Binarynights
We have lowered the price of ForkLift and have moved to a new pricing model.
Buying a license to ForkLift allows you to use ForkLift for as long as you want and to install all minor and major updates for one year. If you wish to install a new version of ForkLift after that, you will need to renew your license. After the renewal, you will have access to free updates for one more year again.
If you buy ForkLift 3 now, you will be able to install all the updates to ForkLift 3 for one year and even to ForkLift 4, should ForkLift 4 come out within 12 months after the purchase. And even if you don’t want to renew your license, you will be able to keep using ForkLift for an unlimited time.
This change in the business model doesn’t affect license owners who have bought ForkLift 3 before the change, they can continue using ForkLift 3 and install all future updates to ForkLift 3 for an unlimited time. However, for these existing users, ForkLift 4 will be a paid upgrade.
From now on, our prices are the following:
Single-user license $19.95
Family license $29.95
Small business license $69.95
Fair business model. Any ETA for FirkKift 4?
Thank you. Unfortunately, we don’t have an ETA for ForkLift 4 yet but it is in the works.
I meant, ForkLift 4.0 🙂
So, for a single user, it’s now priced $19.95 per year, so I have to pay $19.95 each to get updates, right ?
One of the reasons I ditched Paste app was their dumb pricing model.
Agreed. Same reason i left Pathfinder for Forklift last year and now this….I HATE subscription licensing. It’s a massive scam imo. Watch the patch fixes drop to nil every year once you are forced to pay a yearly fee for fixes and updates.
to add..had i known this was coming less than a year ago I would not have purchased it!
I actually prefer this purchase model;
You buy the app, get updates for 1 year, and you can always keep using it, FOREVER.
It’s way better than all the subscriptions, where you can no longer use apps at all once you stop paying for it.
And believe it or not, but app Developers are also humans who go to work every day to earn their income, just like your baker, butcher, waitress, etc. 😉 This is not exactly a big tech company…
Yes, those are the prices currently. We feel that this pricing model will make it possible to create and maintain a better app. This model is not a subscription model, so if you don’t need the new updates, then you can keep on using ForkLift without paying again.
I also ditched Pathfinder for the same reason. But I got news for you: Pasty App (is a an exact copy of Paste App with more useful features for one time payment option. It’s been great so far, so, go get it!
For Pathfinder alternative with no subscription at all and equally powerful there’s one app called Q-Space, look for it too. It works great. So far, so good. I was looking forward to buying Forklift just to put my money on USA developers, but it seems they also went subscription only.
For some reason, developers wants to keep money getting in just doing adjustments every year. Less work and more fun. Anyway, Apple is aiming to close the doors to this kind of apps soon. iOS will be the main resource and they don’t want to put the privacy on jeopardy.
The new model is not a subscription model because the app doesn’t stop working if you are not paying again, in a subscription model, you can only use the app when you are paying. A regular income is obviously better than an irregular income but we haven’t made this change because of that. If you are releasing a new version every 3-4 years, then you have to put off new features for 3-4 years because if you are constantly adding new stuff to your app, then not much will remain to be added to the new version and for the users it won’t be worth buying it. We would much rather add these new features whenever we come up with a new idea, or whenever something new gets added to Finder or other apps that we would like to adapt too, or whenever users send us cool ideas to implement. We are convinced that if we can react quicker, then ForkLift will become a better app. Constantly developing ForkLift will require more work than developing a new version every 3-4-5 years, it’s not like we are making our job easier and more comfortable with this decision.
I knew this was coming, but no thanks. Commander One PRO Pack has much more value and features (like MTP support) and no subscription (and have one time lifetime purchase).
At least for now…
First we got the information that the new business model would be applied with the new FL4 version. Then the FL4 release was postponed, obviously indefinitely, but you are still activating the new business model with support for one year while there are hardly any worth mentioning updates at all?
If you bought ForkLift before the switch to the new pricing model, then the new model won’t affect you at all as long as you want to use ForkLift 3. The new model is not a subscription model, so there is no need to renew your license if you feel that the updates are not worth it. You can keep using ForkLift as long as you want without renewing your license. We hope to bring out updates that will be worth renewing your license. ForkLift 4 is being developed and its release is not postponed indefinitely, we just need more time to develop it.
Good to know we can still use the app even if we don’t renew. So, It’s like always has been, why making it confusing if at the end it’s the same model of business just with an option to upgrade automatically?
Sorry, but I bought ForkLift 3 because you promised that I’ll get a free update to the Forklift 4. And now you’re saying we’re not getting it and we’ll need to pay? I’m confused and disappointed…
I don’t think that we have promised you a free upgrade but if we did, then contact us when ForkLift 4 comes out and refer to the email that we promised the free upgrade in, and we will give you a free upgrade.
This hybrid model looks very correct. Thanks Mudi.
What about essential security updates?
I can’t believe all the complaining from people here so seem unable to read and understand what is going on. I for one am happy with the new pricing model and look forward to paying for version 4 and being able to decide whether to upgrade again when the time comes.
Thanks for your hard work and great software.
Very fair and very honest. Kudos for the team. I can’t understand why so many people complaining if they can keep app forever.
Agreed. If anything it’s a better model since everyone wins. If there is nothing worthwhile paying for then don’t upgrade and carry on using the features you already have. It’s a far more motivating model for the team since there is a direct correlation between effort and income, so it keeps things moving. From what I’ve seen in similar models, it also encourages a much more vocal community, which makes the product feel inclusive and features that the community want then become a reality, developing a strong long-term bond between development team and community.
Hi, I’m a disgruntled PF user. Please can you tell me what license I need for 4 macs, they’re all mine, just for different purposes?
Yes, I have the same question. I have one at office and one at home. Don’t know which kind of license is appropriate
how does forkLift compare to pathfinder? I have been using pathfinder for about 5 years but it often is resource intensive on my macbook air.
If only every 4-6 years a new major release comes out, in the meantime the current version continues to get updates, I am willing to buy a new license. That is fair. Only if every year a new major release comes out, then this is a kind of subscription model. Even if you can continue to use the current version. Unfortunately, many software companies do this, it is a kind of soft change to a subscription model.
Please read this blog post. We have already switched to the model where you will be able to use ForkLift without renewing your license: https://blog.binarynights.com/2022/06/01/lower-prices-and-a-new-business-model/
Well, you set the price of the renewal nearly at the same value as initial price (which you already increased since your first blog post about the new business model). So if one wants to keep using the latest software it is definitely subscription model and not a cheap one. The only difference is that one can stop paying and keep using the product.
Anyway, I do not believe in subscription model for most software simply because people need so many tools these days and their subscription costs would add up very high very soon.
On the other hand, every year many people are born and thus every year many new potential users appear on the market. Thus standard model can work indefinitely without leaving developers without new income. Subscription model surely is no good for users at all.
And lastly, if you want more customers maybe you should consider lowering your prices. There are many people who would use your software occasionally, but seeing the price tag they decide they can do without your product or try to find a cheaper one. It’s definitely what I do often and I buy only cheap products or pricey products if I really need them a lot. And the more software tools we need the more serious question and decision this becomes.