Pixelmator will no longer charge interested users upfront for its app.
The company recently announced it had decided to switch from charging users for its app upfront to subscription pricing, allowing it to bill people at regular intervals to increase revenue.
In addition to the new pricing mechanic, Pixelmator also provided a sneak peek of the Mac version of Pixelmator Photo.
Pixelmator Subscription Pricing Details
Pixelmator mentioned in its announcement that people who are just about to get Pixelmator Photo will now have to pay $4.99 per month or $23.99 per year. There is still an option of getting the entire app by paying for it upfront but at the cost of $59.99 instead of the previous $7.99.
The company explained that the switch to subscription pricing was due to the unsustainability of using a one-time purchase model.
With the previous model, the company only makes revenue when there is a new release and/or updates to existing apps that "create buzz" in the media.
Although Pixelmator has done its best to attract as many new users as possible, the money it makes isn't enough to support development costs. Add that to the fact that the team behind Pixelmator is made up of independent developers with no outside funding, and you have an underfunded company most of the time.
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In addition to being underfunded, the lack of revenue means that the development of new updates is slower, and if there is an update made, it could be too drastic for some people, requiring them to take time to learn how to use new tools.
Furthermore, new users stand to gain more with the one-time payment model as they get a better version of the app instead of having just the base version, which users that got the app from square one paid for.
Pixelmator also found that charging $7.99 isn't sustainable in the long run and that putting the app's true value in the app store without a trial run would put off people quickly.
Pixelmator found that with the subscription pricing model, casual people will no longer have to pay upfront for an app they won't regularly use, saving them some money in the long run.
It would also level the playing field for both new and existing users, allowing all to experience the app's new updates without paying for them anymore.
Thankfully, existing users that already got the app before the switch can enjoy the app and its updates for life for free, per 9to5Mac.
Pixelmator Photo For Mac Sneak Peek
Aside from the new subscription pricing, Pixelmator also gave a sneak peek at the Mac version of its app.
The company mentioned that the Mac version would be a completely native app designed from the ground up for the Mac.
Additionally, those who subscribe to Pixelmator Photo now could get its Mac version for free once it is released in late 2022 or in early 2023.
