Pricing Model

[Steve Cichosz]

I am a bit confused by the pricing model for Tap Forms Pro. As I see pricing models, one time download apps like Tap Forms that are stand-alone programs untethered from third party service support would fall under a one-time purchase model. An app that requires ongoing back end service like iCloud, or regular data refresh services like, PictureThis or AccuWeather justify monthly or annual subscription. What are the daily support services requiring Tap forms to solicit service fees in support of back end overhead necessary to facilitate purchased end-client functionality?

Tap Forms is truly one of the great pieces of software for Mac products and would be my pick for the Apple hall of fame if there were such a thing. All the same I would rather not pay every month in perpetuity for a stand-alone app I am dependent on and likely to use for a long time to come. That becomes extremely expensive for the average Joe that isn’t a business accustomed to signing ongoing service contracts with their stand-alone software.

Steve

[timzu]

I don’t mind a subscription model that is reasonably priced if I know what features are being planned in the future. Right now there is no road map and Tap Forms Pro has been out for quite a few months now.
I am definitely not upgrading until iOS layouts are added. I was waiting for those in Tap Forms 5. I know Brenden said he is working on them.

[Brendan]

Hi Steve,

Thank you so much for your very kind words and feedback.

There are certainly apps that I subscribe to myself that don’t provide their own back-end services. Such as Sketch, Tower Git Client, and Sleep Cycle to name just a few. I pay the subscription fees because they continue to improve and support their apps and I benefit from that. And to help support the continued development of their apps.

What if I said “here’s an app for a one-time fee, but you can never ask me a question about it, I won’t provide a support forum, and I’ll never release new features, bug fixes, or improvements”. I’m sure not many people would like that. I wouldn’t like that.

Even though it doesn’t seem like it for Tap Forms, there are ongoing costs for me to continue developing, supporting, and marketing it (and hosting my domains, email, and website).

In my entire history of 17 years of Tap Forms development, I had only ever had one upgrade charge when I released Tap Forms 5. And customers were entitled to a 50% discount, as they are on the first year of Tap Forms Pro. That was pretty good value in my opinion.

Also I haven’t removed Tap Forms 5 from the App Store, so you can certainly get that version for a one-time fee and I am happy to support you for as long as you own it.

I realize subscriptions aren’t for everyone and you do have options with Tap Forms 5, or if you value my continued development of Tap Forms, then you could subscribe to Pro.

I want to continue developing Tap Forms for as long as customers keep enjoying using it, and subscriptions allow me to continue to do that.

Thanks,

Brendan

[Author]

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