Screen Studio has removed their non-subscription licensing options for new customers

Users of the screen recording app Screen Studio have reported that the company has removed the previously available $229 lifetime license with one year of updates for new purchases, effectively eliminating their one-time payment options and requiring new users to choose one of the subscription tiers. Customers who already held this license will now receive up to two years of free updates, with eligibility through September 25, 2027. After that date they can still make unlimited use of their current version, with the option to purchase a renewal to receive further updates, without being forced to migrate to a subscription like new users.

Founder Adam said the email about the change was intended only for owners of that license and admitted the message should have stated more clearly that renewals remain available after 2027. He said the $229 price for the one-time license was not justified, called the tier a mistake with low adoption, and noted Screen Studio is a bootstrapped team of five with no VC funding, which is why the company relies on subscriptions for sustainability.

The shift drew criticism from some users who described the move as misleading, with several suggesting alternatives to Screen Studio such as Screen Sage, built in Swift rather than Electron, open source options like Cap or Screenity, and other apps with lifetime licenses such as Canvid.