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Comment by bpicolo | Hacker News Reader

While I could understand people being upset about this, I pay for a 1password family subscription. It really is a terrific investment. As far as subscription services go it's about the best bang for my buck that I get. A sustainable service model is important for something I rely on so much - especially something that needs to keep on security lockdown.

Also makes it easy for the family to share hulu, netflix, whatnot.

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I wonder if it's so much better than for example Bitwarden for families, which is $1/month. (https://bitwarden.com )

Also, the switch to the "1password cloud", instead of the already freely available iCloud/Google Cloud/Dropbox etc, just seems like a move to make people believe their expensive subscription are justified. There was absolutely no demand for a "1password cloud".

This entire push to subscription-hell makes me sick...

(i've had 1Password paid versions, OSX & iOS, for like 7 years btw.)

If you look at 1Password features, a lot of them are simply not feasible to implement without having a server-side component. Most of them revolve around sharing, permissions, automatic backups, account recovery, 2FA, etc.

Vault sharing is simply impossible with iCloud. Sharing with Dropbox requires manual set up of shared folders.

If you don't have a server-side component, you already have 2FA - your password and your non-syncing device.

This is a very good point that most people fail to understand. We get frequent demands to add 2FA to standalone vaults... the best we can do is try to explain.

Ben Woodruff

AgileBits

I'd give them the $5 a month for a subscription but I want to host the data on iCloud.

You can do that. It is possible to have a subscription and also host a vault on iCloud.

If you only want to use iCloud then you might be served better with a license.

There was plenty of demand for a "1password cloud" as you call it. It's one of my favorite features.

I like that I don't need a Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, etc. subscription for 1Password to work. It's convenient.

I just switched over as a long time standalone user, and I completely agree. The 1Password Families subscription provides a tremendous amount of value and the product just keeps getting better.

What value does it provide beyond the old family license pack + syncing of shared vaults via free Dropbox tier?

Probably nothing other than ease of use, but the old model isn't part of the equation for me. 5 bucks a month for my whole family to have good password security practices, and for 1password to sustain continuous updates, is a great deal.

Something as critical as "password infrastructure" should absolutely never be a subscription model. Pay software, sure. But by no means should anybody other than you have the ability to refuse access, especially some company where you are nothing but a $5/month number.

I would be more forgiving if the subscription was for value-added features, like dynamic syncing, or remote encrypted storage. But it ain't.

> or remote encrypted storage

That’s a key component of a 1Password subscription, they host your vaults and handle annoying details like access control, etc.

If remote services were an add-on, and nonpayment left your clients still able to use the program, I see no issue. That's not what happens. You're locked out of all your stuff on nonpayment for the "subscription".

This trend of subscription-ifying is horrifying. It's turning users into digital sharecroppers, for a guaranteed line of money. And 'easy-to-import, hard-to-export' is the modus operandi for these companies.

Sure, I'll take the karma hit. I already have with the prior post here. Evidently, people seem on the most part OK with allowing their personal data be trapped behind subscription paywalls... Well, they're OK with it until they're not.

EDIT: Lets make this crystal-clear what my complaint is:

> 1Password 7 from the Mac App Store will only support our hosted service, as that’s what you’re purchasing with a 1Password membership. If you install from our website, you’ll have to option to use a standalone vault synced via iCloud if you purchase a standalone license, or use our hosted service if you purchase a 1Password membership.

No Pay, Forget to Pay, can't afford == FUCKED.

Long story short, they hold your data hostage for the "New and Improved Business Plan".

At first, they're not a monopoly, people who worry about that could easily use other open-source and probably less convenient solution. Secondly, after the subscription ends the apps simply go into read-only mode. You still have access and can export all of your passwords.

We may argue about it but the most expensive solutions are still the most consumer-friendly.

This is not true. You're not locked out.

From 1Password:

  Your data is yours. Even if you cancel your subscription and your account is frozen, you can still sign in to 
  1Password.com or in the apps to view and export your data.

Dynamic syncing and remote encrypted storage is exactly what 1password subscription gives you - I add something and it's available on all my devices right away (or my family's devices if I'm sharing it). There are tons of open source options out there if you're not looking for a paid/hosted option.

I completely disagree. If it is critical then it requires constant monitoring and regular updates.

For families:

* Must simpler setup for sharing

* Permissions (read-only vaults, etc)

* Secret Key that is used in addition to the master password to better protect data stored in the cloud

* Account recovery (can be done by the family organizer for other family members if they forget their password or lose the secret key)

* Travel mode

* Automatic backups

* Individual item history

* Multifactor Authentication (TOTP)

* Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS apps included

* Support for Linix and Chromebooks with the new 1Password X extension.

In addition to that, sync is faster and more reliable. There is no worries about Dropbox/iCloud throttling when you set up a new device, etc.

1Password Teams and Business have additional features that build on top of that.

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