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PDF Expert Switching to Subscription Model - Forces Account Creation even if pai...
source link: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/pdf-expert-switching-to-subscription-model-forces-account-creation-even-if-paid-v2-customer.2350184/
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PDF Expert Switching to Subscription Model - Forces Account Creation even if paid V2 Customer
Jun 26, 2016
I previously purchased (and highly recommended) PDF Expert 2 for Mac. But with V3, they are moving to a subscription model. I made the mistake of clicking "Update Available" on PDF Expert 2 and it updated. I was unable to use the app or any of the features I previously paid for because it forces you to "create an account" with Readdle and tie your license to your new account. I have no interest in being forced to create an account for software I already bought and for Readdle to do who-knows-what with any user data tied to my account.
I had to re-download V2 from their website. If you make the same mistake I did and want to downgrade to V2, follow the screenshot below. V3 of the app forces you to create an account to continue using it as you did in V2, even without any features. Just thought I'd share my experience as a warning to those of you that are happily using V2...DON'T UPDATE!
Thanks for the heads up. I have been seeing this switch to subscription models on several apps I use. Total BS.
theluggage
macrumors 603
Jul 29, 2011
6,333
5,739
On the Mac App Store version, upgrading from V2 to V3 seems to be OK and work as before - except there's now a "Pro" option at extra cost (may be subscription and/or need a Readdle account - didn't investigate) needed to activate many of the new features touted for V3.
Thanks for the heads up, they did the same subscription update for the ios app locking features away that you had in older versions.
Nikita Tanchuk
macrumors newbie
Mar 3, 2021
Hi there! Thank you for the feedback you have given us regarding PDF Expert accounts. All feedback is valued and taken very seriously so that we can improve our user experience.
Having an account allows us to facilitate using one license across Mac, iPhone & iPad, thereby improving user experiences and ultimately reducing costs, as the need for multiple licenses disappears. At present, there is no other way we can link your devices easily to activate the benefit of one license across Apple devices without a verified email address.
If you're an existing user of PDF Expert, creating an account lets you link your license to the new version. It also means if you take a Premium subscription a single account ID will let you seamlessly access Premium across all your Apple platforms (Mac & iOS).
As there is no option to use PDF Expert on Mac without an account, we would be happy to provide you with a refund.
Kindly note that PDF Expert is fully GDPR compliant, and you have the right to request information about your data or its deletion.
Having an account allows us to facilitate using one license across Mac, iPhone & iPad, thereby improving user experiences and ultimately reducing costs, as the need for multiple licenses disappears. At present, there is no other way we can link your devices easily to activate the benefit of one license across Apple devices without a verified email address.
If you're an existing user of PDF Expert, creating an account lets you link your license to the new version. It also means if you take a Premium subscription a single account ID will let you seamlessly access Premium across all your Apple platforms (Mac & iOS).
As there is no option to use PDF Expert on Mac without an account, we would be happy to provide you with a refund.
Kindly note that PDF Expert is fully GDPR compliant, and you have the right to request information about your data or its deletion.
Last edited: Yesterday at 9:09 AM
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weird_method and tastesliketailpipe
RainCityMacFan
macrumors 6502a
Jun 10, 2007
NC
So wait.. I just upgraded today and linked my account. I'm not opposed to that step but my biggest qualm is, did we just lose features that we paid for in the previous version?
For those of us that bought PDF Expert licenses for the Mac, will upgrading cause us to lose features that we paid for in 2?
For those of us that bought PDF Expert licenses for the Mac, will upgrading cause us to lose features that we paid for in 2?
Jun 26, 2016
No, you don't lose any features from 2 IF you create an account. You are forced to create an account so they can link your license across devices. But if you don't want to do that step, they've taken away features you already paid for in V2 unless you redownload and never update.So wait.. I just upgraded today and linked my account. I'm not opposed to that step but my biggest qualm is, did we just lose features that we paid for in the previous version?
For those of us that bought PDF Expert licenses for the Mac, will upgrading cause us to lose features that we paid for in 2?
Jun 26, 2016
Your explanation about accounts makes sense for those looking to be subscribers. However, for people that purchased V2 outright and then updated the app they are unable to use the software they bought until they create an account. This is a huge misstep and you all need to correct it. Make V3 a separate app like so many other companies have done. Don't ask your previous customers to update to V3 to milk them for subscriptions and lock their app features behind an account they never had to create until now.Hi there! Thank you for the feedback you have given us regarding PDF Expert accounts. All feedback is valued and taken very seriously so that we can improve our user experience.
Having an account allows us to facilitate using one license across Mac, iPhone & iPad, thereby improving user experiences and ultimately reducing costs, as the need for multiple licenses disappears. At present, there is no other way we can link your devices easily to activate the benefit of one license across Apple devices without a verified email address.
If you're an existing user of PDF Expert, creating an account lets you link your license to the new version. It also means if you take a Premium subscription a single account ID will let you seamlessly access Premium across all your Apple platforms (Mac & iOS).
As there is no option to use PDF Expert on Mac without an account, we would be happy to provide you with a refund.
Kindly note that PDF Expert is fully GDPR compliant, and you have the right to request information about your data or its deletion.
While you're here: what data is collected from PDF Expert and linked to the new "account"? Can you see the PDFs I've viewed or modified?
Reactions:
antiprotest
The Readdle website is not at all clear. But it seems that if you upgraded you do not lose the previous functionality. You just don’t get any additional functionality without paying the new premium subscription.So wait.. I just upgraded today and linked my account. I'm not opposed to that step but my biggest qualm is, did we just lose features that we paid for in the previous version?
For those of us that bought PDF Expert licenses for the Mac, will upgrading cause us to lose features that we paid for in 2?
So I don’t think I’ve lost anything by upgrading but I certainly will not be paying another subscription. But it’s frustrating that this has been poorly explained and hidden what seemed to be a regular update.
Amazon Rainforest
macrumors newbie
Jul 6, 2022
I would like to inform everyone that the new version is NOT subscription-only. I know this for fact because I upgraded a few days ago to the v3 app and received a new license. I cannot comment on which features are missing upgrading from v2 (if any). The upgrade is 50% off full price.
Now for the disclaimer.... I too looked at the purchase page and did not see a third option for upgrading so I sent the Readdle folks an email asking them how to do it. They sent me back a discount code which I used to buy the new version. Completely painless upgrade, although, technically, it's not an upgrade since I bought the full version using a discount code. I removed PDF Expert v2 completely before installing v3.
I should also note that I loathe software subscriptions and will not buy them. I have two programs that I've used everyday for years which I can no longer get upgrades/updates for because they have gone subscription-only. I will continue to use them until an OS update breaks them. Then I will have to find an alternative.
I made a point of telling Readdle my opinions/reasons and thanked them for not going subscription-only. They replied with a nice email telling me they would continue using both models. Their customer support is very good. I have used them often for how-to questions which weren't covered in their manual. Quick responses with good information!
Now for the disclaimer.... I too looked at the purchase page and did not see a third option for upgrading so I sent the Readdle folks an email asking them how to do it. They sent me back a discount code which I used to buy the new version. Completely painless upgrade, although, technically, it's not an upgrade since I bought the full version using a discount code. I removed PDF Expert v2 completely before installing v3.
I should also note that I loathe software subscriptions and will not buy them. I have two programs that I've used everyday for years which I can no longer get upgrades/updates for because they have gone subscription-only. I will continue to use them until an OS update breaks them. Then I will have to find an alternative.
I made a point of telling Readdle my opinions/reasons and thanked them for not going subscription-only. They replied with a nice email telling me they would continue using both models. Their customer support is very good. I have used them often for how-to questions which weren't covered in their manual. Quick responses with good information!
Jun 26, 2016
I don't think anyone here claimed V3 was subscription only. V3 forces you to create a Readdle account to use your previously purchased features, even for customers that previously purchased V2 and that was never a requirement.I would like to inform everyone that the new version is NOT subscription-only. I know this for fact because I upgraded a few days ago to the v3 app and received a new license. I cannot comment on which features are missing upgrading from v2 (if any). The upgrade is 50% off full price.
Now for the disclaimer.... I too looked at the purchase page and did not see a third option for upgrading so I sent the Readdle folks an email asking them how to do it. They sent me back a discount code which I used to buy the new version. Completely painless upgrade, although, technically, it's not an upgrade since I bought the full version using a discount code. I removed PDF Expert v2 completely before installing v3.
I should also note that I loathe software subscriptions and will not buy them. I have two programs that I've used everyday for years which I can no longer get upgrades/updates for because they have gone subscription-only. I will continue to use them until an OS update breaks them. Then I will have to find an alternative.
I made a point of telling Readdle my opinions/reasons and thanked them for not going subscription-only. They replied with a nice email telling me they would continue using both models. Their customer support is very good. I have used them often for how-to questions which weren't covered in their manual. Quick responses with good information!
I think I got upgraded to v3 via the Mac App Store. I was presented an offer to upgrade to the premium version (I declined), on a whim I clicked restore purchases, but so far I haven't seen anything that is actually locked behind a premium upgrade. Yet.I don't think anyone here claimed V3 was subscription only. V3 forces you to create a Readdle account to use your previously purchased features, even for customers that previously purchased V2 and that was never a requirement.
This is so far better than my iOS experience where features like reduce file size are actually locked behind the subscription.
Reactions:
Phineasgage1848
Jun 26, 2016
Glad the MAS version is a better experience. Mine was purchased directly via the website and has been a bad experience. I have no desire to create a Readdle account to use my software.I think I got upgraded to v3 via the Mac App Store. I was presented an offer to upgrade to the premium version (I declined), on a whim I clicked restore purchases, but so far I haven't seen anything that is actually locked behind a premium upgrade. Yet.
This is so far better than my iOS experience where features like reduce file size are actually locked behind the subscription.
Analog Kid
macrumors 604
Mar 4, 2003
6,902
6,867
Nevermind, kept reading...
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