After 14th of February 2023, new perpetual license purchases do not include any feature updates (16.x)
This means that any updates containing new features and functionality will not be included in your license purchase. However, major bug fixes and optimizations will be included (16.x.x) until a new paid version is released (16.x).
As a subscription always provides you with access to the latest version, subscribers are not affected by these changes.
How does it affect you?
Please select from the following:
- I have a subscription to Capture One Pro
- I have a license for Capture One Pro 23 purchased before February 14, 2023
- I have a license for Capture One Pro 23 purchased after February 14, 2023
- I have a license for Capture One Pro 22 or an older version
- I have a multi-user license
- I have an enterprise license
- Frequently Asked Questions
"I have a subscription to Capture One Pro"
The changes outlined here have no impact on Capture One subscriptions.
Subscribers will continue to receive all updates including new features, improvements, and new camera & lens support for as long as their subscriptions are maintained.
If you are unsure on the type of license that you have, check the 'Plans & services management' section of your Capture One profile.
"I have a license for Capture One Pro 23 purchased before February 14th, 2023"
You receive free updates until September 30th, 2023.
If you wish to get a new version of Capture One Pro after September 30th, 2023, you need to buy a new license. Find out what discount you can receive in compliance with our Loyalty Program.
"I have a license for Capture One Pro 23 purchased after February 14, 2023"
You receive major bug fixes (16.x.x) up until a new paid version (16.x) is released. The service updates (16.xx) do not include feature updates.
If you wish to get a new version of Capture One Pro, you need to buy a new license (16.x) – which will contain new features and functionality. Find out what discount you can receive in compliance with our Loyalty Program.
"I have a license for Capture One Pro 22 or an older version"
Your license is perpetual and yours to keep, for as long as you can meet the minimum system requirements and run it on a compatible OS version. To check these details, please refer to our
Capture One system requirements and OS support article.
"I have a multi-user license"
Unless specified otherwise in the terms of your agreement, you will receive free feature updates (16.x) for 12 months when you purchase or upgrade a multi-user license
"I have an enterprise license"
Please check the terms of your agreement with Capture One.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are you getting rid of the perpetual license option?
A: No. The changes we are making allow us to shift to the latest software development practices without removing perpetual licenses altogether. While over half of our users are on a subscription and close to 80% of new users choose a subscription, we still understand that perpetual licenses are important for many of you. That’s why we’re committed to keeping the option open.
Q: I have a license for Capture One Pro 23 I purchased before February 14, 2023 and I will get free feature updates until September 30, 2023. After that date, what happens if I want to get the latest version of Capture One Pro?
A: You will need to buy a new copy of Capture One Pro to be covered under our new license model from October 1st 2023 onwards.
Q: I have a license for Capture One 22 or older. What are my options?
A: If you are happy on your current version of Capture One Pro, great! If you want the latest version of Capture One Pro, you will need to purchase a new software license.
Alternatively, if you’d like to receive all our updates as we release them, you may wish to try out one of our subscription plans.
Q: The current version used to be a year, but how long does a current version last now?
A: We are moving to a ‘release when ready’ model, which allows us to deliver new features and improvements as soon as they are ready. As such, the length of a version will vary based on the time it takes us to develop each feature.
Q: Will there be any change to iPad & Live Support?
A: No, we will continue to support the current (dot) version, plus the previous (dot) version.
For example:
- Current version = 16.0
- iPad & Live support = 16.0, 15.4
Q: Will the number of seats/activations change?
A: No. We are not making any changes to the number of activations you can make per license.
Capture One Pro (perpetual and subscription, and trial) allows up to 3 activations
Q: Why are you removing licenses?
A: We are not removing licenses.
We offer a perpetual license which contains exactly what is stated in the release notes at the time of purchase, and we will continue to do so. This license is yours to own and keep.
The change being implemented from February 14, 2023, will affect new customers and license holders of Capture One 22 and older who wish to purchase a license for the latest version.
These license holders and new customers will have the opportunity to stay on the license they have purchased for as long as they like at no additional cost.
Q: Will I need to pay and upgrade multiple times a year?
A: It is always your decision when and how often to get the latest version of Capture One Pro.
If you always want to have the newest features as soon as they are released, a subscription plan is really the best option.
If you want to make sure that you get the latest version of Capture One Pro each year (as it works under the current model) and don’t need new features as soon as they are released, we want to make sure your cost of ownership does not go up.
Comments
1064 comments
BeO
Right now in the US you can purchase a perpetual license for $179.40. A 40% discount on the normal $299.00.
who cares. my guess is they lost a large part of their user base doing this. gone. its easy to loose a customer, hard to gain one. its been an epically dumb move. with people waking up and realizing what a bad deal it is and all the problems subscriptions create. this is 5 years late to the game which is on its tail end I think. maybe in another year they wake up and go back to the old model if they are still in business. I moved on to another product but continue to open C1 here and there for old projects. sad because it really is a great product.
Here in the Netherlands the perpetual license is 349 euro, that is in dollars 370,08. Month, billed yearly: 12,78 euro that is in dollar: 13,55.
J M Smith
Thanks. When logged in, I see the full price in Euro. I am quite sure my current license is not eligble for a reduced upgrade price.
It seems at least they bettered the terms with regards to keeping the old perpetual license, if I remember right that was not possbile when they announced the policy changes. That's what I see:
BeO Well, in theory that would be fine if there wasn't the problem that (after some updates) your catalogs get upgraded and cannot be opened by your old perpetual version anymore..
woefi
That is the gotcha...
I bought Capture One 23 last year in pre-upgrade and assumed that I would get updates for one year until the release of the new version, 16.3 included, as in previous years. Is it actually legally ok that Capture One unilaterally changed the rules?
Now I have to either subscribe to get the new features of 16.3, which I don't want, or pay a completely exorbitant price for the perpetual license. Especially because this perpetual license receives no updates at all.
Capture One has disappointed me badly.
Rainer Schmidt
I would add (and this isn't new) as C1 only supports a "perpetual" licence for a maximum 12 months, we've effectively been on a subscription for years.
Add to that the fact that I recently updated my MacOS (for free), and receive various fixes and updates on almost all my software on an on-going basis (at no additional cost), C1 isn't anyone's idea of a bargain.
They've killed the golden geese with this latest ploy.
Rainer Schmidt As mentioned earlier in this thread (assuming it wasn't deleted), if you're an EU (and some other jurisdictions) customer, Capture One is legally required to fix any and all Capture One bugs in the software, for a period of two (or more or less) years after purchase, and in the narrowest definition, so long as you remain on an operating system version that was listed as "Supported" at the time of purchase.
Whether Capture One provides these bug fixes by issuing patches to the version you own, or by giving you a newer version of the software which contains a fix, what they are not entitled to do is say "we fixed this, but the fix is only available in an update for which you have to pay more money". Companies are not generally allowed to profit from remediating faulty products.
IF the flaw is fixed in a version that was a paid upgrade, and it has been less than two years, and Capture One will not give you a fix, seek a refund of your original purchase, and then re-buy the software. If the flaw hasn't been fixed, and there's no fix on the horizon, maybe seek the refund anyway and potentially re-buy to reset your two year counter.
As long as Capture One (or indeed any software company) insists on selling flawed products, you as a consumer can enforce your legal rights to seek no-cost redress until you have a working product of merchantable quality for the duration of its statutory warranty.
Australia also requires that a product be fit for purpose and that after sales service (warranty repairs) be provided for an appropriate period. That said, I've never heard of anyone following up on this for software.
C1 might make a good test case - especially at the high price.
So today I finally have moved on, was intending to keep using C1 but I felt like I was wasting my time "investing" time in editing on a platform that I principally dont agree with the model. Jumped to Amazon Prime Deal for the Main Competitor for £70 for the year, I last used that software in 2013 when I switched to C1.
A shame but the innovations look to be more favorable elsewhere too.
Jason Patel C1 Main Competitor? Which one is it? Thanks.
Adobe Creative Cloud for Photographers, so subscription but much better value.
Jason Patel Thank you very much! :)
Well… the price is not the main reason to choose between Lr and C1 but I’m now looking at the prime deal for LrClassic which is 80€ per year…
I rather have CaptureOne get their sh*t together and start implementing at least half of the „Improve Capture One“ User suggestions and obvious shortcomings and I will never speak of the price again, promise. But the reality is that they even managed to slow progress down in the last year…
It's a bit of a struggle as been C1 user for 10 years. It feels very limiting using LrC but I see people get amazing results so need to learn. The interface feels dated compared to C1 with layers hidden away in an obscure place. What I really want is to have a fast workflow with results on par or better than C1 will see if this can meet those requirements. Need to invest my time in learning.
What I miss is so far (1) Brightness Slider, (2) Levels Sliders, (3) Interface is Standard with Limited Layout Customization unlike C1 (4) Multiple Color Readout Points
The last one is for people critical with color but also massively useful for those of use who are colorblind to confirm outcome is reasonable and for removing color casts prior to creative color balance.
Shane Baker
"Add to that the fact that I recently updated my MacOS (for free), and receive various fixes and updates on almost all my software on an on-going basis (at no additional cost) …"
I do not want to go into the fundamental differences between "Mac" and the "rest" here. However, the erroneous assumption is made again and again that Apple operating systems are free of charge. Whoever buys Apple products buys hardware! The operating system (incl. updates/upgrades) is therefore part of the product and is therefore included in the purchase price (one reason why macOS, for example, cannot be bought separately). Therefore, a comparison between an Apple operating system and any software like COP is not easily possible. Fortunately, COP only tries to sell software and not hardware :-)
The new version 13 of Lightroom is tempting me to go back.
Their new color point tools seem to match C1 at last.
Also their new lens blur/bokeh simulation and the existing advanced noise reduction start to add up.
I never said MacOS is free. The price of the licence is included in the purchase price, and thereafter, I receive updates (both bug fixes and enhancements) as long as my hardware can support the OS. A very different approach to that of C1 which has been that they support their product in a half-hearted way for a maximum 12 months and then you buy it again, or live with what you've got.
That said, if you don't like the MacOS example, what about Final Cut Pro or DiVinci Resolve? Both appear to be genuinely perpetual licences on products at least as complex as C1.
I purchased Final Cut Pro with my MacOS 13 years ago and have received all updates free of charge and can put it on as many computers as I like.
mattspace
Does the EU regulation really require to fix any and all software bugs, or must it only be operable on that operating system.
Speaking of operating system, what if C1 states a specific (or range of) operating system builds, let's say you buy C1 16.1 and they support it on macOS 11 Big Sur up to macOS 13.2.1 Ventura, do you need to stay with macOS 13.2.1 Ventura to have an operable C1 or can you argue you need to upgrade to e.g. macOS 13.5 Ventura for the reason to get security patches, and if C1 16.1 does is not supported on macOS 13.5 they need to provide a 16.1.9 to fix that or alternatively give you a 16.2.3?
Shane Baker, John Harper
"I purchased Final Cut Pro with my MacOS 13 years ago and have received all updates free of charge and can put it on as many computers as I like."
That is one of the reasons why I work with Apple products. They are supposedly more expensive to buy, but they are up-to-date for a long time, like my MacBookPro from 2015 ...
Capture One's business behaviour with regard to purchase licenses is very customer-unfriendly, to say the least. On the other hand, nobody is forced to buy Capture One software. We all know about the competitor products – which are mostly cheaper, both in subscription and as a perpetual license. And yet we give free rein to our anger at this point instead of simply switching to the alternative image editing software. We invest some of our valuable time for this. Why do we do this? Maybe because we hope that the people in charge at Capture One will be impressed? Hope dies last ... I think there are other, individual reasons.
Personally, after considering all options, I have now decided to accept the current subscription offer with my loyalty bonus for one year. For me, this results in monthly costs (excl. VAT) of 7.60 EUR for the desktop version or 10.47 EUR for the all-in-one package. This is cheaper for the coming year than the previous upgrade price for the purchase licence. In a year's time, I will again check the prices and conditions applicable at that time and, if necessary, make a new decision. And yes, of course, if I cancel in a year's time I will not be able to continue working with this current version. But I have thought this through for myself.
Just a thought: I spend over 100 EUR every month just to get to work. Or: how much do the journeys cost me per month to be able to take photos outside? Or: how much does a good bottle of wine cost, for example? No matter what I put in relation to the monthly subscription costs: these do not limit me, no matter whether it is the Adobe Photographer package or the Capture One offers. And if they do, I have to consider whether photography is still affordable for me overall. I used to have to buy film for every photo and have it developed. And each photo on photo paper additionally ... And no one complained about these costs at the time.
I can continue to use my existing licence for Capture One Pro 23. I can upgrade existing catalogues and sessions to the new version, for the current COP23 I use the automatically created backup files. As with other software, files/data are not always backwards compatible when upgrading software (which is logical) and therefore not a specific Capture One problem.
I wish everyone to find the best solution for themselves. Sometimes it turns out afterwards that the supposedly cheaper solution is not the best solution after all. So test who commits forever :-)
BeO
I suspect the test would likely be the same as any other product or service - 100% of features, working 100% of the time, and a place for reasonable expectations.
It would be reasonable to expect a piece of software purchased with operating system support for a.b.c version, to support a.b.d. It would not be reasonable to expect that some features of a product you bought simply don't work reliably.
If you buy a car with a 6 cylinder engine, and one cylinder doesn't work occasionally, the car company still has to repair or replace that engine. They can't adopt the the stance that the rest of the cylinders are fine, and that one works most of the time, so that's good enough. Likewise they can't demand you pay extra to get the 8 cylinder engine, which doesn't suffer the problem.
Software isn't special - it's just a product or service, and there's no reason to treat it with different standards to any other product or service. That's the broader trend of regulation worldwide. I know where I live, for example, companies are prohibited from claiming a piece of paid hardware comes with "free", and therefore un-warrantied software. It's all considered part of a cumulative total, and covered by group liabilities.
After all the criticism of Capture here, it is time for something positive. I finally made a subscription after using the trial version of the latest 23. The AI mask is fantastic. Saves not only time, but also very precisely. A pleasure to work with. Together with all the other improvements I'm glad I stayed with Capture, despite my doubts after the loyalty program. I always liked the images more than from other converters ( color, film like, etcetera) and still do. This version strengthened it even more. Kind regards, Roel.
@Medea Pers, I have a similar experience, even though I would have preferred the former model regarding the license.
As a teacher, I got a discount when I made the subscription at the end of the summer.
I very much like the combination of working with Capture One 23 and Affinity Photo 2. No need for any other software right now.
Capture One's recent maneuver to abruptly alter their license terms is not only disconcerting but reeks of opportunism. I was under the distinct impression that my perpetual license purchase guaranteed updates until the next major release. This assumption has been starkly disproved. The pivotal question here is: Did Capture One clandestinely revise their terms post-purchase? Such a move not only skirts the borders of legality but also dives deep into the murky waters of ethical business practices.
In terms of value, their current subscription model is exorbitantly priced, especially when juxtaposed with Adobe's more economical offerings. This leaves me, like many photography enthusiasts, in a predicament, coercing a shift to Lightroom CC. It appears that our demographic is trivial to Capture One, an oversight that might just be their undoing.
This debacle transcends mere pricing and features; it's a matter of principle. The feeling of being duped is not just disappointing; it's personal. Capture One has not just lost a customer in me, but also a shred of respect that might have been salvageable.
I don't know anymore what to think about C1’s Loyality program. The last yearly updates which I have bought (21, 22, 23) became more and more expensive anyway. As said somewhere else here in the forum. I don't like to be locked out of any Digital Asset Management software because I need to continue to pay a fee to use it. Lst BlackFriday my photo store offered a full C1 license which was cheaper than the loyality offer. Now I have two licenses: 16.2 and 16.3 I like the new features in 16.3, but could live also with 16.2 – I have bought it specially it for the smaller and faster previews which it generates. The AI masking tools is a nice add on but not essential for my work. I would recommend, just wait for the next november and get a BlackFriday offer;-)
Here is the PetaPixel article entitled:
Capture One Lays Off Staff Amid a ‘Significant’ Internal Restructure
https://petapixel.com/2024/01/30/capture-one-lays-off-staff-amid-a-significant-internal-restructure/
Many of us predicted this, had they been honest and upfront it would have gone better for them.
I am so delighted that I made the switch back to Lightroom!!!
I am not happy to read this.
I hate to say it: A lot, lot of people warned Capture One, that they took the false turn with the decision about perpetuel licences. And that it would hurt them long term. Now it is there (only the beginning?)...
WHY is it so often, that people learn things the hard way and are not willing to hear their customers?
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