Enter a monthly price and a one-time price. See the month where paying once comes out ahead, and what each costs over the years.
Paying once comes out ahead from
Month 3
With these example values, the subscription costs more than the one-time price from month 3.
Subscription over 3 years
$720
One-time over 3 years
$49
Total cost over time
Subscription
One-time
Cumulative cost at the end of each year
Year
Subscription
One-time
Difference
How this works
Everything is simple arithmetic, done in your browser.
Subscription after m months = monthly price × seats × m
One-time after m months = one-time price (× seats, if per seat) + yearly fee × completed years
The break-even month is the month from which the subscription total stays equal to or higher than the one-time total. If the yearly fee is at least a year of subscription, paying once never stays ahead. Taxes, discounts for annual billing and price changes are not included; add them to the inputs if they apply.
Questions
How do I work out the break-even point?
Divide the one-time price by what the subscription costs per month for all your seats, then round up. If the one-time option has a yearly fee for updates, add it each year and compare again. The calculator does this month by month.
Is a one-time purchase always cheaper?
Only if you keep using the product past the break-even month. If you might switch tools in a few months, a subscription can cost less. Also check what the one-time price includes: updates, support and how many devices.
Should I sell my app as a subscription or a one-time purchase?
Charge monthly when you have real ongoing costs per user, such as cloud AI or servers. A one-time price works when the product runs on the customer’s own machine and costs you little to keep serving. Many buyers are tired of subscriptions, which makes one-time pricing a real selling point.
Are the example numbers real prices?
No. The starting values are placeholders so the chart has something to draw. Replace them with the prices you are comparing.
We build apps where the AI runs on the customer’s own computer, so there is no per-user cloud bill and a one-time price can work. Start by checking your idea.