Pocket Casts' Broken Promises: From One-Time Purchase to Subscription Model
By
ruph123
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Summary
This article discusses Pocket Casts' transition from a one-time purchase app to a subscription-based model, breaking promises made to early users. The author recounts the app's history: launched in 2011 as pay-once software, acquired by NPR in 2018, then moving to subscriptions in 2019 which caused backlash. After NPR sold the app to Automattic due to financial losses, the author notes they can now modify the open-source app to remove ads, referencing the app's broken promises to loyal users.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledPocket Casts, people are not upset you are trying to find revenue sources. People are upset you are reneging on your promise.
You were a pay-once app. Released in 2011, pay once each for Android, iOS, and Web and keep for life.
In 2019 you moved to a subscription for all users, including the paid ones. People were upset so you backtracked and grandfathered them into a lifetime plus membership.
Sadly, in 2020 NPR lost $800k from running you so you were sold to Automattic.
After all you made your apps open source, so I can remove your ads.
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