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 am surprised that no one has mentioned so far Skylum's business model with the Luminar Neo product. I suspect that CO will follow a similar path.
There will be a CO basic platform that is equipped with the most necessary tools. If you want more, you have to buy the corresponding module for a lot of money. This applies to a "lifetime" purchase licence. In the subscription, this basic platform is maintained in so far as it will always work with the current OS. With the purchase version, the basic platform remains at the technical level of the date of purchase. This means that the programme becomes obsolete as soon as the operating system no longer works with the software. Thus, a "lifetime" or "unlimited" licence can only be used for a limited period of time.
Updates will therefore always be necessary as long as the OS continues to be developed and one uses (has to use) them. However, there should always be a choice between buying the right to use the programmes for an unlimited period of time or subscribing for a limited period of time.
I think one positive thing we can come away with in this situation is that it proves subsription based license would be even worse. Consider a situation in which C1 makes a negative change to subscription licensing, e.g. increases the price. In that case the only options would be to accept the change or completely abandon the software. Here we can at least keep using the version we bought. So I am even less inclined to switch to subscription now.
Bottom line is I will now refrain from buying anything from C1 and wait for the situation to evolve.
Suggestion to all:
- If you have purchased the license or update with PayPal, make a dispute to the payment (I just did it).
- If you have used the credit card, open a dispute with your supplier.
Motivation: "Unilateral change of the license conditions subsequently the purchase".
The banks, Paypal and FastSpring, if he receives many disputes for the same product, will not let the thing pass and will probably be forced to apply reimbursements.
One of the drivers for me to buy C1 perpetual was to move away from expensive subscription models. I am a light user so paying for a perpetual license made sense. With this move, if I am forced into a subscription model (however you wish to call it), it makes more sense for me to move away to a product that gives better value for subscription money. Also, with the upgrade offers being taken away, that's one more reason for me to start looking elsewhere for better value.
Hope the sentiments you see here against this move is proof enough that majority of your user base on perpetual model do not welcome this move.
I will try to sum it up:
You have just taken the Luminar route. Takers without any respect for their customers. Pitiful and not creative at all!
Most of the things I would say been already said. I moved from Lr to COP just because I hate subscription model. I know I pay more for licence that I would pay for subscription but I pay for my own freedom in my mind. That I have my money under control. Today with dozen of subscription based services it is easy to lose control over money flow. Now I can afford it but what if I will be not able to afford it in few months because something happen to my income. Subscription model makes it easier for company and harder for customers. If you would like to make me pay subscription you would have to make it cheaper because I already have access to Lr for 150€ per year and it include Ps too.
I just upgraded to COP 23 which doesn't work for me. It keep crashing with my main catalog so I have to use 22 until it will be solved. I will give it a day or two but I think I will ask for refund. This is definitely sad moment in my relationship with Capture One.
Capture One just proves to us that they are not a sincere and reliable partner anymore.
Over the past few years many of you have told us you want access to new tools and improvements sooner, rather than have them all in one ‘major’ version of Capture One Pro at the end of each year
You're kidding, it's called a subscription otherwise what would be the point of paying 229€ (current rate) per year if we don't have the new tools when they are ready.
The 2023 license guarantees us to have the updates until September 30, 2023 and after that you will have to acquire a new copy of Capture One, at full price.
You ask us for a new financial effort, but what does Capture one do to deserve it? apart from releasing a tasteless version 23, delivering the profiles of the new lenses more than a year after their release and who persists in not communicating in the languages of the users to whom they are nevertheless happy to sell the licenses?
Your new way of proceeding has only one goal push us to subscribe to the subscription. Too bad it will be without me then, but fortunately there are now companies which do as well as you in post-processing and which are much less greedy.
Just had a reply from C1 support to my mail where I ask them to cancel my account. I get asked to confirm I know that I won't be able to download or activate the software anymore (as I already told them in the mail I sent them *sigh*) so I confirmed.
They'll be cancelling my account now.
Best of luck Capture One users. You'll need it. I'm off to other horizons (looking at you DXO).
I agree with the decision not to follow the calendar year: this is your decision that cannot be contested. But don't force perpetual users into an annual subscription to maintain product functionality. Those who have purchased a perpetual license like me, want to keep all the features purchased with that specific perpetual license without having to subscribe to a subscription plan. Keep in mind that many of your users and I left Adobe precisely to have a perpetual license without subscriptions, to have the possibility to decide whether or not to purchase later versions of C1 with new features. For the moment I have always purchased the upgrade to the next perpetual version. But now... ??? 10 months???? not 12???? This is very BAD.
But I'm concerned about this progressive way of marketing like bankers, insurance companies... and above all like Adobe does. Phrases like "many have asked us" or "to improve the service" seem little reassuring words that could imply two things: either you intend to sell the company in the future or you want to force all users into the subscription cage as Adobe did . I hope not.
I hope you haven't already decided to force perpetual users into the subscription prison in the future: I think you should release an official communication that you will keep the possibility of the perpetual license, many users have invested time and money on the wonderful C1 just for the perpetual license. Yes, I am an enthusiastic C1 Pro user.
Greetings from Italy and good job to the C1 staff!!
Anyway, I hear a lot of complaints here, but the cost (to date) of C1Pro's annual upgrade is always higher than an annual subscription with Adobe.
$200/year C1 vs ~150$/year Adobe.
Those who have switched to C1Pro if they have done so to save money, should use the “perpetual” license for at least 3 years.
Otherwise, Adobe is always worth it.
Those who choose C1Pro are for RAW development, which is better than Adobe.
The Ai features, the photographer no/maybe need, and in any case those are On1 are better than the Adobe ones.
The day On1 improves its (today so bad) development of RAW files there will be a real competitor to C1Pro.
Luminar is a toy, you can't work on it.
As an amateur, I'm definitely not in the target consumer group of C1 or Adobe, but I'm using C1 since v5 Express, upgraded at v8 to Pro for 70€ and then every other year at July/August 40-50% discounts. After v10 started the steep price increase and new features decline. I've appreciated v22 which added HDR merge and Panorama stitching, after quick check of v23 trial I've decided to skip this version. The artifacts in HDR merge are not fixed and Smart adjust function, while sounding very useful to me, is not so smart in real use :( So I'm OK with v22 for years to come, as all my cameras are supported and all cameras I'm interested in (Canon R6 and R3) are supported too. Heck I'm still using 1DsIII, 1DIV and A7R...
I will stay with the v22 for the years to come, if the "loyalty plan" won't be interesting to me. Even if I buy non supported camera, I can still use free AdobeDNG convertor, or DXOPureRAW to convert the raw files to DNG and use them with older version of C1. Well it's one step more (but I do it anyway with DXOPureRAW on some photo-sessions) and takes more disk space (but gigabytes are cheap). The application backward compatibility on Windows is much better than on MacOS, I expect that v22 will run for another few years without flaws. Meanwhile I will check DXOPhotoLab (maybe they will offer some competitive upgrade) or Affinity RAW developer emerges.... Well, it was a hell of a ride with C1 :) for almost 13 years, but it's not the one and only RAW developer.
If you are considering moving to Capture One Pro 23, our upgrade pricing (33% off the full price) is open to you until January 31, 2023.
I can't see this offer in my account?!
Forcing people which migrated to C1 or stayed with it because of perpetual licenses to subscriptions will definitely cost them some customers (Adobe is much better value for the money, if someone is OK with subscription), but business comes of course first, and few lost customers like me are probably insignificant...
Anyway, if anybody want sell his v23 license for 50€ let me know to my email "nasmazani (at) gmail (dot) com" , so I can stay at the latest perpetual version :D
Good news for everyone who wants to switch ;-)
Wow, what a stupid idea!
I think not many customers bought your upgrade to v.23 with no important new features?
And now you try to force us in another subscription prison. It leaves me absolutely speechless.
I will stick with my c1 v.22 as long as it goes.
There's plenty of RAW-Editing software in the market.
If you stick with this decision, you will maybe end up in oblivion, im afraid.
Still not really clear how C1 will handle the smaller updates in future and at which cost.
I also left Adobe for their subscription model and now facing a deja vu.
Will have closer look on darktable now. Probably not that perfect, but might be enough for me as amateur. But seems the only remaining option without subscription.
Well, this is disappointing, and as many others have said this appears to be a profit-driven move to reduce/eliminate us as remaining perpetual license holders. I think C1 is a great product and I have learned a lot and have greatly benefited from webinars by the David Grover / Paul Reiffer duo :-)
That said, from what I've heard LR has come a long way in the last few years, and since I have subscription to PS/LR anyway (for PS work) I'll probably re-evaluate moving back to LR as my primary raw developer and consider bailing on C1 depending on how all of this plays out.
I wish C1 the best of luck, it's been a fun ride ... until now.
Very disappointed by your "smart" business model forcing perpetual license customers to buy a new version just to suport a new camera model, when they do upgrade. I Have an Fujifilm XT2, and bought a license for Capture One 11 in 2018. Worked fine, very happy, but when I upgraded to XT-4 the files were not recognised anymore, and allegedly I have to upgrade to a newer version just to have suport for the new camera. Let's get this clear, the xt-4 RAF files have the same compression type. This is not e feature to pay 250 EUR for. This is not a feature at all.
Extrem enttäuschend
Schade, es wird immer blöder.
Well I now know I made the right move two weeks ago.
I think you're accountants and management need to relook at the rate of return for broader adoption at a reduced annual license fee vs a still sky high subscription rate. Although the business schools do remind everyone to capture and enslave people through rentals is the best course of business...I don't really think it is the best moral thing to do.
You finally had so many good things sorted out: Catalog speed, nodal actions vs modal, HDR, simple to use detailed edits for folks who hate photoshop...I was willing to put up with the proprietary catalog for a price. You just kept jacking up the prices...again and again and again. 100% in under three years. You are not worth twice the price of a complete Adobe ecosystem. Mind you I am not an Adobe fan, never have been. Just stating the truth.
Oh well. i just moved to a complete non-proprietary catalog system of systems. Still lower initial than your renewal, but I'll keep the same quality (or better) RAW processing, have better cataloging across my entire ecostyem (without Apple or a cloud), and be able to renew for far less than you were asking if they don't go sideways as well. Well if they do I'll just find another editing program, my catalog will remain non-proprietary and I'll just switch my open with option.
I think CO will be laying off a lot of people by this time next year if this string is any exemplar of your mainline customer base. Really a sorry situation. Well at least I have a good while to complete the catalog exfiltration thanks to my perpetual license.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I've only been using Capture One seriously for less than a year. My main tool, for at least the last seven years, when it comes to image processing my photographs has been Affinity Photo. The software has always been reliable and the policy of the Serif company has always been unparalleled towards their customers.
I first downloaded Capture One Express for Fuji at the beginning of the year, and after using it with my Fuji camera, I finally decided to buy a Pro version of the software. Unfortunately, the company behind Capture One had already killed Capture One Pro for Fujifilm in January, so I had to buy the more expensive version of Capture One.
Their overnight decision to remove the versions that only supported a particular camera brand (Nikon, Sony, Fuji) should have been seen as a warning. A company that changes things too quickly without giving their current or future customers time or the opportunity to plan ahead to make a decision to buy or upgrade is somehow capricious. They are not reliable in the long run. Capture One, as a company, has now proven that they are not entirely reliable and trustworthy.
I don't think many of their customers have demanded this change. I think it is probably a decision made out of greed rather than concern for the needs of customers.
My wishes, wishes one must have as it is almost Christmas and all that Christmas presents and presents entail, are as follows when it comes to Capture One:
• Change the version numbers from year to sequal number. It will make it possible to have longer or shorter time between larger updates (from 16.x to 17.x).
• Make all the updates within the same sequal number (16.0 - 16.x) free of charge.
• Lower the price for the upgrades and give us 50% or more discount when we upgrade from one version to another (15.x to 16.x to 17.x). Now it way to expansive to upgrade.
• Also lower the price of a new licence. You're charging more than you should. You may have deluded yourself into thinking that you can charge an excessive or unreasonable price for your software. Come on, get back down to earth and lower your licensing fees in line with common sense.
• Do not change the rules of the perpetual licenses. Keep it as it is now. Do not force your customers into an unwanted subscription trap. If you continue down this road of subscription, I believe that a lot of people will vote against your decision and do so by leaving Capture One for good and switching to another software.
• Make the iPad version of Capture One available as onetime payment. Affinity Photo for iPad is a very good example how to do it right.
I really enjoy working with the Capture One Pro, but the joy is not priceless.
See : https://www.captureone.com/en/pricing/capture-one-pro
Screencaptures from today 07. December 2022, a few minutes ago:
No longer valid since yesterday 06. December 2022 ? Shame on you at CaptureOne!
I have been using Capture One pro for a long long time and I have drop Adobe Lightroom because of their licensing policy. Now Capture One pro is following Adobe practice. I just update my Capture One pro. I will drop Capture One pro next year when it changes the licensing policy. This is very upsetting but I have been using other digital processing softwares. So I am ready for this!
When I upgraded Capture One pro. The changes in licensing policy was not mentioned. I have been upgrading my software every year. For all of us that has upgraded our software. We should look into a class action lawsuit. Shame on you Capture One!
I am regretting the fact that I have get two of my friends to buy Capture One pro recently. Now I have to apologize to them. I will not recommend your software again instead I will tell all my friends not to buy your software.
Und hier auch meine Stimme. Unter Marketing Gelaber versuchen noch mehr Geld abzuknöpfen ist definitiv nicht kundenorientiert. Da wird man für dumm verkauft.
Erinnert mich an pixellu smartalbum vor paar Jahren. Aus lifetime Lizenz wurde plötzlich überteuertes abosystem. Nachdem shitstorm wurde aber schnell zurück gerudert und zumindest was angeboten was preislich gerechter ist und nachvollziehbar. Hoffe CO sieht es auch ein, dass das der falsche Weg ist.
sorry, I buy in January and you dictate the conditions in February???
it's a joke???!!!
The changes in C1 Pro's license model has been bigger than the changes in the program itself, during the 5-6 years I have been a user. This is the biggest change so far.
An upgrade used to be about 100 € / year, that is now 209 €. Increase of more than 100 %. After the changes take place - how much will a perpetual license user pay annually to keep the software up-to-date. Capture One doesn't tell.
What is the loyalty scheme? Capture One doesn't tell.
The only clear message is that perpetual users won't get any upgrade discount anymore.
Please reconsider this decision. You are angering long time customers. You're making us underwrite the development of a mobile option most never asked for. If I have to subscribe, I'll just go back to Adobe - who by the by has copied your color grading tools and has far superior masking options. Plus I'll get Photoshop thrown in to boot. DXO and ON1 must have mile wide smiles watching this chaos among your user base.
Apparently C1 has taken their cue from an American politician who (in)famously said, "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." Or, in Phase-speak, "You have to buy it so you can find out what you bought. Trust us."
No.
This reminds me of when Adobe changed their Photoshop upgrade pricing policy from allowing 3 versions back to only 1 version. The announcement came when CS6 was current, the implication being owners of CS5 and older would not be eligible for upgrade pricing on CS7. So some number of people—people who had been happy to stand pat with their versions of PS—heeded the warning and bought CS6. We're still waiting for CS7.
C1P was a very good RAW converter, but as a DAM it is unfortunately unusable. Under Windows, there is a bug with the database for over 5 years, which has not been solved to this day.
I skipped version 22 and only bought version 23 again (167€), this was then certainly my last version. The Adobe subscription costs as an annual license offer on Black Friday often only about 80€, this will be my future, which I already have for 2 years in parallel with C1 and my license must be renewed only in September 2026. As I had written so many times, am also no friend of the ABO model, only unfortunately it is often much cheaper than buying a software.
It is time that this company is wound up.
I have not seen any comments that would suggest any user here requesting higher pricing, even less value, left alone another subscription rip off. Glad I did not upgrade this year and instead invested in a DXO license. I think a lot of users were here to escape the Adobe subscription bs; this move is and never has been about a better service but only about more profit for you.
I just browsed around the Capture One web site and I can't find any reference to this change except in this article, and the article appears to be well hidden. For example, I see nothing on the main page of the site, and I see nothing when reviewing pricing options. It's as if nothing has changed or is planned to change.
Am I missing a reference to this article in a prominent location on the web site, or is Capture One trying to bury this change so that potential new customers aren't scared off until it's too late? It sure feels deceptive if the only reference to the impending changes are effectively hidden.
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