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
I’ve just subscribed to the Photoshop/Lightroom model for the first time, $12.49AU per month, 2 cups of coffee, how cheap’s that.
Capture One has made no move to improve their software since they shafted their dedicated perpetual customers.
Photoshop/Lightroom are streets ahead and that includes the iPad app thrown in.
Sure, Capture One is more expensive. But google Capture One vs Lightroom, and C1 comes out as the winner. See for yourself.
A winner via Google? That doesn’t do much for me. After being Johnny come Lately on the iPad, they managed to betray their customer base by entering on a full scale subscription system that even lets Adobe, the former bad guy look like an angel.
Now Capture One is somewhat of an expensive one trick pony. It really has a good RAW engine but anything else is mediocre. The RAW engine isn’t worth the money over that of Adobe. I could live with it on the old license scheme… somewhat expensive but it also was supporting a vendor who doesn’t rip the customers via subscriptions. Ha!
@Mariusz Janosz, I'm interested in seeing new functionality also. Because I purchased v23 I am holding off until September to make a decision about its use going forward. What functionality is added/improved between now and then is a major factor in that decision. In the meantime I am putting aside $AU15 a week to purchase a newer incarnation of the software if I judge it to be value for money, or if not I will have some cash ready to access alternatives.
I admit I am opposed to the changes and complained early and often. I also use Photoshop all the time. So the decision is Capture One vs. Lightroom. A few years ago, we are all incensed when Adobe changed the policy on owning the app. Have we all forgotten that? We all have the right to be angry and keep venting. Go for it. Capture One has been slow to make changes, and it always feels they have held back things for the next upgrade fee. I hate that more than the subscription. Lightroom is not for everyone.
Capture One Live is still half-baked. Frame.io is still half-baked. It is integrated to Capture One and other applications and platforms. But it does not support many camera systems, but as you point out, you can use an Atomos recorder. They are not that expensive in the scheme of things. It is more video-focused based so does not figure in my photo stream at this point.
How many of us are using Capture One for video? Not this user. So not sure this would weigh on my decisions either way. Did it use development resources? Yes it did. Point taken.
Is $179 a year vs $120 a year so much different it puts your business under? Are you incensed due to the change? Ok. Were you incensed when Adobe changed policy? Swore you were gone forever? You are back?
Not a fan boy. I help start the fires long ago, but this message stream is concentrated with the group of people incensed and leaving. I will just throw out some other ideas. I can use Lightroom. I have had access for many years. Meh. I went to CO when Apple abandoned Aperture and me. Any company can change. How many of you went to Windows because Aperture went away? Some I am sure. I went to CO from Aperture because they alone had a path for Aperture users.
Just thoughts. Debates are made to be two-sided. Debaters don't need to be only on one side.
If you are incensed now were you incensed with Adobe? Apple? 1Password? Any of a hundred or more other companies that changed their model? At least there is an opportunity to own a license. I will point that out.
I know everyone can argue every point I make. There are nuances to any decision.
Make your informed decision and go with it.
You cannot compare Adobe here with CO. Yes many people were angry with the way Adobe has gone to subscription… but thing is… they were leading in this. PhaseOne did lure Adobe users into a non-subscription offering. Apple did just cancel a product. They didn’t lure people into it and then did throw them before the bus.
I‘m not angry at PhaseOne. I just can clearly say that their product isn’t worth that much money and that Adobe indeed offers MUCH more for less money.
But that’s not the whole story. If I think back at the development story of CO I clearly can see that there is little chance the software can keep up with the future. All they’ve done in the last years is moving some buttons and views around. When I started, their database code was horrible. It was clear why it was that dog slow. Still until today the software is all but fast.
Not having an iPad app for years was also a clear sign. What we got now is half arsed.
Adobe is doing research on generative AI models and lots of other stuff. I‘m very certain that PhaseOne sleep on all of this too.
I also switched from Aperture to CO - at the start it did look like they go into the right direction. Not anymore.
@...
Yeah they have to deliver meaningful, full featured updates. They have to fix the catalog once and for all and they have to stop making meaningless or half baked features.
I think CO has painted COP into a corner, they do not have the financial firepower to do the necessary research that Adobe can do.
I have contended all long that CO's PE owner (Axcel) is looking to exit. CO will either be sold or will merge with another company. They might just fade away as well, but I don't see that happening. But change is coming and that is usually never good for users.
I wasn't happy about making the switch to LR/PS, but I am actually now ecstatic, the apps are rock solid, the edits are great and the cost is a fraction COP's cost.
Maybe Apple buys them and labels it Aperture Pro X 😅
Hahahahahahaha...
Maybe Black Magic Designs
New LR announcement...
Adobe Lightroom Adds New AI Innovations and Improved Masking
The article is on PetaPixel, I will post the link in another post. If it doesn't show up then head over to petapixel and you will find it.
Adobe is on fire!!!
@...
I am ecstatic with LR (are there bugs and issues? sure). There is nothing that COP can do that LR cannot do and LR's catalog works.
I resorted to a new CO catalog for every single shoot to try to mitigate the instability of COP's catalog system. A complete rewrite of the catalog subsytem is imperative. Looks like that is not going to happen
I have no problem about a company making profits. It’s a good thing for development.
However, don’t listen to accountants who will convince you that the subscription model works. This model is the lazy way out of thinking creatively and is purely short term in nature.
Take on Apples old marketing slogan “Think Different”. You will make more money in the long run.
Best wishes,
G
Why do you think they are a distraction? I doubt that they impose more work than those upgrading every year or subscribers, but account for probably around 20% of the revenue (roughly following your math). This percentage of revenue is not nothing; other companies do flips and twists to get 20% more revenue.
And 20% of new users go the perpetual license route, according to that poll. This also is not nothing. But these numbers might not be very reliable. And decisions are sometimes biased and / or decision makers often follow their own agenda. We will have to wait until the future is the past, to see what happened.
BeO
I didn't actually do the math in this post, the anaylis is fairly long. If I can find my previous post where I actually did the analysis I will repost it.
1. Neither Axcel nor potential buyers when Axcel exits like inconsistent revenue streams, i.e., perpetual models (exit multiples will suffer). Without referring back to my analysis I don't remember the exact number but it only takes a small number of perpetual licensees to convert to subscription and they are back to their baseline revenue. Potential buyers would rather see a consistent revenue stream rather than a lumpy revenue stream and even better if a year or so after conversion that the revenue stream is equal to or great than before the conversion. Remember, no one cares about the bottom line, it is all about revenue growth and strong EBITDA. A perpetual model supports neither.
2. The code base slightly diverges.
3. The business model for both schemes diverges.
4. The support model diverges
5. I have no inside information but based on prior experience, I would expect the perpetual margins to be half the subscription margins.
6. I suspect in a year or so CO will completely cease the perpetual model.
BeO
Hahahahahahaha
Yeah just like Adobe did, they will probably at some point announce that Version xxx will be the last perpetual version... I suspect once they get enough subscribers that is when they will terminate the perpetual model.
I believe Capture One are feeling the pinch, sometime ago they offered me 6 months free subscription, no way known would I revert back.
They have done nothing to upgrade to new features since this all started.
I’m still using C1. Even switched to a subscription since I get a 65% discount as a teacher. For my workflow, C1 works like a charm together with Affinity Photo.
Without the discount, I would probably stay with C1 22, since the price should be too high for my needs to pay full price.
Yes, but what about their 'promise' that you get a discount on a perpetual license after 5 years of subscription?
Isn't it sad that so many customers, including me, think about the company that way? It has it roots in how they treated us in the recent years.
But I am still hoping their math will come to the conclusion to keep the perpetual license model even in many years time. That could be the only reason for them, being owned by private equity investors. The more people subscribe though the more unlikely this will be.
Yeah, discounts are always appreciated but as a professional you need reliability in the license costs for some years ahead. So you know you can safely invest your time to learn/master the software.
I want to balance my expectations of "how much progress the software makes" with "the amount of money invested in that time"
The discount is for one year of subscription only, a marketing teaser.
They want to have as many converts (from perpetual license to subscription) as possible. Perpetual license is still € 349,00.
The Canadian $ pricing is $14.76, so the same as $10.44 US$ billed yearly, for a total of $125USD. How on earth are they justifying the perpetual license price of $299??? Yes, perpetual will always exist, they will, however be exorbitantly priced compared to the subscription.
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:
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.
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