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Happy Scale, a weight tracking app I really enjoy, had the opposite example: I bought a full license for some bucks some years ago, and later they decided to sw

Happy Scale, a weight tracking app I really enjoy, had the opposite example: I bought a full license for some bucks some years ago, and later they decided to switch to a subscription based model to ensure funding. Instead of going the "hey, here is a new version of the app, you need to subscribe now", they explicitly included a thank-you note directed at everyone that bought the "Premium In-App Purchase" at the beginning, stating that nothing will change for existing Premium Users, that invested in the app right from the start. I definitely share the tone of the article, and cannot understand the reasoning behind such a decision. The fact that I read "MandyCam" instead of "ManyCam" at first, and was wondering what that kind of article is doing here, is just the anecdotal cherry on top.

pridkett 4y ago
Blink Shell for iOS did something similar. I was very pleased - especially as I don’t use the app super often, but it’s really handy when I need it for 30 seconds here and there. Now, because I have the “Blink Classic Plan”, I won’t get every new feature they introduce, but I won’t lose access for my original use case, which is great. Definitely a nice touch from companies looking to build a community.
flrngbl 4y ago
Ultimate Guitar did something similar. The premium account that I bought almost a decade ago got transformed into a free and unlimited premium subscription when they changed their business model some years ago. Overall that worked out pretty well for me, because the new model includes a ton more than what I paid for initially.
MoSattler 4y ago
I mean as far as apps go - happy scale has been top-notch, in terms of value delivered AND business practices. Been a happy subscriber for years.
elbigbad 4y ago
BrainFM (or Brain.FM) (which I really like for focus work time, and sleeping), did this. In 2016 I spent a lot for a one time purchase lifetime unlimited and years later they moved to monthly subscription and continue to honor the lifetime purchase I made. Very happy about this and still use it regularly.
jclardy 4y ago
Thats what I did/will be doing with my old expense tracking app, Amounts. It was a paid app only, some 8 years ago before subscription apps were a thing. 3 years later I moved to free + a singular IAP unlock, existing users were grandfathered in. Now I am doing a complete rewrite of the app for fun on the side, and moving it to a subscription. All existing paid users will have the full subscription unlocked. I also built in a smooth data migration process so they retain all their existing data and functionality. I'd estimate I have about 50 or so long term users from app store install stats, as I didn't have any analytics in the old app. Sadly, for larger companies loyalty to the customer base doesn't make financial sense, when you can make $$$ from new users, and your old users just cost you money to support.
emodendroket 4y ago
Not saying it’s right but the reasoning is easy to understand: offering updates forever for someone who’s never going to give you any more money is profoundly unappealing from a business perspective
- Nexxxeh 4y ago
  But the costs of that customer are generally negligible, whereas the potential loss of advertising from fucking them over may be significant. You're potentially converting your customer into an evangelist for your competitor.
  - emodendroket 4y ago
    It’s not the costs from the customer so much as permanently foreclosing a large portion of your potential revenue.
zoltrix303 4y ago
I had the same experience with Remarkable Tablet. Since i got the tablet as a early adopter, they gave me unlimited cloud connectivity to the tablet. I don't understand why someone buying a high end e-reader like this one should be charged for basic cloud connectivity, so I'm really happy to have it for free.
rahimnathwani 4y ago
Overcast (Marco Arment's podcast app for iOS) did something similar. Originally it was an ad-free freemium app. A one-time IAP unlocked premium features (£2.99). Then all features we made free for all users. (People who already paid were no worse off.) Then ads were added, even for people who had paid the one-off £2.99 early on. The only way to get rid of them is to pay an annual subscription fee. The amounts are small, and the app is great. It's not easy to keep everyone happy and build a sustainable business at the same time.

pridkett 4y ago

Blink Shell for iOS did something similar. I was very pleased - especially as I don’t use the app super often, but it’s really handy when I need it for 30 seconds here and there. Now, because I have the “Blink Classic Plan”, I won’t get every new feature they introduce, but I won’t lose access for my original use case, which is great. Definitely a nice touch from companies looking to build a community.

flrngbl 4y ago

Ultimate Guitar did something similar. The premium account that I bought almost a decade ago got transformed into a free and unlimited premium subscription when they changed their business model some years ago. Overall that worked out pretty well for me, because the new model includes a ton more than what I paid for initially.

MoSattler 4y ago

I mean as far as apps go - happy scale has been top-notch, in terms of value delivered AND business practices. Been a happy subscriber for years.

elbigbad 4y ago

BrainFM (or Brain.FM) (which I really like for focus work time, and sleeping), did this. In 2016 I spent a lot for a one time purchase lifetime unlimited and years later they moved to monthly subscription and continue to honor the lifetime purchase I made. Very happy about this and still use it regularly.

jclardy 4y ago

Thats what I did/will be doing with my old expense tracking app, Amounts. It was a paid app only, some 8 years ago before subscription apps were a thing. 3 years later I moved to free + a singular IAP unlock, existing users were grandfathered in. Now I am doing a complete rewrite of the app for fun on the side, and moving it to a subscription. All existing paid users will have the full subscription unlocked. I also built in a smooth data migration process so they retain all their existing data and functionality. I'd estimate I have about 50 or so long term users from app store install stats, as I didn't have any analytics in the old app. Sadly, for larger companies loyalty to the customer base doesn't make financial sense, when you can make $$$ from new users, and your old users just cost you money to support.

emodendroket 4y ago

Not saying it’s right but the reasoning is easy to understand: offering updates forever for someone who’s never going to give you any more money is profoundly unappealing from a business perspective

Nexxxeh 4y ago
But the costs of that customer are generally negligible, whereas the potential loss of advertising from fucking them over may be significant. You're potentially converting your customer into an evangelist for your competitor.
- emodendroket 4y ago
  It’s not the costs from the customer so much as permanently foreclosing a large portion of your potential revenue.

zoltrix303 4y ago

I had the same experience with Remarkable Tablet. Since i got the tablet as a early adopter, they gave me unlimited cloud connectivity to the tablet. I don't understand why someone buying a high end e-reader like this one should be charged for basic cloud connectivity, so I'm really happy to have it for free.

rahimnathwani 4y ago

Overcast (Marco Arment's podcast app for iOS) did something similar. Originally it was an ad-free freemium app. A one-time IAP unlocked premium features (£2.99). Then all features we made free for all users. (People who already paid were no worse off.) Then ads were added, even for people who had paid the one-off £2.99 early on. The only way to get rid of them is to pay an annual subscription fee. The amounts are small, and the app is great. It's not easy to keep everyone happy and build a sustainable business at the same time.