We often receive feedback from prospects wondering why FixMe.IT has no perpetual license plan. Let’s be clear on this: perpetual or so-called “lifetime” license is a good marketing hook that attracts lots of new customers, but in the end leaves you paying more than you should. Subscription, in turn, is a more flexible and honest licensing model, which allows you to be in full control of your company’s budget.
In this blog post, we’ll explain why “lifetime” licensing is not what it seems to be.
Nothing is forever
The term “lifetime license” implies that you’re be able to use the purchased tool for as long as you can. Literally, forever. But is there any eternal product in the IT industry?
This is a rhetorical question, because one can’t argue that the IT world is rapidly changing. There will always be upgrades, bug fixes and newer versions released, which makes “lifetime licensing” sound absurd.
Paying for upgrades
If you don’t pay for house renovation, you’re putting yourself at risk of a leaking roof many years down the road. But in the fast-paced IT industry, negative results can be encountered much sooner.
Imagine a situation where you’re unable to assist your clients with an outdated remote desktop tool, which no longer supports the latest browser version or operating system. Obviously, this won’t reflect positively on the bottom line of your business.
Several remote support software vendors falsely market lifetime licenses for their products, when, in fact, such applications come with hidden upgrade fees. Once a new product version is released, the user is given the choice of either staying with their initial version or paying in order to be upgraded to a more recent release. In most cases, new versions are released once a year and involve a significant upgrade fee.
The flexibility of subscription
Unlike “lifetime” licensing, subscription-based pricing guarantees regular product updates and improvements at no extra cost, along with responsive customer support, and compatibility with the latest IT developments.
Essentially, your money is invested in the on-going maintenance and development of the application, which in turn delivers add-on value to your business and improves its bottom line. Besides that, subscription licensing provides you with the flexibility in terms of how and when you pay, making it easier for you to stay in control of your budget.
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