Alarmy app and the problem of expensive lifetime access after switching to "freemium" subscription model.: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{IncidentCargo |Company=DelightRoom |StartDate=2016-10 |EndDate=2025-08 |Status=Active |ProductLine=Smartphone App |Product=Alarmy |ArticleType=Product |Type=Exploitative pricing |Description=Alarmy app is now subscription-only, using a ludicrous $200 lifetime-access to force users. Reddit users say it once cost $2 — unverified. }} {{Ph-I-Int}} ==Background== {{Ph-I-B}} ==[Incident]== {{Ph-I-I}} ===[Company]'s response=== {{Ph-I-ComR}} ==Lawsuit== {{Ph..." |
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|Description=Alarmy app is now subscription-only, using a ludicrous $200 lifetime-access to force users. Reddit users say it once cost $2 — unverified. | |Description=Alarmy app is now subscription-only, using a ludicrous $200 lifetime-access to force users. Reddit users say it once cost $2 — unverified. | ||
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[[File:Screenshot - Alarmy in app purchase page .png|thumb|Lifetime acces availble for 719,99PLN (~200$). This purchase is not visible in App Store in "In-App Purchases" section.]] | |||
== | == Alarmy app as a good example to a bad practise == | ||
The Alarmy app illustrates how some developers push users into subscriptions by setting an absurd $200 lifetime access price. This tactic leaves consumers with little real choice, unlike its earlier rumored $2 one-time cost, and raises concerns about exploitative pricing in mobile apps. | |||
==Background== | |||
''(Disclaimer: this section requires further research and reliable sources.)'' | |||
= | Alarmy was first released on the App Store in October 2016, according to [https://app.sensortower.com/overview/1163786766?country=US SensorTower]. Early reports from users suggest that the app may have initially been sold for around $2 as a one-time purchase, although this claim remains unverified. Before 2021, the app transitioned to a freemium model, and by that time its monetization fully shifted to subscriptions. Since then, the subscription system has remained in place, supplemented by an unusually expensive “lifetime access” option. | ||
==Lifetime Access Pricing Controversy== | |||
The Alarmy app provides an example of how some developers may pressure users into expensive subscriptions. While not a widely publicized issue, the app’s “lifetime access” price— $200—far exceeds the cost of many professional software tools, like DAWs, and seems disproportionate for a simple alarm app (even with sleep tracking). Reddit users have speculated that Alarmy may have initially cost around $2, though this remains unverified. When users criticized the high lifetime price in App/Play Store reviews, the company did not respond, highlighting concerns over transparency and consumer treatment. | |||
==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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{{Ph-I-C}} | {{Ph-I-C}} | ||
Revision as of 17:03, 28 August 2025
Alarmy app as a good example to a bad practise
The Alarmy app illustrates how some developers push users into subscriptions by setting an absurd $200 lifetime access price. This tactic leaves consumers with little real choice, unlike its earlier rumored $2 one-time cost, and raises concerns about exploitative pricing in mobile apps.
Background
(Disclaimer: this section requires further research and reliable sources.)
Alarmy was first released on the App Store in October 2016, according to SensorTower. Early reports from users suggest that the app may have initially been sold for around $2 as a one-time purchase, although this claim remains unverified. Before 2021, the app transitioned to a freemium model, and by that time its monetization fully shifted to subscriptions. Since then, the subscription system has remained in place, supplemented by an unusually expensive “lifetime access” option.
Lifetime Access Pricing Controversy
The Alarmy app provides an example of how some developers may pressure users into expensive subscriptions. While not a widely publicized issue, the app’s “lifetime access” price— $200—far exceeds the cost of many professional software tools, like DAWs, and seems disproportionate for a simple alarm app (even with sleep tracking). Reddit users have speculated that Alarmy may have initially cost around $2, though this remains unverified. When users criticized the high lifetime price in App/Play Store reviews, the company did not respond, highlighting concerns over transparency and consumer treatment.
Consumer response
References