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Yes. I have some audio waveform generation software I use only once in a long while. I paid about $50 for it almost 5 years ago. If it were SaaS, I'd have paid

Yes. I have some audio waveform generation software I use only once in a long while. I paid about $50 for it almost 5 years ago. If it were SaaS, I'd have paid a lot more than that over the last 5 years. A long time ago I worked out an agreement with a local gym. To avoid a membership that I would only need for a few months (I was living in a hotel temporarily with no access to my own equipment), I paid $10 each time I showed up. This could be a useful model for rarely-used software.

crazygringo 3y ago
> I paid $10 each time I showed up. This could be a useful model for rarely-used software. But it already is. Pay for a month and then cancel. Repeat each time you need it. I don't understand why people are assuming you have to pay continuously for years instead of just paying for the months you actually use.
- Panzer04 3y ago
  It's a bit frustrating having to "subscribe" and cancel almost everything. I barely signup to anything and I still forget that I'm subscribed to things. Companies are fully aware that many, many people forget about charges on their card and leech off those for extended periods.
  - crazygringo 3y ago
    Sure but it's also super cheap. That's the benefit. That's the tradeoff. And it's as easy as setting a calendar reminder. I do wish you could pay a month without auto renewal turned on, but it's also not a big deal. You can also often just cancel auto-renew immediately after paying, so no need even for a calendar reminder.
  - abandonliberty 3y ago
    You can immediately cancel after purchase. It seems like legally they have to allow you to keep the software until the end of the current period.
- HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
  Because the friction of signing up, going through any onboarding process and then canceling a month later (assuming cancelling isn't major hassle) is a pain in the ass that I don't want to have to deal with. I don't think you realize that people willingly pay for convenience.

crazygringo 3y ago

> I paid $10 each time I showed up. This could be a useful model for rarely-used software. But it already is. Pay for a month and then cancel. Repeat each time you need it. I don't understand why people are assuming you have to pay continuously for years instead of just paying for the months you actually use.

Panzer04 3y ago
It's a bit frustrating having to "subscribe" and cancel almost everything. I barely signup to anything and I still forget that I'm subscribed to things. Companies are fully aware that many, many people forget about charges on their card and leech off those for extended periods.
- crazygringo 3y ago
  Sure but it's also super cheap. That's the benefit. That's the tradeoff. And it's as easy as setting a calendar reminder. I do wish you could pay a month without auto renewal turned on, but it's also not a big deal. You can also often just cancel auto-renew immediately after paying, so no need even for a calendar reminder.
- abandonliberty 3y ago
  You can immediately cancel after purchase. It seems like legally they have to allow you to keep the software until the end of the current period.
HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
Because the friction of signing up, going through any onboarding process and then canceling a month later (assuming cancelling isn't major hassle) is a pain in the ass that I don't want to have to deal with. I don't think you realize that people willingly pay for convenience.