This post has become a bit longer. I describe here why I will not use 1Password version 8 in the future.

I've been working with 1Password since version 3. One or two Macs, one iPhone, one iPad. No Windows, no Unix. I love 1Password! I really appreciate Agilebits, I like the honest way info is communicated on the website, blog and forum. This has built the trust you need for such a sensitive software, to which you entrust your biggest secrets after all.

Over the course of these years, this impression has strengthened. I can feel the heart and soul that you put into the further development of 1Password. The current release notes for each update read impressively and were almost prose. You can tell the creators of Agilebits are real flesh and blood people who love their job and their product. So when updates were available, I didn't hesitate for a second to buy and have encouraged many friends to try and use 1Password.

Cloud syncing

Something I have internalized and always kept in mind throughout my computing career:
The cloud is just a computer that belongs to someone else.
And of course I don't store my data on someone else's computer, certainly not if it's sensitive data. I store my data on my computer and only on my computer. And consistently: I don't use iCloud, Dropbox or similar services. (This is already forbidden by the DSGVO - General Data Protection Regulation GDPR). Now you will say: Our servers are safe, the data is safe. Yes, of course! That's what the admins of Facebook, LinkedIn, T-Mobile US and (insert further company names here) said before millions of user data were stolen. Even servers of governments and high-security companies are hacked. Because it can be done.
That's why my data stays on my LAN, that's why I think syncing over WLAN is awesome, and that's why I don't use Agilebits servers. And I will not use them in the future.

License model

1Password 7 had the feature to buy a single license and not have to subscribe very well hidden: it appeared only once when the app was first launched (if I remember correctly). Moreover, the possibility to buy a single license was not only not offered on the website, but on the contrary, it was really hidden. You almost needed insider information on how to get such a license. Therefore, the statement that 95% of all users would have opted for a subscription - i.e. voted with their wallets, so to speak - is absolutely misleading. The opposite is the case: The decision making was not fair. I have often read and answered the questions in many forums outside Agilebits, how to buy a permanent license, or if there is no single license to buy anymore. The need was there, but you did not want to serve it.
A subscription is a cash cow for the company, it automatically flushes money into the coffers, regardless of whether a lot or little work is done. If Agilebits also had the well-being of its customers in mind and was not just out for its own benefit, you would offer lifetime licenses - not for all future versions, but for version 8, for example - so a classic business model with single licenses.

When I look at other companies that also offer their licenses on a subscription basis, for example:

• Plex media management: monthly or annual subscription fees or (very high) one-time payment for a lifetime license.
• Mailbutler mail plugin: monthly or yearly subscription - but very rarely also offers for lifetime license
• Enpass Password Manager: half yearly or yearly plan, but also one-time payment possible (and, watch out: Offers sync via WLAN or WEBdav e.g. on your own NAS)
• DEVONthink** To Go 3 Mobile Document Management on iOS: monthly and yearly plan. On time payment available

All these examples are calculated in such a way that the one-time payment is roughly equivalent to a three-year subscription period. A steep price - but I'm looking at my costs in the long run.

You say that subscriptions are the best for users. This may be true for many users, but it is certainly not true for all. You can see that from the many forum posts here. And other companies show how it works - if you want.

I as a user find subscription models for software terrible, I will not support this license model. For me, there have already been breaks in completely different dimensions for this reason. Ask Adobe - I'm out of here.

I would never use Setapp's offer either - but I have been using many tools from their collection for years with single licenses.

A big disadvantage of subscription licenses based on membership where you have to be logged in to the vendor for the software or service to work: If these businesses leave the market, be it because of financial turmoil, catastrophes with destruction of the required hardware, illness, or because the developers simply don't want to anymore: The servers are shut down, the software is worthless. This cannot happen with registered individual licenses.

Conclusion

For me, two factors come together with version 8, each of which is a no-go in itself:

• Subscription and
• server constraint

As sorry as I am: It seems the time has come to say goodbye 😢 and look for an alternative. There is no hurry, version 7 runs stable on my systems so far. But someday I will get a new Mac, a new OS, on which v7 won't run anymore. Version 8 won't be it. Enpass seems to me to be a suitable candidate.

Who knows - maybe you will rethink your business model until then. Although I honestly do not believe in it.

I'm not complaining, you will have thought about it and discussed these decisions in detail internally and maybe also with your friends. But I wanted to give you some wistful and slightly frustrated feedback as to why I am making this decision and why Agilebits has lost a loyal customer.

Live long and prosper 🖖

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