Time-limited promos and lifetime access are the tiny levers driving early adoption for iOS/macOS apps. Five fresh launches show how urgency and a risk-free try can turbocharge onboarding and spark quick feedback loops.
holos — a sticker maker for iPhone and iPad. It offered a lifetime FREE for 72 hours window to try paid features, aiming to crowdtest onboarding and feedback. The onboarding was great, but a reviewer uninstalled early after feeling the holo vibe didn’t land. [1]
Alera — mental health app with clinicians; it’s lifetime free for 1 week (normally $99.99). The app uses CBT-based micro-exercises and a weekly plan to help users engage and share feedback during the promo. [2]
Swiper — Photo Delete Swipe offers free lifetime access until October 10; users who install before that date stay as Plus forever, even after reinstall. It’s a clean hook to build a core user base before monetization. [3]
Prophecy — idea/goal tracker that’s free to download and lets you create your first prophecy; a paid Pro tier starts at $0.99 per week or $29.99 per year. The free entry returns early signals on what users actually want from the notes-and-links workflow. [4]
Filamentory — 3D printing inventory manager with a free version no item limit and a Pro version at $0.99 unlocking features like a shopping list and parts tracking. [5]
Promos like these shorten the feedback loop, letting creators see what sticks before locking in long-term monetization.
References
[$49.99 -> Lifetime FREE for 72 hours!] holos - sticker maker
New iOS sticker maker holos promotes free lifetime offer; users discuss pricing, bugs, export, and future features.
View source🚀 [$99.99 → Lifetime FREE] Mental Health App Alera is Free for 1 Week!
Alera iOS mental-health app; free-for-week offer; personalized therapy plans; mixed onboarding; ChatGPT comparison; seeking user feedback and data privacy concerns.
View source[FREE] Lifetime access until 10 October for app Swiper - Photo Delete Swipe
Promo for iOS photo deletion swipe app, lifetime access before Oct 10; user feedback on iCloud, language, bugs, and Swipewipe.
View sourceJust launched my new app Prophecy - a simple way to turn scattered links & notes into real progress by getting a custom weekly newsletter to stay on track!
New iOS app Prophecy turns links and notes into goal-focused progress with weekly newsletter; free baseline, pro subscription.
View sourceI just launched my app, a tool for those in the 3D printing world
Announces Filamentory, an iOS app for 3D printing inventory; free plan with unlimited items, Pro $0.99, App Store link.
View source