Own this version forever
One payment buys this major version outright. The next major version is a separate purchase, if you want it.
| Licence type | App | Price | Licence | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 AlfredRunning with Crayons Ltd | £34 | This version | Only the £59 Mega Supporter tier includes free upgrades forever; £34 buys Alfred 5 | |
| AltTabLouis Pontoise (lwouis) | $9.99 | This version | $9.99 Pro covers the current major version only; the $24.99 lifetime tier is the forever one | |
| AsepriteIgara Studio S.A. | $19.99 | This version | The $19.99 covers the 1.x series only; a future 2.0 would be a separate purchase | |
 Audio HijackRogue Amoeba | $69 | This version | Major versions are a separate purchase — the jump from 3 to 4 cost $29 | |
 Base 3Menial | £29.99 | This version | Menial does not publish update terms, and past major versions were paid upgrades | |
| BetterDisplaywaydabber (István Tóth) | $21.99 | This version | One purchase covers about a year of updates, after which newer major versions are a fresh buy | |
 BetterTouchToolAndreas Hegenberg (folivora.ai) | $15 | This version | The $15 licence stops getting updates after two years; only the $25 tier is a true lifetime | |
 Carbon Copy ClonerBombich Software | $49.99 | This version | CCC 8 will be a paid upgrade, discounted for existing owners | |
 CleanShot XMTW (Make the Web) | $35 | This version | Updates stop after one year unless you renew at $19; the version you own keeps working | |
 coconutBatterycoconut-flavour.com (Christoph Sinai) | €12.95 | This version | The cheaper Plus edition only gets 4.x updates — only the Lifetime Edition covers what comes next | |
 DaisyDiskSoftware Ambience | $9.99 | This version | The licence covers minor updates only, so a future major version may cost again | |
 DevUtilsDevUtils | $29 | This version | Updates stop after a year unless you renew at 40% off; your copy keeps working | |
 EagleFilerC-Command Software | $69.99 | This version | Major versions are a paid upgrade, and upgrade discounts apply only if you bought direct from C-Command | |
 FissionRogue Amoeba | $35 | This version | Major versions are a separate $15 purchase, though new ones come along rarely | |
 ForkLiftBinaryNights | $19.95 | This version | Updates stop when your one- or two-year window ends; the version you have keeps running | |
 Foxit PDF Editor 14 (Perpetual)Foxit Software | $209.99 | This version | You own version 14; version 15 is a new purchase, and cloud and AI features are excluded | |
 Gifox 2Bitwild Ltd | $14.99 | This version | The $14.99 unlock buys Gifox 2; a paid Gifox 3 is already named on the developer's site | |
| HazelNoodlesoft | $42 | This version | Major versions are a separate $20 upgrade, roughly every few years | |
 HoudahSpotHoudah Software | $39 | This version | HoudahSpot 7 will be a paid upgrade; a version 6 licence covers 6.x releases only | |
 iA WriterInformation Architects GmbH | $49.99 | This version | Each platform is a separate purchase, and major versions may cost extra | |
 LaunchBarObjective Development Software GmbH | €35 | This version | Version-locked to LaunchBar 6, current since 2014, and past major upgrades were paid | |
 Little SnitchObjective Development Software GmbH | €59 | This version | Major versions are a paid upgrade unless your licence was bought after 1 January 2024 | |
 MoomMany Tricks | $15 | This version | Major versions are a paid upgrade — Moom 3 to 4 cost owners $8 — and free updates run about a year | |
 NovaPanic | $99 | This version | The $99 covers one year of updates, then it auto-renews at $49/year unless you cancel | |
 OmniFocus 4The Omni Group | $74.99 | This version | The next major version will be a paid upgrade, historically around half list price | |
 OmniPlan 4The Omni Group | $199.99 | This version | A future OmniPlan 5 is a separate paid upgrade, historically discounted for existing owners | |
 Postico 2Egger Apps | $69 | This version | The licence covers Postico 2.x only, and Postico 3 will be a paid upgrade as 2 was | |
 PresentifySoftal Limited | $14.99 | This version | Updates cover the current major version; the app is already at 8, so a paid 9 is possible | |
 ProxymanProxyman (TablePlus Inc.) | $89 | This version | One year of updates; after that you keep every Pro feature, but not new releases | |
 REAPERCockos Incorporated | $60 | This version | The $60 tier stops at $20,000 yearly gross revenue; past that the licence is $225 | |
 ScappleLiterature & Latte | $20.99 | This version | A future Scapple 2 would be a separate purchase, as with Scrivener | |
 Scrivener 3Literature & Latte | $59.99 | This version | Scrivener 4 will be a new purchase, at a discount for owners of 3 | |
 SketchSketch B.V. | $120 | This version | Updates stop after a year, and the licence buys the Mac app alone with no trial first | |
 SpamSieveC-Command Software (Michael Tsai) | $39.99 | This version | Filtering only happens while your Mac is awake, so your iPhone sees unfiltered mail first | |
| Sublime MergeSublime HQ | $99 | This version | Updates stop after three years; your version keeps working but newer builds need a paid upgrade | |
 Sublime TextSublime HQ | $99 | This version | Updates stop after three years; your version keeps working but newer builds need a paid upgrade | |
 SuperDuper!Shirt Pocket | $43.95 | This version | A much older licence pays again for each new major version, discounted at best | |
 TablePlusTablePlus Inc. | $99 | This version | Updates stop after one year unless you renew; the app itself keeps working | |
 TaskPaperHog Bay Software (Jesse Grosjean) | $24.99 | This version | No iPhone or iPad app — on mobile you edit the file in someone else's text editor | |
 TextSniperTextSniper | $7.99 | This version | Major upgrades cost extra, and the 7-day refund covers the direct purchase, not the App Store one | |
 TG ProTunabelly Software | $10 | This version | the $10 is a 50%-off promotion on a $20 list price, and no upgrade policy is stated | |
 Things 3Cultured Code | $49.99 | This version | Each platform is a separate purchase — the iPhone app is another $9.99 | |
 TransmitPanic | $45 | This version | A future Transmit 6 would be a separate purchase, as the jump from 4 to 5 was | |
 TypinatorErgonis Software | $49.99 | This version | Basic buys Typinator 10 only; the next major version is a separate paid upgrade | |
 TyporaTypora | $14.99 | This version | A major version jump like 1.x to 2.x can require paying again | |
 WitchMany Tricks | $14 | This version | your licence is valid forever but includes only about a year of updates, and Witch 5 will cost extra | |
 Xnapper10xCompany, LLC | $29.99 | This version | One year of updates included; another year costs 60% of what you first paid |