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
@...
The question is not to choose to switch to the subscription system. Capture One is free to do it.
The question is that they are being proved unreliable. They first waited to collect the renewals of perpetual licenses ... and then to launch this announcement.
This means "not being serious". And when a photographer has to invest, time, resources in a service, he claims seriousness.
I will NEVER EVER buy a subscription C1. The reason why I am using C1 is that it had versions to buy without subscription model.
One of the main reasons I have a perpetual license is the ability to keep using the version of the program I bought.
I don't mind a subscription model as long it is possible to keep using the program after I cancelled the subscription. I understand Capture One doesn't want short-term 'run-and-grab' subscriptions, but they could work out a plan for long-term-subscribers (e.g. lifelong access to the previous version if you were a subscriber for 12 months or more).
Thanks for the info. You just saved me a bunch of money as I will no longer be a customer of Capture One.
Capture One at the moment. Yes the community has spoken, and not very favorably. Capture One was the anti Adobe subscription software everyone loved. You've just set your house on fire.
I’m very very disappointed. I hesitated to upgrade to C1 23, because there no real new features that I wanted. But I did eventually buy an upgrade, because of all the updates I thought I would get during the whole year of 2023. Now I possibly need to pay for full license in early October for any features you add then that I was hoping I would get for what I paid for the upgrade. And I imagine I need to purchase yet another full licence, like each year or so if there are any new features. Doing perpetual ”upgrades” each year as I normally do will be painfully expensive. I moved from Adobe LR some years ago when they moved to subscription only. I really don’t want to pay for just using the software, I want to pay for the new features you add, when there are any that I like. If I do that I expect to get it with a rebate, not paying full price each time I upgrade. As many said before me, I you force me to subscribe I could much rather subscribe to the Adobe suite. I will consider that. It all comes down to what a annual perpetual ”upgrade” would cost me. Will it be at the current price point for a full license, I will perhaps upgrade every two years instead of each year. Quite the opposite of what you intended with this strategy.
Firstly dear Capture One, I need to tell you that I have no intention whatsoever to go on a subscription plan. I will also not buy a new, undiscounted license every year. Not going to happen. Ever. Period. If you do an Adobe on me, I will go somewhere else. Probably DxO, which I already own. Yes, okay, I still use Photoshop CS6, the last "perpetual" version from 2012.
I have used C1 since the early days, since the demise of Photoshop CS6, so I will hang on to my perpetual license. I currently have C1 Pro 22. This was the FIRST year I have not upgraded (perhaps thankfully?) - there were not enough improvements for ME.
But here is what is unclear to me from your messaging. Which will be the last Perpetual license. C1 Pro 22, or C1 Pro 23 ?? I can see that my current C1 Pro 22 is a Perpetual license, but I do not understand if C1 Pro 23 similarly will be a perpetual license or not. If C1 Pro 23 is perpetual, I may buy it before Jan 31. If C1 Pro 23 is not perpetual, I cannot see any reason for buying it.
Please clarify if C1 Pro 23 is also a perpetual license or not. That will influence my decision about what to do next.
Except for this. Here is what else really annoys me about your strategy. Until a week ago, there was a BF special for 33% off plus another 20% off. But then we did not have this information. Now that special price is gone, you drop this announcement on us. I am very cynical about your honesty here, Capture 1. This will also influence my decision.
What would C1 loose to continue with the most wanted perpetual licence (including updates) and lower upgrade price? You loose nothing. But now, the other way around, you loose your customers.
Really, really annoyed by this move.
It's your right to do this, but limiting update access to September 30th is outright stupid and criminal, leaving us with only 10 months of support instead of 12. Prolong this deadline to Dec 23 at least!
I have to say that ever since Rafael Orta became CEO, the company has gradually lost my support due to the continuous stream of bad (for customers) ideas and decisions.
It's such a shame.
The FAQ section on the pricing page (still) reads:
– that was the premise under which I bought a perpetual licence for Capture One 23 a few weeks ago. To say the above statement is misleading is an understatement … very disappointed!
Let's be honest, this move is made to bother your perpetual license owners to switch to subscription and "thin out the herd" until there's almost no perpetual license owners left and then you'll be able to switch to a subscription only model.
All you had to do was change the wording : Perpetual license owners can purchase 1 year of updates in November for $XXX dollars or choose to keep their version which is no longer updated.
I ALWAYS purchase the yearly update. I almost don't even look at the new features. I just pay to get a year of updates and I am very happy to do so as I understand developing software is expensive and is an ongoing expense. The reason I like that system is not because it's so much cheaper that way, but because of the fact that I have the peace of mind of knowing I can still use the software even if I skip a version, even though I don't skip them. I also like to support companies that give me that option.
I dumped all of Adobe software when they killed their perpetual license and will do the same with C1, even though I love the software, if you ever do so.
Now, you need to explain how this will work : If I choose to skip a version, will I be able to upgrade with a special pricing to the next version after that? Will I get the features of the update I skipped in that case? What will the pricing look like for updates? How can we believe you that this move is not made to push us towards subscription?
Now, let's look at the cost : I just updated to Capture One 23 for 225.40$ CAD. I see that the annual subscription is 250$ per year, so the cost is a bit higher but pretty similar. The difference for me is mainly the fact that under the subscription, you can't decide that you don't pay. The software won't work anymore. I paid a bit over 400$ to buy it at first for that privilege of having the peace of mind that I COULD skip a version, even though I never do it.
I hope you reconsider and think about just changing the wording on your actual offer like I explained at the beginning of this message.
EDIT : I'm not sure if the price I see for the subscription is in CAD or USD so if it's in USD, it's quite higher than I previously thought.
Why not?
I just sent a refund request. Do it all.
If they do not refund me, I make you send by my lawyer, calling them into question. Nothing costs me ... my girlfriend's sister is a lawyer.
@ FRATX Each feature release will be paid, but you are not required to purchase every update, in the same way you are not required to purchase a perpetual license every year. It's up to you how often you upgrade; if there are features or camera support that you don't want or need, then it's probably best that you don't purchase an upgrade.
Sorry, but ARE YOU SERiOUSLY? Thank you for giving us the opportunity to not upgrade all the time for the full price? Thank you very much, very generous! Adobe CC, we're coming back, a lot of us!
This is disappointing and again it's all about the money. They want more money and would like to lead us to a subscription. Sure, you have the customer on the hook and can do whatever you want. That's unfair and I was hoping you would never do that. Shit !!!!So sad!. I was an avid C1Pro user for many years. Its too bad that the marketing folks did not have the decency to announce this prior to release of 23. I guess its time to go back to LR in the next little while.
Also really disappointed about this change. It is straight up worse for perpetual license holders so I can't find any redeeming positive in this situation. Saying that this is an answer to our calls and that we asked for this is misleading. There is no tie-in between being able to release features faster and having to change the licensing model. Not telling us anything more about the so-called loyalty program and waiting until Feb is also really shady. I can't trust you right now to believe it will be fair for existing customers.
Upgrade pricing will no longer be available after 31st of January and will be replaced with a new loyalty scheme. More details will be announced on February 1, 2023.
Why can’t you tell us the details of the loyalty scheme now? I can see no legitimate reason for withholding this information until after the upgrade price window has closed, other than trying to scam those of us who haven’t already upgraded to 23.
This behaviour is shameful.
I’ll continue using 22 for as long as it is functional, but I’ll be looking elsewhere after that.
Feeling angry, and also glad I didn't upgrade to 23 yet. This announcement means I never will, and I'll start to look for alternatives to C1.
I switched to C1 specifically to get rid of the exploitative subscription model, but now this move is transparently meant to force everyone to move to a subscription model. With license prices steadily increasing over the years and amount of new features per major version decreasing over the years in C1, I've felt that C1 has become a bit too expensive in any case -- and now this, where I'd need to buy a completely new license each year. Ridiculous; the upgrade pricing was already on the "painfully expensive" scale.
You want me to switch to a subscription? Never going to happen. And if I did want a subscription model, Lightroom provides much better value for money on that front.
This is a bad move, driven by "money first" company leadership. You'll lose your permanent license holders (which according to the newsletter are about half of your total users). Hope the money you can squeeze out of the rest will make up for that loss.
"When Capture One was sold to an investment company..."
Ah, that would explain it. Investment companies have only one mission: wringing out the maximum profit from a company, at any cost. Companies rarely survive that, since what typically happens is that previously good products are destroyed by lack of support and jack-up prices. Which is what seems to be happening here. :(
Oh well, time to examine the (non-subscription) alternatives.
What's next for 2024? Kill the license servers for the perpetual software?
So we can't activate our "perpetual version of 22 and 23"
@CO: at least give us a version of a perpetual installer that simply activates with our serial number without having to talk to your activation servers.
Luckily I did not purchase the v23 upgrade, mostly due to high price comparing to the previous upgrades. My previous Pro versions: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21 and now 22. I really prefer the perpetual license model, so over time I stopped using Adobe LR and kept Capture One and DxO PhotoLab, with yearly upgrade purchases.
When Capture One was sold to an investment company and they swapped the whole support team, it became useless to report any issues, because they would not be solved any more. The prices kept increasing regularly, until today when this announcement was made.
If I have to pay a subscription for the photo software, I will get back to Adobe LR. They at least are adding some really cool AI-based features, which will unlikely ever appear in Capture One. And their DAM is superior in every way.
Peter Adams
Exactly. Over the years, I have lived various changes in the business models of companies. But I have always had a serious, sensible treatment that would make situation acceptable.
Here instead they first launched the new version (3 weeks ago!) By collecting the renewals of perpetual licenses (with a increased price ...) ... and only now made the announcement.
They totally lost my trust. I have been a customer for over 10 years that he had renewed every year.
This feels and smells like blackmail and extorsion.
I'm very disappointed. The upgrade prices were already outragous.
C1 Pro 22 will be the last for me it seems. Yes I can afford it (it's used for work) but as I have the full Photoshop package anyway I'll be dammed if I'll be forced into another subscription give the overlap.
What this tells me is you're losing out on upgrades each year, because you're really not upgrading much anyway, so you're losing out on a wad of $. What better way to stop this than to make it so everyone has to go on a subscription... no more missing out on upgrade cash for 2-3 years as you have to maintain subs payments.
Well, news for you, I'll just setup a virtual machine and keep an OS that works with C1 Pro22. I only really need it for manual keywording anyway.
You seriously think people can't see through your marketing BS?!? You really do think we're stupid!!!
You was the main competitor of Adobe. Now you are no competitor anymore. Adobe will be happy about your decision and gain more clients while you loose them.
This would be nice as I would like mine back as well having just upgraded to 23, but it's not likely to happen.
Eine unglaubliche Frechheit, nachdem ich vor zwei wochen den vollen upgrade Preis fur version 23 bezahlt habe.
gibt es dann alle 3 monate eine volle neue Y.X version für 300€ weil jetzt ein slider jetzt mit "Künstlicher Intelligenz " sich nach rechts schiebt?🤬
@...
But there are no more upgrades. You always have to buy a full version again
A "Bug" in software is by definition a fault in the product. It marks the product as being unfit for sale - not of merchantable quality.
In Australia at least, the minimum statutory warranty for all products sold is 12 months from purchase date (please do not get into semantics of licenced Vs. sold, they are treated more or less identically in many jurisdictions).
Therefore, regardless of C1's release schedule, it is arguable that they are legally obligated to fix any bug arising within 12 months of purchase, and a refusal to fix any bugs (without requiring additional purchases) outstanding after that 12 months would constitute grounds to demand a refund, on the basis that C1 is and remained a defective product.
Limiting major features to major releases are acceptable and that has always been the way with software. The same went for Lightroom in the past when it still had a perpetual license. We received minor updates such as small feature improvements and camera/lens support in the form of eg "6.x" updates. However, I feel it is not acceptable if even minor improvements are withheld as "major features" and packaged as a "major release" ("x.0" versions).
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