207240845 https://sales.jetbrains.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207240845
- caseysoftware 11y ago
  Thanks for this link. I don't particularly like it but this is the clearest explanation that I've seen. On the plus side, it does encourage them to have a major release every year so they can keep resetting that 12 month clock. And if it's a trivial "major" release, then you can fallback to the last version without much loss. If it's a useful major release, it's motivation for you to hang around.
- true_religion 11y ago
  You fall back to whatever release was available 12 calendar months ago. I think it's pretty simple, and easy to figure out what you have.
smackfu 11y ago
IntelliJ uses same model I believe.
- vr3690 11y ago
  It's the same company - jetbrain. I think PHPstorm, webstorm, etc are forks of intellij
ank_the_elder 11y ago
I use their tools daily and would happily pay 2-3x more per year easily. They deserve every cent and more.

modernerd 11y ago

The subscription also costs less in subsequent years if you pay yearly. From year three and onward you pay less than 60% of the year one price. Makes it seem very fair.

emperioreric 11y ago
I like that sort of discount. Could easily be setup to just be a 10% discount for every year you've been a paying customer. Encourages loyalty longterm as competitors pop up.

cortesoft 11y ago

So, sort of 'rent-to-own' on the internet?

reitanqild 11y ago

As much as jetbrains has annoyed me, I really love this new business model that they come up with. I almost want to buy a subscription, only I prefer Netbeans. We'll so how long it takes before Oracle finds out it owns Netbeans and destroys it and I have to go back.

coldtea 11y ago
I'd try IntelliJ if I were you -- really, Netbeans is no match.
- reitanqild 11y ago
  I have, time and time again, and I still give it a try every time they release a new version. I even had a license back in the days. I just prefer Netbeans the same I prefer Linux or even modern Windows versions over Mac, even though I have used a Macbook pro for almost three years.

deleted 11y ago

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vallieresa 11y ago

Indeed very interesting. I would love to see Adobe get on that. But I'm sure they still prefer people to pay the full monthly license for ever. :(

dustinchilson 11y ago

That is not the model they use, you fallback farther than you think sometimes. https://sales.jetbrains.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207240845 https://sales.jetbrains.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207240845

caseysoftware 11y ago
Thanks for this link. I don't particularly like it but this is the clearest explanation that I've seen. On the plus side, it does encourage them to have a major release every year so they can keep resetting that 12 month clock. And if it's a trivial "major" release, then you can fallback to the last version without much loss. If it's a useful major release, it's motivation for you to hang around.
true_religion 11y ago
You fall back to whatever release was available 12 calendar months ago. I think it's pretty simple, and easy to figure out what you have.

smackfu 11y ago

IntelliJ uses same model I believe.

vr3690 11y ago
It's the same company - jetbrain. I think PHPstorm, webstorm, etc are forks of intellij

ank_the_elder 11y ago

I use their tools daily and would happily pay 2-3x more per year easily. They deserve every cent and more.