Airmail Users Frustrated About Sudden Switch to Subscription-Based Pricing on iPhone and iPad [Updated]

[szw-mapple fan]

I'm perfectly ok paying for an upgrade ( or even full price if it's not expensive ) for new versions. I have some pro audio and video software that costs over 200$ for upgrades to new versions. I just don't like being hold hostage by software that has no jusfication for monthly rent.

Some subscriptions are just money grabs like the adobe apps, but many other apps like Evernote and day one actually need a stead source of income for years and years of increasing cloud storage and server costs. Not defending airmail here since they seem to be more in the former category but there are apps that truly need the subscription model. Personally for those apps I prefer apps that I can actively support when I want my data to be stored on their servers for a long period of time since it will ensure the company will stay around for longer.

 

[Denzhadanov]

Apple Mail or Outlook if privacy is top of mind. I believe Outlook has a better PP than Spark which clearly mines your email.

What makes you think that Spark mines your data?

We clearly stated that Spark doesn't do that. We at Readdle never sell data to 3rd party, that goes against our values. Over 11 years we've been building a company that created great productivity apps that people are happy to use and pay for.

More on Spark's privacy policy could be found here: https://sparkmailapp.com/privacy

 

[dsusanj]

What probably happened is that Bloop tried branching out with new apps (Strike for iOS and Mac, Markdown Editor Pro for Mac, Airmail Zero). If you look at the first two, at least judging from their respective reddits, these have received the same quality support as Airmail and judging from reviews both seem mostly unfinished and unpolished.

While they were developing these, Airmail was almost abandoned (or at least it felt that way). I suppose now that none of the other apps really worked out for them, they are in panic mode and trying to monetise the only solid app they have, which explains both what they've done with Airmail and the launch of Airmail Zero, which they could probably quickly develop from Airmail's code.

 

[MacBH928]

It's the point that the developer set a price (not the consumer) and consumer paid it for the app. Maybe the developer should have planned better and charged 10? THEY set the price, that is their problem.

But now developer says, well we know you paid for the app but were taking away this basic app function (push notifications and multiple accounts) unless you pay us monthly now suddenly. Even though you already paid for the app with all of the features.


Going back, it would again be like buying a car and 3-4 years later the car manufacturer deciding you know what you cant use your key fob anymore unless you pay us $10/month, even though you bought the car with a key fob in the price already that is the standard in cars today to unlock and lock it remotely and used it for a few years.

Its completely wrong and likely illegal.

I don't care how much I paid for the app, all that matters is that I did.

Just imagine this becomes an accepted business model. It shouldn't be allowed to transform a premium/paid app into a free2play/use one. Make it a new app and abandon the old one. But don't take it away from the customers who paid for it.

Users should be able to keep their app they paid for a year ago, and not receive further updates. Because that is what they paid for, they didn't pay for "forever upgrades". Specially when the app is low priced like $5. There is no pleasing for the people, if you charge a proper price $30-40, no one pays. If you reduce it low, its not sustainable.

I hate subscription just like everyone else, but I believe apps should not be priced for $3. In reality, it really depends on the numbers. How many people are buying. If you have 10M paid customers, thats $30M. That should be enough to have a lifetime of upgrades for an email client. If those willing to pay are 10 thousand users, then $30K is is just not enough for the developer. Note those are not recurring payments, just pay once.

I honestly believe that all developers should break the $0.99 app mindset of people, quit subscription, and charge a decent price for their apps. There is always the 1Password way, which is a low subscription and 1 high one-time payment. You choose.

 

[devman]

Very poorly handled and a growing trend *cough twitterific *cough

 

[Cogsworth]

The sad thing is, all of us who originally paid our five bucks for the app and are all pissed off and "ditching" Airmail...well that doesn't matter a bit to Bloop cause they already got our money. In fact I'll bet they were counting on it. The more people that leave Airmail = fewer users = less push notifications = less $ overhead for them. Less support costs. The best thing we can do at this point is leave bad reviews in the App Store to warn people about this shady company.

Of course at this point I really think Apple should step in, but I doubt they will.

Textbook example of company-centric vs customer-centric business practice.

 

[LogicalApex]

What makes you think that Spark mines your data?

We clearly stated that Spark doesn't do that. We at Readdle never sell data to 3rd party, that goes against our values. Over 11 years we've been building a company that created great productivity apps that people are happy to use and pay for.

More on Spark's privacy policy could be found here: https://sparkmailapp.com/privacy

Thanks. I will give it a read. I love Readdle apps in general, but the last time I looked at the Spark Privacy Policy it wasn't as privacy focused as I like.

It sounds like you work for Readdle. How does Readdle monetize Spark if email is private and not mined in any manner?

 

[auxbuss]

Users should be able to keep their app they paid for a year ago, and not receive further updates. Because that is what they paid for, they didn't pay for "forever upgrades".

Of course.

Specially when the app is low priced like $5. There is no pleasing for the people, if you charge a proper price $30-40, no one pays.

Except I (and many others) did pay a significant price for Ulysses, and yet they pulled the same bait and switch as Bloop. So, your argument holds no water.

I honestly believe that all developers should break the $0.99 app mindset of people, quit subscription, and charge a decent price for their apps. There is always the 1Password way, which is a low subscription and 1 high one-time payment. You choose.

Sure, but if the developers/whoever gets the pricing wrong, they shouldn't then remove the product from those who have paid for it and demand they pay again under new terms (especially without making a refund).

I'm calling it theft, because that's how I see it: a good I paid for (on the understanding that I could do so in perpetuity) has been taken from me. And Apple is a partner in this – and they could stop it in an instant.

 

[Epimetreus]

Thanks. I will give it a read. I love Readdle apps in general, but the last time I looked at the Spark Privacy Policy it wasn't as privacy focused as I like.

It sounds like you work for Readdle. How does Readdle monetize Spark if email is private and not mined in any manner?

I'd like to hear their answer as well. I suspect it has something to do with their Spark Premium for teams product subsidizing the free version, though.

https://sparkmailapp.com/pricing

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks. I will give it a read. I love Readdle apps in general, but the last time I looked at the Spark Privacy Policy it wasn't as privacy focused as I like.

It sounds like you work for Readdle. How does Readdle monetize Spark if email is private and not mined in any manner?

The gentleman who replied to you, is the head of Readdle.

 

[Nuvi]

I'd like to hear their answer as well. I suspect it has something to do with their Spark Premium for teams product subsidizing the free version, though.

https://sparkmailapp.com/pricing

I find Spark very interesting but their business model definitely needs a further examination. Nothing is free so either Spark will change free version to paid (subscription most likely based on their current tiers) once they gain critical mass or they already found away to monetise their “free” user base.

 

[stlblufan]

I find Spark very interesting but their business model definitely needs a further examination. Nothing is free so either Spark will change free version to paid (subscription most likely based on their current tiers) once they gain critical mass or they already found away to monetise their “free” user base.

I switched from Airmail to Spark on both iOS and macOS. I was a fan of Airmail but not after paying for an app and then having core functionality removed. Spark has a little bit of a learning curve and I haven't totally gotten the hang of it yet, but I think it will be a good replacement. I also hear that iOS 13 has a much improved native mail experience--not enough for me, but for some, that might be a good option.

 

[nastynick]

Developers need to eat. You can help feed them by paying for products and services.

So funny...

I’m an independent worker myself, and I need to invest money regularly to keep my know-how and working equipment up to date.
I wonder if my customers - esp. the smaller ones - would like a subscription based model for my services.
They should understand that I need to eat as well...

 

[Geordiekeith]

I switched from Airmail to Spark on both iOS and macOS. I was a fan of Airmail but not after paying for an app and then having core functionality removed. Spark has a little bit of a learning curve and I haven't totally gotten the hang of it yet, but I think it will be a good replacement. I also hear that iOS 13 has a much improved native mail experience--not enough for me, but for some, that might be a good option.

Just did exactly the same thing. No issue with Airmail going for a subscription model although I would not have taken it up, but really p***ed off that they remove some functionality from a version I already paid for (Mac and iOS), so they will never have my custom again.
[doublepost=1563449746][/doublepost]

Just did exactly the same thing. No issue with Airmail going for a subscription model although I would not have taken it up, but really p***ed off that they remove some functionality from a version I already paid for (Mac and iOS), so they will never have my custom again.

And just deleted Strike as well as it remains too buggy.

 

[Nuvi]

I didn’t have this before (even after change to subscription model) but now my Airmail has this green marker in bottom left corner on every single field from inbox to archive. Pushing the push bit too much... Airmail is so gone for me...

 

[MacBH928]

Of course.

Except I (and many others) did pay a significant price for Ulysses, and yet they pulled the same bait and switch as Bloop. So, your argument holds no water.

Sure, but if the developers/whoever gets the pricing wrong, they shouldn't then remove the product from those who have paid for it and demand they pay again under new terms (especially without making a refund).

I'm calling it theft, because that's how I see it: a good I paid for (on the understanding that I could do so in perpetuity) has been taken from me. And Apple is a partner in this – and they could stop it in an instant.

I agree with you, but I also make an exception if a said app has an ongoing cost. For example, if you buy an word processor you can keep it, but if it has cloud storage bundled with it, cloud storage is an ongoing cost so I can forgive the developer.

 

[mobmob]

OK, a new thing: I’ve purchased the subscription anyway because i loved the app and although still buggy,

it is ahead the competition according to me. Here is what happened: My mom and dad shares the same Apple ID

(which is mine), but they have separate icloud IDs. When i tried to restore purchases on their iphones, a dialog pops

up and says ”cannot find a valid purchase”! This is the first time i experience such a thing. My subsciptions

should work on mom’s and dad’s iphones since they use the same Apple ID. I’ve contacted the dev and he said

all the devices should be on the same Apple ID and same icloud drive ID. I don’t know if Apple permits this.

Also after this subscription thing, snoozing multiple emails don’t work anymore; the app freezes..

 

[Soi Dog]

I was on Apple mail before I chose to change some years ago. I found it a disaster to backup old local mails from one system to another. Therefore I went to Airmail. Now as a long time airmail user and licenseholder on mac and IOS, and very happy with it to now, I am quite disgusted about the change with no warning.

Actually in the start I did not understand their little green floating symbol asking for a subscription when clicked, as what it was offering was something I already had, I thought.

Right now I am on the road with only my iPad, and discover that my Inbox has also been crippled to only show newest mails from last 2-3 weeks. Am I the only one with this problem?


I will complain to Apple to let this upgrade go trough App Store, as It obviously violates their rules.

In the meantime got to find and alternative, I will miss the simple and minimalistic layout.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I was on Apple mail before I chose to change some years ago. I found it a disaster to backup old local mails from one system to another. Therefore I went to Airmail. Now as a long time airmail user and licenseholder on mac and IOS, and very happy with it to now, I am quite disgusted about the change with no warning.

Actually in the start I did not understand their little green floating symbol asking for a subscription when clicked, as what it was offering was something I already had, I thought.

Right now I am on the road with only my iPad, and discover that my Inbox has also been crippled to only show newest mails from last 2-3 weeks. Am I the only one with this problem?


I will complain to Apple to let this upgrade go trough App Store, as It obviously violates their rules.

In the meantime got to find and alternative, I will miss the simple and minimalistic layout.

Canary is very good and no subscription. Focus is on security. I am beta testing ver. 3 right now and it is even better than the current ver. 2. The developer is active on Slack, where you can sign up for the beta, as well as make suggestions, make reports etc.

 

[GrumpyCoder]

What makes you think that Spark mines your data?

We clearly stated that Spark doesn't do that. We at Readdle never sell data to 3rd party, that goes against our values. Over 11 years we've been building a company that created great productivity apps that people are happy to use and pay for.

More on Spark's privacy policy could be found here: https://sparkmailapp.com/privacy

Could you comment on this?

Tried pretty much any client out there for function/UI and privacy. For business I ended up with Airmail, which I ditched earlier this year for Postbox (no iOS client though).

 

[MacDawg]

I created a new thread to discuss any subscription based apps and their alternatives

I would like to hear about all the apps people are unhappy about their move to subscription based pricing and their free or standalone alternatives

Check it out:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/app-subscriptions-and-standalone-alternatives.2190544/

 

[auxbuss]

I was on Apple mail before I chose to change some years ago. I found it a disaster to backup old local mails from one system to another. Therefore I went to Airmail. Now as a long time airmail user and license-holder on mac and IOS, and very happy with it to now, I am quite disgusted about the change with no warning.

In the meantime got to find and alternative, I will miss the simple and minimalistic layout.

I've been back on Apple's Mail for a few days now, and it's improved a fair bit since I last used it; both iOS and macOS. There's more control of the display, which allows a more minimalist layout than before. It's also noticeably faster than Airmail, I found.

 

[decafjava]

Could you comment on this?

Tried pretty much any client out there for function/UI and privacy. For business I ended up with Airmail, which I ditched earlier this year for Postbox (no iOS client though).

Hmm that's two years old and some of the links are dead.

 

[GrumpyCoder]

Hmm that's two years old and some of the links are dead.

Doesn't really matter how old it is and if some of the links are dead. The concerning issues are still listed. That's why I asked for a comment from one of the developers (?).

 

[tomnavratil]

After a bit of research, I've switched to Canary Mail on both macOS and iOS and can't be happier. Works much better than Airmail and with added functionalities.