It is possible to install apps bought in the Mac App Store on an unlimited amount of Macs. The App Store also shows all apps that were bought with an Apple ID f

It is possible to install apps bought in the Mac App Store on an unlimited amount of Macs. The App Store also shows all apps that were bought with an Apple ID for easy installing on, for example, new Macs without any user data. Apps are not deleted or deactivated if someone with a different Apple ID logs into the Mac App Store. Apps are available to all user accounts on a Mac, no matter which one bought the app. The Apple ID doesn’t have to re-entered if an app someone else downloaded is opened†. Apps someone else bought will not stop working after they are copied from one Mac to another, no prompt for the Apple ID appears†. The Apple ID is necessary for updates∆. Legally you are allowed to put your apps on all the Macs you own or control for personal use (i.e. not the Macs at your workplace or school if personal use is not allowed on them), though nothing is preventing you from putting them on every Mac you want to, either by copying† or by re-downloading in the Mac App Store. A credit card is not required for creating an Apple ID. (It is possible to pay with gift cards. In some countries alternate means of payment might also be available.) Apple’s terms of service do, however, require you to be truthful when you sign up – you are legally not allowed to enter a fake name or address. — In my opinion Pixelmator’s pre-App Store DRM was less or about equally permissive. You used to have to enter a serial number, now you have to enter your Apple ID (and I wasn’t even asked for my Apple ID when I was just copying apps around, see †). I’m not sure whether Pixelmator’s license was quite as permissive. (Being able to install apps on all Macs you own or control for personal use is certainly generous.) As for privacy, if you want to pay with a credit card you have to give your data to someone. Either some payment processor like PayPal or directly to the app developers or – now – to Apple. I fail to see the big difference and, as I said, you don’t even have to use a credit card. Is there some reason that makes you believe that Apple is less trustful than whatever payment processor Pixelmator used before? — † Apple’s help documents claim that users may be asked for the Apple ID associated with the purchase after first running the app on a different Mac. In my own testing I was never asked for an Apple ID. I tried several different apps – free and not – with several different Apple IDs on two different Macs. ∆ I’m not sure whether you have to enter the Apple ID of the account that bought the app or whether it is sufficient to simply enter a valid Apple ID and I have no means of testing that right now.