What is Lifetime Deal?
Definition
A one-time payment that grants permanent access to a subscription service, eliminating ongoing recurring charges.
Understanding Lifetime Deal
Lifetime deals (LTDs) offer permanent access for a single upfront payment, typically during a service's early stages when they need capital and users. Platforms like AppSumo specialize in lifetime deals. While appealing, LTDs carry risks: the service may shut down (your 'lifetime' depends on the company's lifetime), feature updates may slow for LTD users, and the company may revoke or limit LTD terms.
When evaluating a lifetime deal, consider the company's viability, the deal terms, and whether you would actually use the product long-term. For established, profitable services, lifetime deals are rarely offered because subscription revenue is more valuable.
Related Terms
Subscription
A recurring payment arrangement where a customer pays at regular intervals to access a product or service.
Total Cost of Ownership
The complete cost of a subscription over its entire lifecycle, including the subscription fee, setup costs, training, and switching costs.
Platform Risk
The risk that a subscription service you depend on changes its terms, pricing, or features in ways that negatively impact your use.
Subscription Savings
The money saved by optimizing subscriptions through cancelling unused services, downgrading plans, switching to annual billing, or using bundles.