Software I Pay For

I will pay for software, but I absolutely refuse to pay a subscription. Fortunately my Android/iPadOS software needs are unremarkable, so I've been lucky so far.

What REALLY annoys me is Google Play's apparent reluctance to tell me how my "in-app purchase" will be. As an example, I spent a few hours evaluating apps to let me edit multi-track audio files. I finally found a good one, only to find that if I wanted to buy (licence) the Pro version I'd need to pay the developers via Google an unspecified amount immediately, and no refunds! I looked on the developers web site and found no information there. So I've given up and will be editing sound files on Audacity on Linux.

> Or maybe it’s because I’m tired? Tired of all the ads and the hamstrung functionality (e.g. unable to play background Youtube videos on mobile). I know ad blockers exist for desktop and, to some degree, mobile, but is it really worth it?

Yes? Ads suck; using a phone with adblock is easy. If your phone isn't manufactured by vampires that hate you, you can even sideload that stuff for free.

You very clearly are tired; I can't even imagine paying $50 a year for half that stuff. Like, 1Password doesn't need my money if I'm paying iCloud for storage I could put my Keepass in. And I don't have to pay for iCloud if I'm using Syncthing to sync local storage for free. In a lot of ways this sort of lifestyle signals to me that you're not trying alternatives and have given-in to the repeat customer mindset the market wants from you. Google takes your YouTube Premium money and laughs all the way to the bank.

> But lastly, it’s because if I pay for something, it’s with the hope that it leads to a sustainable business. I have less anxiety that software I pay for will shut down, either due to vanishing venture funding or failing to meet metrics

This is the ultimate oxymoron, though! By definition, the only businesses that can shut down your software are the ones trying to hit financial goals. If you support businesses that rely on your money to survive, you are also supporting the act of shutting things down in the name of money.

You know who's never had to worry about this? Free and Open Source software users.

> Why? Because for some software, I think it’s worth it. Take 1password, for example. To me, it’s a piece of software that just works across multiple devices and takes the hassle out of managing passwords.

I am with you. I pay for software because it just works and solves a problem and I can justify the cost.

1password iCloud 200GB Jetbrains Full Suite

I've been using these for more than 10 years. From the time they were pay per version (excluding iCloud of course) till they become subscription. They just make my problem go away so I just pay for it.

I am sure I can string together open source and free version but I just don't have the time and energy to wire them together and maintain them.

I also know Apple is offering their own "cross" platform password manager but at this point, I don't feel like moving off 1pass.