A new subscription service that makes a growing suite of 61 popular macOS application available to users for a flat monthly fee, Setapp is a less risky and a more flexible way to buy, sell and use Mac software.
Users pay $9.99 per month and get unlimited access to a handpicked collection of high-quality apps in categories from video, photography and graphic design to business, personal productivity, and finance. Many essential software apps for Mac users are available through Setapp including RapidWeaver, Ulysses, CleanMyMac, iMazing, Shimo, WiFi Explorer, MoneyWiz, Polarr, Disk Drill, iStat Menus, XMind, and others. Based on a curated model with only the very best apps included, Setapp is expected to offer around 300 apps as it gains momentum.
Instead of paying for upgrades, expensive in-app purchases to unlock important product features, or freemium apps that ‘trick’ users into buying more later, users of Setapp get access to fully functional software with the latest updates delivered continuously in the background. Setapp has been under development for more than a year and is now emerging from a private beta period in which more than 35,000 consumers got a sneak peek at the service. It is the latest offering from established Mac software developer MacPaw, which has more than 5 million customers worldwide.
“If you want to get the most out of your Mac, you need great software and if you’re like most Mac users, you’re probably always on the lookout for new stuff that helps you get more done during your day without wasting too much time or money,” said Oleksandr Kosovan, founder and CEO of MacPaw and its Setapp division. “Setapp is the ultimate ‘unstore’ option that gives you unlimited access to lots of great software without the anxiety of non-refundable, expensive purchases.”
To get started with Setapp, users download a small app which creates a folder that is available via the Finder on their Mac. Inside the folder, there is a directory-like library of apps, including descriptions and screenshots, each of which users can click on to install and use as long as their subscription is active. At any time, they can browse the available software and download as many applications they may like, all for one set monthly fee. While a connection to the internet is needed to download and update the software in Setapp, as long as the subscription is active it remains fully functional while offline meaning users always have access to the apps they’ve downloaded unlike with cloud-based services.
Mac users often find that they must sift through more than 30,000 apps to find the right software in the Mac App Store, which can be difficult and time-consuming. And since there is no ability to try the software before you use it, users must pay for each app just to find out if it is what they want, and no refunds are allowed.
“Setapp makes it possible to find the right apps quickly and easily, and you can try out as many apps as you like because they’re all included in the flat monthly subscription fee. Each app included in the Setapp service is specially selected based on usability, quality and a great user experience,” added Kosovan.
Advantages for Mac Software Devs
Setapp was designed to provide many advantages to developers of Mac software. The submission process is simple, and Setapp takes care of everything including marketing and advertising, payment processing, app delivery, and customer support for billing and licensing issues. This allows developers to focus on what they do best: Develop great software with continuous improvements that customers want and need.
Additionally, by working with Setapp, developers are in a unique position to introduce their software to millions of potential new users as Setapp is actively promoted via global marketing programs that tap into the worldwide Mac market including MacPaw’s own installed base.
“We decided to join Setapp because we like the subscription model and affordable pricing,” said Danilo Bonardi, developer of Image2icon, a popular Mac app that makes it fast and easy to customize Mac icons. “For indie developers, the Setapp subscription model can potentially grant a steady income and give us more time to invest in developing a better product. For Mac users, it makes it possible to taste the true potential of lots of really good apps all for just a few dollars.”
Setapp fills the gap for development studios of all sizes that desire repeatable income with revenue, equal to 70 percent of the total generated by their apps, shared with developers based on which applications certain customers use during the billing cycle. As a reward, two-thirds of the remaining 30 percent goes to developers in the form of a ‘partner fee’ which is based on the lifetime value of each subscriber they have brought to the platform. This unique approach fosters a growing ecosystem of apps and motivates developers to continue providing outstanding software. Additionally, developers can have peace of mind that Setapp is designed with built-in anti-piracy measures to protect them from lost revenue due to cracked apps.
For more information, visit setapp.com
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