Nah, don't do this! Not sustainable business for you. This is outdated model for desktop apps. Happy pay annual, since I use Raindrop every day.

I would buy this in an instant. I've been a paid user since the beginning and would love invest in the long term success!

Make it a limited feature with a limit on how many can sign up for it. Would work great to create an initial cash flow.

Chiming in on the lifetime license option. Without judgment of why (or should) software companies offer a Lifetime option - I am observing that MANY software companies are now offering lifetime options. I am guessing it is to bring in needed cash early in the software development, which allows them to create a better product that ultimately gets them to larger counts of paid subscriptions.

I also think it takes into account that a high percentage of customers drop off after a few months or a few years. By locking those customers with a larger lifetime fee - everybody gets what they want.

I very much like the option - and ALWAYS take it for software that I really like when available. Not uncommon is a 3-5 year annual fee.

I would LOVE for raindrop to offer a lifetime license for a limited time, giving them development funds to further develop an already EXCELLENT product - that will attract substantially higher counts of subscribers.

People who suggest things like this clearly don't understand the economics of the real world and/or have never had to make payroll for themselves.

Very bad idea. I guess your employer also doesn't give you a one-off lifetime salary?

I personally always stay away from services/products that offer such licenses. Also when they offer "unlimited" plans.

That's a very bad business model. If people don't like a subscription model, then they're free to go else where. It's better to have less users who pay the subscription that have many with an idiotic lifetime license.

I agree 100%. While it's understandable that businesses need to have enough revenue coming in each month or year to sustain themselves, offering a lifetime license, is often a great way to pull in immediate revenue (even if a lifetime offer is only extended a couple or few times a year as a special). A lifetime offer can usually bring in 2 to 3 times a typical annual license amount. Personally, I shy away from monthly licensing of software and services and greatly prefer a one time lifetime license. Hopefully Raindrop will consider this in the near future. :-) - Gary Gordon (WPBNS)

I don't like subscriptions either, but think they are justified when the software has an ongoing infrastructure requirement that needs to be paid for. In fact if a company is doing this entirely for free you need to ask how they are making their money, which will often involve tracking and selling user activity data.

If you kindly provide a lifetime license maybe year end promotion etc. will sign up afterwards have to pass never won't pay monthly

I understand this request, but as a person who used to be at the mercy of billing one off jobs for people, which was a pain for cashflow, I understand the need for a recurring revenue for the author. - Since I moved to a recurring model of revenue, I am able to better help my clients and do more for them because I dont have to chase my next $ - Ultimately this model breeds a happier client.

Their hosting costs do not go away just because you paid for a longer term license.

Development costs do not go away just because everyone bought a copy. the Dev is constantly updating and working on this.

Think of it more as a rental of his infrastructure/time than a purchase of the software. - the software? is the benefit of you paying the dev a wage.