Notability Users Frustrated By Switch to Subscription Model Claim Violation of App Store Guidelines

[MacRumors]

Notability users have been left frustrated and annoyed after the developer of the popular Mac and iOS note-taking app revealed on Monday that it has switched to a subscription-based model, and that key features included in original app purchases will stop functioning after one year.

Previously available as a one-off $8.99 purchase, Notability for iPhone, iPad, and Mac is now free to download on the App Store, but not all the features are available in the "freemium" version, and those that are included have editing limitations.

To get "the full Notability experience" offered by version 11.0 of the app now requires an annual $14.99 subscription, which includes unlimited note taking and access to additional features that are otherwise available as in-app purchases.

As far as it affects current users who purchased the full app, key features will become non-functional after one year, after which they will have to subscribe to retain the feature set they originally paid for. In other words, no grandfathering scheme is currently being offered. Addressed to those users, a Medium post from the Notability Blog explains:

Thank you for your support all these years. You will be able to continue using Notability as you do now for the next year for free. You will continue to have access to any items or technology you previously purchased. If you would like access to more premium content or technology like MyScript's Handwriting Recognition and Math Conversion, you may choose to subscribe at any point. After the year is up, you can choose to become an annual subscriber or use the free version of Notability.

Thousands of Notability users have taken to Twitter and Reddit to express their frustration with the unexpected change.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1455309118491660291

https://twitter.com/x/status/1455212700263387138

https://twitter.com/x/status/1455206160856928260

As many users have pointed out, on the face of it, the change appears to violate Apple's App Store Review Guidelines, which state "if you are changing your existing app to a subscription-based business model, you should not take away the primary functionality existing users have already paid for." We've reached out to both Notability and Apple for comment.

Notability has garnered an Apple Editors' Choice spot and is regularly a top-ranked app worldwide on the App Store. The app has gained widespread popularity with students and teachers alike, as it includes a variety of note-taking, journaling, and drawing tools, and can be used to mark up imported documents.

The other popular note-taking app for iOS and Mac that Notability is often compared to is GoodNotes, which remains available as a one-off $7.99 purchase on the App Store.

Several popular apps have switched to subscription models in recent years as a way to stave off dwindling income after years of free updates, but some developers have taken a different and less divisive approach.

For example, just over a year ago the developers of popular paid-for camera app Halide released Halide Mark II as a whole new app, and gave it to all users of the original app for free, with all the new features and updates free for a year. After the year is up, the app continues to work, but to get additional features requires an optional subscription or a one-time purchase.

Article Link: Notability Users Frustrated By Switch to Subscription Model Claim Violation of App Store Guidelines

 

[GumaRodak]

Legal stealing

 

[Quu]

Very clear case of them violating the app store guidelines. I hope Apple comes down on them over this.

 

[6787872]

boot em from the app store

 

[headlessmike]

I dislike subscriptions as much as the next guy, but I can see why the developers need to have a source of income to keep up development. I personally prefer the system used in apps like Agenda where you only (voluntarily) pay for new features as they are released and get to keep any feature you've previously bought indefinitely.

 

[Andy-V]

You don't do that.

If you want to move to a subscription model, you launch a new version and leave the old one alone. You don't remove stuff people have paid for and demand more cash.

 

[sergekills]

Surprisingly Halide followed the rules while switching to the subscription-based model and even reported not loosing users. This is how it's supposed to be done!
Actually, I don't mind subscriptions if I like the app and want to support the developer, however the Fantastical 2 update freaked me out. Deleted them immediately.

 

[LuminousFX]

Taken from subreddit here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/qkgt7g

Report them here: https://reportaproblem.apple.com/store/360593530/select/fraudulent

Copy/Paste if you want: As of the new update to Notability (version 11.0), the developer has stated those who purchased the app before it was free will only have the functionality they paid for, for the next year, and will then be downgraded to the free version. This is against App Store guidelines section 3.1.2(a) which states that an app switching to a subscription model cannot remove features for those who have previously purchased the app.

 

[davidako]

This is outrageous.

Apple has been pushing subscription models hard, because they want their cut, but they need to clearly establish that this is absolutely unacceptable or my App Store purchases will end.

 

[Gmc8538]

Submitted a report, I suggest everyone else does this too. This sort of crap is not on - I've seen this reported a lot of places since yesterday.

 

[furi0usbee]

I dislike subscriptions as much as the next guy, but I can see why the developers need to have a source of income to keep up development. I personally prefer the system used in apps like Agenda where you only (voluntarily) pay for new features as they are released and get to keep any feature you've previously bought indefinitely.

We are not talking about liking/disliking subscriptions. We are talking about someone paying for an app with "features" and then having the rug pulled out from under them. Please do not conflate subscriptions with douchebaggery.

 

[5097842]

If they want to transition to a subscription model, they should rename this version “Notability Classic” and freeze the feature set, while providing security updates and bug fixes. Going forward they can sell the new subscription based Notability. Grandfathering is the right thing to do.

 

[furi0usbee]

I dislike subscriptions as much as the next guy, but I can see why the developers need to have a source of income to keep up development. I personally prefer the system used in apps like Agenda where you only (voluntarily) pay for new features as they are released and get to keep any feature you've previously bought indefinitely.

Until they pull a Notability and you lose those features indefinitely.

 

[El Szomorito]

Still have a two-year old support ticket open with them, without any reply. Switched to GoodNotes already.

 

[xObeyThePanda]

I’m all for supporting developers. Don’t mind subscriptions if the price is right. But this is a clear violation of the guidelines. You can’t takeaway features that a user already paid for.

 

[henry72]

This is unacceptable, why would they want to risk losing their customers. Maybe they weren’t getting enough people to buy the app.

Reminds me of Day One, I was so disappointed. Instant delete for me, luckily I don’t have many notes.

 

[El Szomorito]

Legal stealing

It's not even legal.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

The Deliveries app from Junecloud did the same crap and got away with it despite many complaints, so I assume this app will as well.

 

[Aidoneus]

Maybe you should have focused more on developing features, that users can use without paying for them, instead of just making more money.

Wow, what a great world we’d live if that’s how things worked. The level of entitlement in this tweet is insane.

 

[smythey]

Looks like i’ll be staying on 10.6 until the kerfuffle smoke clears. Pretty sure this will be walked back though.

 

[vyspirit]

I chose GoodNote instead of Notability, I hope it won't learn Notability at this point

 

[Jeaz]

While it's of course sad for any user, I'm really hard sympathizing with a comment like this:

Astonished that @NotabilityApp is moving to a subscription model. I happily paid for the Mac and iOS versions of Notability separately all the way back in 2015, and it's accompanied me through 3 degrees now. Very disappointed there is no grandfathering in; will be switching.

So he's been using the app for 6 years after paying 9 bucks and some more for the macOS app. And it's supported him through three degrees. And how he's upset the company who's obviously provided a great product want a stable financial model to help them keep providing a good app. Do they all think these companies can really survive for almost a decade on a $9 purchase and free upgrades after that.
The grandfathering is that they don't have to pay for the first year. I guess you can argue that's not enough, maybe add more time. But still...

 

[TechRunner]

My biggest issue with monthly subscriptions for everything is having to keep track of them all, watching for price increases, etc. Having said that, I think they're an inevitable part of our future for pretty much all software out there.

 

[TheRealDrJones]

Sadly this shows once again, that it is not wise to get too dependent on any app from the app store, even those with one time purchases.

I was thinking about buying Things 3 for iOS and Mac when it was announced, but I didn't, because I don't want to be bitten again after the 1Password drama.

 

[Lihp8270]

Taken from subreddit here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/qkgt7g

Done