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Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

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Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#31

Post by Buttons840 »

system_sleep wrote: post #18
Kluny wrote: post #17

JetBrains style - pay for a license to use the software forever, and get a year's worth of updates. Buy a new licence after a year if they want the next update. Maybe offer a discount for renewal.

In case it's not common knowledge, make sure license key requires a server-side verification.

Maybe. One of the primary advantages of offline software is that it can be used offline. If you're going to require people to connect to your server you might as well make it a web app.

To be fair, it's not really all or nothing like that, but remember that offline software is already a niche market. Is it better to go half-way into a niche market, or all the way? In other words, your users likely chose your software over the dozens of online offerings because it is an offline app, and then the very first thing you do is make them connect to your server.

Although, I don't see any downsides of doing server-side verification if there is a network connection available, it would be nice if offline software could work on a computer that was offline.

I'm working on a side-project that I may sell as offline software. One of my marketing claims will be that the users own the software forever. They wont experience a "UI upgrade" that makes things worse, and if I go out of business their software will still work for decades or longer. I cannot honestly make that claim if I require server-side verification. I'm betting that my niche users will care about this; if not I have no product because there are dozens of online competitors.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#32

Post by egypturnash »

Sell keys. Why are you trying to make this complicated? Don't encrypt the user's data and hold it for ransom, that's just insane.

You could also just release it as shareware. Especially if you're writing this because you take part in this kind of event and have gotten a lot out of the general weightlifting community; now you're giving something back. Have a splash screen asking people to send you some money (maybe with a suggested donation) or a note with their thanks.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#33

Post by NullPrefix »

michaelt wrote: post #19
aerojoe23 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you say normal product, do you mean users will have to buy the next version? We should be responsible developers with the ability to patch insecurities in the software we sell. You're also going to have feature requests you'd like to publish to your users. As a sole developer one evergreen version seems much easier to maintain for both these concerns. And I think a subscription model or some recurring payment mo…

How many insecurities are there going to be in software that doesn't connect to the internet or process input from untrusted users?

It's an electron app, what more could you ask for?

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#34

Post by NullPrefix »

kabdib wrote: post #26

Encrypting results seems indistinguishable from holding the customer's data hostage. That's not a great place to be, especially if an event is in Outer Qlyphm and the participants want their results now , not when the caravan returns from civilization. Just charge for the software, provide a download link, and have a simple activation step. Most of your users are not going to be technically capable of bypassing even…

>your users are not going to be technically capable

Did you just assume weightlifters aren't technically capable?

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#35

Post by mattchamb »

NullPrefix wrote: post #34
kabdib wrote: post #26

Encrypting results seems indistinguishable from holding the customer's data hostage. That's not a great place to be, especially if an event is in Outer Qlyphm and the participants want their results now , not when the caravan returns from civilization. Just charge for the software, provide a download link, and have a simple activation step. Most of your users are not going to be technically capable of bypassing even…

>your users are not going to be technically capable Did you just assume weightlifters aren't technically capable?

Assume all users are not technically capable

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#36

Post by GordonS »

system_sleep wrote: post #18
Kluny wrote: post #17

JetBrains style - pay for a license to use the software forever, and get a year's worth of updates. Buy a new licence after a year if they want the next update. Maybe offer a discount for renewal.

In case it's not common knowledge, make sure license key requires a server-side verification.

While it's becoming rarer, it's worth noting that not all targets are going to have an internet connection. For example, in a typical large enterprise, not all servers will have internet access (neither directly or through proxy) for security reasons.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#37

Post by arielm »

I completely agree with all the comments that suggest a time-based licensed or paying per major version/updates. But have a small suggestion.

In addition to offline functionality, can there be any type of online functionality built-in as a convenience? I’m thinking automatic backups when an event ends, sharing results to a portal for competitors to log into later, etc.

If there is, you can use a hybrid model and offer those as a subscription with a fixed license or (depending on price) a more expensive monthly that will bundle the fixed license.

Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#38

Post by owaislone »

> So far my idea is to encrypt the results of the competition after it is complete. The user would then need to connect to the internet after the competition, log in, pay, and then could get their decrypted competition results. Alternatively, I could just sell it like a normal product, $x/per download...

This would be so annoying for customers. I'm sure your customers will not expect this to happen no matter how many warnings you so and when it does, they'll be furious that you let them use it first and then locked in their data forcing them to pay.

Why not make it a subscription and make the app lock down if it cannot contact your server to verify its subscription key let's say every week or so. Most traditional desktop apps followed this model. It can also let you charge them based on the usage or volume of data so you can have subscription plans. Of course people talented and inclined enough can find ways around it but I wouldn't worry about that as much.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#39

Post by owaislone »

Kluny wrote: post #17

JetBrains style - pay for a license to use the software forever, and get a year's worth of updates. Buy a new licence after a year if they want the next update. Maybe offer a discount for renewal.

Wait, if you JetBrains license expires, you can still use the product without receiving updates? I thought it would allow a grace period like the demos and then refuse to work.

Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize software that runs mostly offline?

#40

Post by morpheuskafka »

Kluny wrote: post #17

JetBrains style - pay for a license to use the software forever, and get a year's worth of updates. Buy a new licence after a year if they want the next update. Maybe offer a discount for renewal.

I won't link them here, but JetBrains has been struggling with many pirate license servers. Apparently those required a lot less effort to do than cracking traditional product keys.
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