Summary
- Perpetual licenses offer lifetime access to apps with free updates.
- Lifetime licenses also provide one-time access, but you may need to pay for updates.
- Terms for lifetime licenses may change; always check for additional costs.
Getting a lifetime license seems like a pretty sweet deal, and in some cases, it can be. However, that fantastic lifetime license deal isn’t always what you think it is, and you may have bought something entirely different.
What Is a Perpetual License?
Buying a perpetual license involves a one-time purchase for an app or service. Once you’ve done this, you’ll get lifetime access.
Many of these tools also have monthly subscriptions. However, if you plan to use them long-term, you’ll get much better value for money with a perpetual license (despite the upfront cost).
Besides having lifetime access to the app, you’ll also get future updates for free. This is a great way to save money on your online subscriptions.
What Is a Lifetime License?
When you buy a lifetime license, you will—like perpetual licenses—pay a one-time fee for access to a product or service. The rules vary depending on which tool you use, but generally, you’ll need to hit a minimum threshold for your device.
Sometimes, your lifetime license is valid for the specific version of software you bought. However, you may need to pay for future licenses.
Does a Lifetime License Actually Last a Lifetime?
Lifetime licenses can be a bit confusing because their terms and conditions vary. Some companies use the terms “perpetual” and “lifetime” interchangeably, but you may need to pay for updates with others.
Sometimes, companies will also change their policies, making things difficult. So, whether you’re buying video editing software or something else, you should always double-check the terms and conditions you’re about to sign up for.
Further complicating the issue are “lifetime licenses” sold by license key reseller sites. While these may claim to offer a full, irrevocable, lifetime license to a service, these license key reseller sites typically cannot back up these claims. Whether the claims are completely fake or partially true, there is no way they can advocate a lifetime license for a service they have nothing to do with. They’re just offering a license—nothing more.
Depending on how the key seller acquired the license, you may even find your license and, worse, your linked account barred from the service altogether. Sites selling them may also contain malware, or steal your banking information when you try to make a purchase.
It’s very easy to think that your lifetime license means you’ll never need to pay for a product or service again, but this isn’t always the case. You must check to see if you’ll need to pay for upgrades later; this isn’t always universal.
