Alarmy app and the problem of expensive lifetime access after switching to "freemium" subscription model.

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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 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

Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts.

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