Today Alex and Scott announced their Pricing for FeedLounge, since their public beta will launch January 16th.
For those of you (like me) who have been curious, it’ll be $5 a month or $49.95 a year.
For those of you (like me) who suck at math like rocks sink, that yearly plan comes out to $4.16 a month, which is really a pretty fair deal, considering you’d pay $24.95 for NetNewsWire or $29.95 for FeedDemon. It’s a particularly good deal when you consider that you’ve got two developers working on their own to develop this product from the ground up. It’s an even better deal when those developers are actively answering questions and tracking down bugs before your eyes in the forums.
I, for one, can’t wait for the launch. Even though I’ll be given a free 2 month credit for being an alpha tester (really, shouldn’t I be paying them for the priviledge?), I plan on putting my money where my mouth is as soon as I can tap out that credit card number.
I urge everyone to give up their cheesburger every month and check out FeedLounge. It’s a kick ass product now, and I can’t wait to see what these guys have coming next!
2 Comments so far
Derek, on January 9, 2006 at 3:52pm, said:
Ummm, I’d pay $24.95 for NetNewsWire *once*.
So in month seven, when you’re still paying money, I’m free and clear.
In month twelve, when you’re still paying money, I’m far and beyond you in the “cost effectiveness” model.
At the end of year two, I’ll buy a new TiVo with what I’ve saved.
Subscription models are not necessarily the be-all-end-all.
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Chris Meller, on January 9, 2006 at 4:19pm, said:
Oh, you’re right on the money (heh, no pun intended). Let’s not even get started on the unlimited-use of NetNewsWire and FeedDemon (well, depending on how NewsGator’s subscription model may or may not work in with the standalone products). You could conceivably be using NNW or FD for 10 years, while I’m still paying $5 a month for FeedLounge.
I didn’t mean to judge the subscription-based model as a whole, particularly since there’s really no other way you *could* run a service like FeedLounge (without advertising galore, which may or may not be profitable for them anyway).
I really meant just to portray that the overall community aspect and readily availability of the developers is a real bonus - and one you don’t find terribly often these days.
I also happen to like these guys (if I’m ever on the West Coast, I’ll have to buy them a beer somewhere for sure) and respect what they’re doing. I think FL is a great product and I want them to do well, so I’m willing to give them my $5 a month and skip coffee one day a week (out of 5 working days) to pay for it.
If we did want to talk about the subscription model, I’d have quite a few things to say, mostly bad. I’ve always hated and despised “renting” things (apartments, bikes, snow cones… you name it). I’d much rather fork over a little extra all at once and have it to use and abuse as I please for ever and ever. Still, things are changing - and not for the better for my personal financial feelings - and we must change with them. If the subscription model helps get great projects like FeedLounge off the ground in the “Web 2.0” world, so be it - I’m willing to swallow my pride (and my checkbook) once in a while to help continue the innovation.
BTW Derek, thanks for stopping by. I love to see people who write blogs I respect (and love reading) wasting their time reading mine… Oh, and you never answered my question about Vassar… :)
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