Notability blinks on charging new subscription charges to present clients

Notability developer Ginger Labs announced immediately that, in a change of coronary heart, its well-liked note-taking app wouldn’t finally require present customers to change to a subscription mannequin. This information comes simply two days after the developer introduced a brand new subscription mannequin the place present app house owners who wished to maintain the identical options can be pressured to begin a $14.99 / month subscription by November 1st, 2022.

Notability rolled again its original Monday pricing announcement and immediately posted an replace on its firm weblog addressing present clients:

Everyone who bought Notability previous to our change to subscription on November 1st, 2021 may have lifetime entry to all present options and any content material beforehand bought within the app.

This implies that present paid customers is not going to must pay for the brand new subscription plan after updating to the brand new 11.0 model. They additionally get to retain options that new free-tier customers gained’t have entry to, together with iCloud sync, limitless modifying, and options bought within the Notability store.

These swift adjustments come after backlash from many long-time customers sharing their disdain for the brand new subscription mannequin. While the corporate acknowledged its mistake and profusely apologized to its clients in its weblog, the rationale could also be lower than real. According to 9to5Mac, the change could also be on account of a violation of Apple’s App Store tips. In the App Store assessment tips, a clause in part 3.1.2(a) explains that present paid clients should retain all performance of the app that they paid for.

Note-taking app builders altering round pricing is nothing new, and Evernote is a superb instance of a well-liked app that not too long ago sophisticated its subscription fashions. Evernote and Notability going subscription might imply extra income. However, it additionally places present clients in a precarious scenario the place they might resolve emigrate elsewhere. At least one different developer immediately could also be making the most of Notability’s slip-up, with GoodNotes 5 now discounted to $3.99 from $7.99.