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Spark email client goes subscription path

sparkmailapp.com

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Re: Spark email client goes subscription path

#4

Post by danpalmer »

Subscriptions are uncontroversial when there's a perceived cost to the user of the ongoing usage. In fact I believe it tracks very closely with the "Cost of Goods Sold" (COGS).

No one questions whether Dropbox should be a one-off price or a subscription, there's obviously ongoing cost to storing the data. However for apps that don't have this there's always going to be push back.

Developers typically point to customer support and maintenance as reasons, but customer support is not typically part of COGS as it's not part of the product, most users won't use it, so counting the cost per user doesn't really work. Any user can justify why they won't use support. As for maintenance, this wasn't a problem when software got new versions every year or so with upgrade pricing.

Devs looking for ways to build sustainable business is great, but it's also reasonable for users to reject subscriptions where there's no explicit cost to providing that software.

Re: Spark email client goes subscription path

#6

Post by barbazoo »

danpalmer wrote: post #4

Subscriptions are uncontroversial when there's a perceived cost to the user of the ongoing usage. In fact I believe it tracks very closely with the "Cost of Goods Sold" (COGS). No one questions whether Dropbox should be a one-off price or a subscription, there's obviously ongoing cost to storing the data. However for apps that don't have this there's always going to be push back. Developers typically point to custome…

For ongoing development there already exists a model where you buy a license that lets you use the current version plus maybe any upgrades happening in the next X months. I'd be happy to regularly pay 5 or 10 bucks for an app I love if it gets updates but that's not what we're seeing I think. The current model is based on subscriptions because of exactly one reason. Hope that the consumer forgets about the recurring charge.

Re: Spark email client goes subscription path

#7

Post by haswell »

When apps like Ulysses and 1Password went down the subscription route, I had no issue with it because Ulysses has continued to get better and better over time (by adding great new features), and I use 1Password's cloud sync service (and I think there's an argument to be made that password management apps need to continue evolving with the web to maintain usability).

I realize Spark is doing a bit more than your run-of-the-mill email client, but I see that as an implementation detail / architectural decision more than I see that as a feature as an end user.

The email client space is mostly commoditizated, and the feature set is mostly standardized. I think that's why putting some of these features behind a subscription tier feels so gross to me.

Syncing my contacts to some cloud service and doing something special with them? Sure, charge me for that. Running my emails through some special spam service? (not that this is necessary if you use a decent provider), sure, charge for that.

Mute Thread and Group by Sender cost $4.99/month? No thank you.

I've been a Spark user for a long time, but I have no intention of paying for "Group by Sender", thank you very much.

Re: Spark email client goes subscription path

#8

Post by WallyFunk »

It's the dream of any software vendor to go subscription only. You need recurring revenue. Once off 'lifetime licenses' are not sustainable in the long run, and are subject to piracy and 'cracked' versions of your software distributed on underground warez sites.

Look at 1Password. I own a lifetime license of their (old) password manager software, but have since switched to their subscription based offering, since it's a service that does the job well and I want to support them, and I trust them to be a good steward of my data.

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