MacRumors Exclusive: Get 50% Off Your First Year of Flexibits Premium for Fantastical and Cardhop

kuwxman said:
I'm a daily Fantastical user, but never signed up for the subscription nonsense. So nowadays I get to use a "limited" version. Can't really say there is anything missing I would need.

Saying that, I was intrigued by 50% off for one year. Started going through the process. Went to their website. No price shown. Dug around for my Flexibits login info and signed in. No price shown. I got allll the way to the 'Start Free Trial NOW' button and STILL no price was shown. I'm out. If you can't be up front about what the cost is, here's my middle finger right back at the middle finger you gave to your customers.

So, it is a nice offer, but I'll keep using my limited version that was paid for years ago.
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Even they know the price is ridiculous and don’t feel comfortable disclosing it. It is buried deep on the site no where is pricing mentioned on the page at all. Once I did find it though I fell over laughing. They want ~67% more if you want to use Family Sharing! You’d think that would be a feature that came standard to make the base subscription stench less strong…

iDento said:
This is the best looking calendar app and you get what you pay for… And if the stock Calendar app is enough for you, good for you.

- I want to see reminders and events in the today view.
- I want calendar sets.
- I want natural language entries.

40$ is nothing.
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Only those who struggle with money see wasting it as no big deal…

But if you’re truly in a position such that it doesn’t matter to you then it would be better to toss your spare money at a charity instead. At least they’ll put your money to good use…
 
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LogicalApex said:
Only those who struggle with money see wasting it as no big deal…

But if you’re truly in a position such that it doesn’t matter to you then it would be better to toss your spare money at a charity instead. At least they’ll put your money to good use…
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"You don't get to tell me what to do" – Elon

I bought the iOS version *five days* before they went into the subscription model. It's still running on my iPhone – the 2.x version, I believe. I had to switch off automatic app updates. I use the Apple default app 95% of the time, even though the macOS one is atrocious from the UX point of view (I am not risking installing Fantastical to see if it's any better in case I have to update the iOS one). I only use the iPhone Fantastical to enter appointments using natural language and to make a point nobody but me sees.

But.

All this means is that Flexibits doesn't want me as a customer. Same as Dropbox with its plans – you can either get 2TB or free 1 GB (or is it 2? I don't know, I have, randomly, 13.2 GB because of the affiliate links). I actually emailed them to ask if they're considering a 2.99 plan with 200 GB. They aren't. Dropbox is a service that's much better than iCloud *glares at Eddy Cue's shirt collection* and also purposefully priced out of my range, because they don't want customers like me.

Fantastical is a service that looks vaguely better than iCal and allows natural language entries, and Flexibits doesn't want customers like me. There is literally one person in this thread who is a member of Flexibits' target audience and that's the one who thinks $40 is nothing, so they won't be interested in a half-price one-year trial, or whatever it is that MR is offering. In a way I think this half-price trial is for nobody. Either you throw $40 a year at a calendar app because it's slightly nicer than the bundled-up one and you don't even notice, or, well, you don't.

Anyway, good luck Flexibits, please don't disable my old iOS version that I paid for, cheers, thanks a lot.
 
navaira said:
"You don't get to tell me what to do" – Elon

I bought the iOS version *five days* before they went into the subscription model. It's still running on my iPhone – the 2.x version, I believe. I had to switch off automatic app updates. I use the Apple default app 95% of the time, even though the macOS one is atrocious from the UX point of view (I am not risking installing Fantastical to see if it's any better in case I have to update the iOS one). I only use the iPhone Fantastical to enter appointments using natural language and to make a point nobody but me sees.

But.

All this means is that Flexibits doesn't want me as a customer. Same as Dropbox with its plans – you can either get 2TB or free 1 GB (or is it 2? I don't know, I have, randomly, 13.2 GB because of the affiliate links). I actually emailed them to ask if they're considering a 2.99 plan with 200 GB. They aren't. Dropbox is a service that's much better than iCloud *glares at Eddy Cue's shirt collection* and also purposefully priced out of my range, because they don't want customers like me.

Fantastical is a service that looks vaguely better than iCal and allows natural language entries, and Flexibits doesn't want customers like me. There is literally one person in this thread who is a member of Flexibits' target audience and that's the one who thinks $40 is nothing, so they won't be interested in a half-price one-year trial, or whatever it is that MR is offering. In a way I think this half-price trial is for nobody. Either you throw $40 a year at a calendar app because it's slightly nicer than the bundled-up one and you don't even notice, or, well, you don't.

Anyway, good luck Flexibits, please don't disable my old iOS version that I paid for, cheers, thanks a lot.
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Just as an FYI, but you can update your app without being sucked in to their subscription BS. You do have to create a Flexibits account (free) though, I believe. I'm currently running the latest 3.5.1 version w/o a subscription.
 
Ah, the old “save 50% off the first year!” for something you have to pay for every year for the rest of your life.

Is $40 worth it for a calendar app? Sure! What about $80, $120 … $200… ?
 
Fantastical was great... back when it was a one-time purchase (actually I think each major upgrade was a new purchase). Back then, you could decide if the upgrade cost was worth it for any new features - and, if not, keep using the older version. But it's really not an app where a subscription makes a whole lot of sense.
 
One day Apple might further improve Reminders to make Calendar events visible in the Reminders today view, perhaps as an option. That simple change would probably mean that the built in apps offer a perfectly useable workflow for most.
 
LogicalApex said:
Only those who struggle with money see wasting it as no big deal…

But if you’re truly in a position such that it doesn’t matter to you then it would be better to toss your spare money at a charity instead. At least they’ll put your money to good use…
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Apparently, the developers did not go out of business because many people think it’s not a waste of money to subscribe.
 
iDento said:
My pleasure.

But… if you can‘t afford it, then maybe you are not that busy to need an advanced calendar app.
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If you don't have a PA to deal with all your appointments for you in the first place, maybe you're not that busy to need an advanced calendar app.
 
iDento said:
Apparently, the developers did not go out of business because many people think it’s not a waste of money to subscribe.
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That's probably the future of subscription apps - appeal to a core audience. Though small(er) in number, they will provide a consistent source of income which will allow you to keep updating and supporting your app. So your app doesn't need to cater to everyone; it just needs to cater to enough users to make it worth your while.
 
Abazigal said:
That's probably the future of subscription apps - appeal to a core audience. Though small(er) in number, they will provide a consistent source of income which will allow you to keep updating and supporting your app. So your app doesn't need to cater to everyone; it just needs to cater to enough users to make it worth your while.
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And that’s the right way to sell a premium product.
 
MrMacintoshIII said:
I will never, ever pay a subscription for a calendar app. If this means I eventually have to default to Apple Calendar app then so be it.

A nice big middle finger ? to this idea. I’d rather they charge $0.99 every time they update significantly, or whatever amount they deem fair.

Subscription doesn’t belong on a calendar app, and I’ll take that with me to the grave.

For now I use Fantastical after having paid once, years ago, and I’ll continue to until they remove that ability.

Edit: and maybe the middle finger is rude, and so maybe I take that back, but at the same time, I can’t help but see this as greed.

Release Fantastical 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and charge then, once, but if you can’t figure out how to do that, I’m sorry but maybe develop other apps too if you need the cash flow, rather than expect passive income.

We ALL want passive income, app developers are not some holy grail of people that deserve it for all the hard work they do.

Many of us work very, very, hard, and will never see passive income from our efforts without savvy investing.
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I partly agree. Fantastical's subscription prices are outrageous imo. However, I use Moleskine's calendar app and its yearly subscription plan costs around 5USD in Turkey. I really like the look and feel of the app and happily pay the fee but I would instantly switch to the stock app if they want to charge more than this. Subscription model is becoming increasingly frustrating in general.
 
iDento said:
Apparently, the developers did not go out of business because many people think it’s not a waste of money to subscribe.
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I won’t presume anything. We have no idea of the subscription take rate and if it is successful or not.

I just know I am not jumping on.

I find it interesting though that none of the supporters of this model or pricing for them has answered my question on what features over the last year made it worth the cost of admission.
 
This is not for me.
I dislike subscriptions but honestly, this business model is likely here to stay.

And while $40/yr for a calendar app is not my idea of money well spent, it may be for others.
People pay more than that annually on subscription for AppleMusic...and there are other free options.
 
Spocky said:
40 quid for an app that has a pokey wee badge on it that shows the date. Get real.
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actually, it's the integration with REMINDERS, multiple views, versatile watch app, "sets" and templates that make it an integral part of my workflow and well worth the cost. i use it multiple times a day, across multiple devices.
 
ericg301 said:
actually, it's the integration with REMINDERS, multiple views, versatile watch app, "sets" and templates that make it an integral part of my workflow and well worth the cost. i use it multiple times a day, across multiple devices.
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All of that existed in the app prior to them going subscription…

But it sure is fun that they removed my ability to view attachments from my app and moved it to the subscription. Bizarre since I host the attachment on my mail server…. I just use calendar for that though..



 
ericg301 said:
nothing riles up this forum like app subscription talk
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Not really, it’s just the pricing tier that many people find disgusting, on top of the behaviour the company displayed when switching business model.

I’m sure people would be less upset if it was a $10/y pricing, or if they didn’t give the middle finger to their old userbase.

I for one am quite happy that there is pushback against abusive pricing and greed. To me 40$/y for a calendar app is on the same tier as paying $30/m for an email client. Absolutely disgusting, will not enable them, and will call out the grift whenever I am given the chance.
 
I paid for their iOS & iPad app back in the day. They lost me at the sub as well.

Bonus points: they want your email (account creation) just to use the watch app….to me this is mild data mini/tracking and greedy.

I use Calendars5 and the OEM in conjunction and it fits my workflow just fine.

Your money, do as you please, rent it or not…

I think Infuse app does the best job: rent or buy AND release standalone versions every few years as needed or warranted. Best $20 or $35 -ish I’ve spent in the Apple App Store ✅
 
Apart from the discussion about this subscription model, I wonder how many people can actually redeem this MR exclusive. First you have to be a frequent visitor of this site and second if you already have an account at Flexibits you won't get the 50% discount.
 
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