However, when version 2 of the software releases it will require an additional cost. Note: The Affinity Designer does include some updates. But if these updates come at an additional charge, the situation is not much different. That is, of course, unless the software itself is updated to keep up with these changes.

Most software becomes obsolete within a few years due to things like new hardware and operating systems, which means you will have to buy new software or suffer the many issues with having to run an old one. Purchasing the software to own it and use it indefinitely might seem like the most attractive option at first, however, it is not a realistic use scenario. In other words, you don’t actually own the software. Software sold as an ongoing subscription means that you, as the consumer, can use the software as long as you maintain those recurring payments (a.k.a Software as a Service or in short “Saas”). Historically, this is how all software was sold, and it is also how many people at least at a first glance prefer to buy their software. This means you, as the consumer, own the product permanently after making a single payment. Software sold at a one-time fee is similar to how most products are sold (a.k.a. Below, I have outlined the differences and the pros and cons for you as the consumer. In recent years, more and more software companies have been shifting to the SaaS model, as it has several advantages for them. In fact, it is a “thing” in the whole software industry. However, Affinity Designer and many other graphic/drawing software offer free trials.Īs you might already know, the whole one-time fee vs subscription debate does only concern Affinity Designer or other similar drawing software. A monthly fee allows you to test the software cheaply.

With subscriptions, you can pay as long as you need the software if you remember to cancel the subscription in due time 🙂.

With subscriptions, you pay less money up-front, but it might become more expensive in the long run.

However, it usually does not include future updates.

When buying software for a one-time fee, you own it permanently.

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