Omnigroup launched Omnigraffle 3 for iOS today, and it looks like a fantastic update to the diagramming, chart-making, flow-chart-creating app. But that’s not nearly the most important thing about this release, because Omni may have changed the way paid software works on iOS, and may be making it possible for “expensive” pro-level apps to be viable on the cheap-o app store at last.
Shareware for iOS
Shareware, says the dictionary, is software distributed free, for evaluation purposes. After a trial period, a fee may be charged to keep using it. Most Mac software was sold this way — even big suites like Photoshop and Office have had free trial versions. Then came the App Store, with no formal way to give anyone a free, time-limited trial. Developers could offer a free version in addition to the paid version, but that meant maintaining two separate apps. Worse, a user could stick with the free version forever, with no incentive to upgrade.
This is a terrible environment for good software. After all, who is going to pay $50 for an app without trying it first? I’ve bought super well-reviewed apps for big money before, and found that they don’t fit the way I work. Maybe an app looks great in pictures, but is sluggish under the fingers when you use it. If you don’t like the app, you’re out $50. And forget trying out a range of pro-priced apps to see which fits your purposes best.
Faced with this setup, app developers have little incentive to put in the time and resources to build a true pro-class app, because the risks are too high. That’s not to say there aren’t amazing apps on the store. They’re just rare.
Omni reinvents shareware
Now, Omni has managed to change everything. Its newest iOS app, Omnigraffle 3, is a free download. Once installed, it will function as a viewer for Omnigraffle files, forever. To use it as intended, though, you need to pay either $50 for the standard version, or $100 for the pro version, via in-app purchase. So far, nothing new. But there’s a third option — a free two-week trial, which has to be activated.
Once you activate the trial, which is done in the manner of a free in-app purchase, you can use all the app’s features for two weeks, which should be enough time to evaluate a tool. Then, at any time, you can buy the standard or pro upgrades, which are permanent.
Not only that, but if you purchased a previous version of Omnigraffle, all the way back to version 1, then you will get a discount on the upgrade price. You just need to have the old version installed your iDevice while you make your upgrade purchase, so the new Omnigraffle can check you have it. This is another great trick, because it allows a developer to charge money for upgrades, while still leaving the old version intact for those who are happy to keep using it. Nobody is forced to upgrade, loyal users get a discount, and the developer has a sustainable business model where they can charge for updates.
A model to rescue the App Store?
Can this new model revitalize the App Store, in terms of pro apps at least? Maybe. The market for pro apps is very different than that for free games and cheap apps. Many folks are willing to pay for proper, well-supported software, but the lack of a time-limited trial stops them from buying them — it’s just too risky. Likewise, with app developers being able to charge proper money to customers, suddenly they can afford to keep updating an app, just like on the Mac.
Hopefully more developers will use this method, instead of opting for the alternative: subscriptions. We might be happy paying a monthly sub for something like Spotify, or Dropbox, but who wants to be nickel-and-dimed every month for their note-taking app? Not me, and I love paying for software.
Omni already makes amazing software that sets an example for other to follow. Perhaps it has now done the same for App Store pricing. Wouldn’t that be something?
Charlie Sorrel writes reviews and how-tos. Follow Charlie on Twitter at @mistercharlie, and at micro.blog on @mistercharlie
10 responses to “Omnigraffle 3 reinvents shareware for iOS”
I’m old enough to remember when pretty much every downloaded “app” or “program” as we called them, had a free trial period. I was surprised when they started charging for them before you could even try it. What goes around, I guess.
For that matter, I remember when you had to go to a software store and buy a program on a floppy (look it up, kids). No free trial period there, it was buyer beware.
Thank you for this article… I am owner of omnigraffle 1 for iPad. In the past I didn’t update to version 2 because I thought it was too much money for the increase of functionality in version 2… Today I was able to update to version 3 for the discounted price. The plus of functionality is great an the amount of money charged for the update is reasonable. Thumbs up to the omnigraffle people that came up with this idea/business model.
I hope this catches the attention of SOMEONE at Apple that makes it even easier for developers to do just that – the App Store has definitely helped in some ways – i.e. software makers charging $ 15 – $ 20 for something that isn’t worth much more than $ 0.99 – $ 4.99 but for the real software developers NOT having a Trial period has definitely hurt and stopped me from not buying quite a few pieces of software over the years… [until I met someone that had that software and I was able to play with it on their computer and see ‘yes it’s worth it or [most of the time] nope not worth it for me! …]
There is always the return process for Apps. I have put in “reason for return: This App is uter crap and completely useless” :-)
google it and you shall find it.
Yes but quite a few of them make it very hard to ‘we don’t do refunds’.
return process of Apps is done by Apple, work perfectly. Just google how, because my links will not do (Using Swedish App Store, You probably the American). But it is the same principle.
The Problem with all Omni stuff is that the programs are overpriced. Everybody sells apps for a max 100SEk (12-13 USD) and Omni charges four times that for some apps.
You perceive them as overpriced, but they are fair priced. You not only get a working software, you also get fast support answers and a lot of nice features. Given the small market size, how would this business be sustainable without charging properly?
I think they are overpriced. yes.
Which means that I am not wanting to be a customer.
For a “normal” price (which all other companies seems to do fine with) I would consider buying their stuff.
Let’s not forget that in-app purchases are non-shareable, so by using this model, Omni is ensuring that others in a family will need to pay for the app separately. They shouldn’t list “Family Sharing: Yes” for these apps as that is essentially false advertising.