Pricing debates are back in the Mac and iOS app scene. Indie developers are juggling subscription shifts, lifetime options, and generous free tiers to boost discovery and sustain revenue.
Licensing shift: Screen Studio goes subscription — Screen Studio has removed its non-subscription licensing options. An email from founder Adam explains the move toward ongoing subscriptions rather than one-time licenses [1]. Existing buyers aren’t left out: they’ll receive two years of updates through September 25, 2027, after which the app remains usable [1]. Some commenters point to free or cheaper alternatives like Screen Sage and Cap.so.
Limited-time freebies and lifetime unlocks - Smart Task Focus Timer: Clarity — Free for 24 hours with a lifetime unlock for the first 100 downloads; originally priced at $49.99 [2]. - Auto Align — Lifetime purchase originally €19.99, FREE until 30 Sept [3].
Spenzy — 100% free to use, with no ads and no data collection; all features are free, with only the AI feature having a reasonable usage limit [4].
Across Mac and iOS, these moves show indie devs testing pricing to grow discoverability while keeping access open. Watch how these experiments shape future launches.
References
Screen Studio has removed their non-subscription licensing options
Mac app licensing shift; Screen Studio moves to subscription; users debate pricing, lifetime deals, and suggest alternatives in macOS ecosystem.
View source[iOS] Smart Task Focus Timer: Clarity — Free for 24 Hours (Lifetime Unlock, First 100 Downloads Only!)
iOS app Clarity: focus timer with task manager; free for 24 hours; mixed store availability; UI praised; several issues noted.
View sourceAuto Align: Instantly Fix Perspective in Your Photos – My First Indie App! (Lifetime purchase originally €19.99, FREE until 30th Sept)
Indie iOS app Auto Align fixes perspective via Photos extension; price free period, seeks user feedback on features and pricing.
View sourceMade a simple yet sleek expense tracker app and it’s totally free!
OP released Spenzy, a free iOS expense tracker, sparking widget, currency, syncing and feature discussions with many requests from users.
View source