What about some limited but cheeper Pro Version in 2026?

[Louis_D]

In another thread, I offered a hypothesis for the licence pricing changes. One based on product line cannibalization and its effect on gross margin.

Xojo Inc. includes very bright people, fully capable of analysis. I am absolutely convinced that the sales analysis and the licence pricing change impact analysis were done way ahead of the licence pricing changes. I am pretty sure also that Xojo Inc, if they so desire, know how to ask us for our ideas with regards to licence pricing. I read some good ideas, some not so good ideas and some clearly misguided ideas (admitedly my totally biased evaluation) in various threads on the topic. But I did not see Xojo Inc. asking us for such ideas.

All concerned that we collectively are with the change (I certainly am and I am planning a buying pattern change, too), we should refrain from trying to manage Xojo Inc. in lieu of Xojo Inc. I find that spending my time on development is more constructive, hopefully more profitable.

My 2 cents on the global topic.

LD

[Steve_Wilson]

@Rick_Araujo

The current model “fully functional in debug mode” is very effective for demo.

I prefer the PB model, I’d want to know how big the executables are likely to be and how fast they run.

[GarryPettet]

Well most of the open source tools I build are for the command line. If the situation doesn’t change in the next 12 months, I won’t be renewing my Pro license just for ConsoleApplications. I just can’t justify it as a non-professional programmer.

[Eric_Williams]

@Sascha_S

However, they certainly won’t adjust it because a few people complain about it in the forum…

I disagree. Despite their current uncompromising stance on licensing structures, the Xojo team is generally open to conversation and feedback about most aspects of their product. We wouldn’t have preemptive threads, for example, without the persistent requests right here in the forum. They’re smart enough to realize that a programming language exists in a community context, with stakeholders inside and outside their company.

So - the current licensing model is what it is, for now. But people unhappy with it who have thoughtful suggestions on how it could be improved should be encouraged to share their ideas, not dismissed as a few lonely voices in a forum.

[Christian_Schmitz]

You guys are welcome to discuss this in-person with Xojo staff at the upcoming conference.

[Scott_C]

@Rick_Araujo

Name some language whose compiler is able to produce a CLI app and GUI app, and I can’t remember one, even PAID, that can’t produce a CLI app FOR FREE.

I’m not exactly clear on what you’re saying, but for macOS at least, Xcode & Swift can do both CLI and GUI apps for free. On Windows, there’s VS and C# that can do the same.

[Rick_Araujo]

@Scott_C

I’m not exactly clear on what you’re saying, but for macOS at least, Xcode & Swift can do both CLI and GUI apps for free.

Reread. You confirmed what I said using 2 options of what I said. Both of your examples are able to produce CLI apps, and for free. There are more, even paid options, but those paid options enable CLI for free, some even enable GUI with less capabilities or some conditions, for free. Most, currently, use terms as “community editions” for those more “open” and less capable editions.

[Serge_Louvet1 (Serge Louvet)]

In the same type of situation. I ‘front loaded’ my pro license before the retirement deadline, I’m ‘safe’ for another two years. After that, not sure I can justify $500 per year (I plan to move web app to something else anyway to reduce the target and I do not build mobile app) I understand Xojo, like any other company, need revenues, so not blaming them. And I admit without problem they make a great and unique product, even if I complain every other days about it .

[Thom_McGrath]

I’m on the fence about renewing. As I mentioned in another thread, even at $1000, it’s an affordable cost of doing business in my case. Still, the 25% price increase and kicking lite users out leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I don’t want to renew. In fact, my license is expired now. For the past 5 years I’ve been renewing in advance and making sure to keep current. After the price increases, I’m very indifferent. So I lose access to the betas. When API 2 came around, I was one of the first to update my app to help them find bugs and inconsistencies. So their loss really.

[Bill_Sanders]

I like Xojo. I’ve used it since 2005. There have been periods where I have used it at work and at home, so I bought a copy on top of the one I had my employer pay for. That was mostly so stuff I worked on at home remained my property. Those were Pro versions.

I’m now retired and still using Xojo for hobby programming. I would likely have renewed my Pro version every 2 years at the old price, during sales, mostly to be supportive of Xojo. I don’t need new features often, and really only needed the Windows target all along. Android and Web were fun to just play with. Now I’m priced out, so I’ll just use my 2024r4 Pro copy until it’s no longer supported by Windows. Then I’ll take up fishing.

[Bill_Sanders]

MBS has made my Xojo experience better, so thanks for that Christian. People struggling with 1K for Xojo probably can’t do a conference.

[Andreas_Michelk]

Yep, that can be - hobbiests may not come to such conferences to get in personal contact with XOJO people. But some semi professionals may have the chance to go there.

My Thread should not be against the XOJO team , I want they stay their business as long as possible healthy alive! And for that they need sales of their products - not only free or cheapest prices.

But the overal sales income may NOT be less if they overthink their prices (for semi pros or hobbyists) until mid of 2026 - then they would have near 1 year of sales data that can be compared to the old (Lite) situation.

I am sure , that the overall sales income could rise if they would offer an semipro Version - can be by limited targets (1 would mean Lite, 2 or 3 semi pro), 4 Targets plus more licenses to dev on more than 1 computer is pro.

And also the market share, customers may rise - what’s good for the language and all commercial plugin devs. The argument students or hobbiests can use debug mode for free to learn or develop is OK but not really an solution for them.

That could be done by online activation on the Xojo user account after you buy the semipro with 1,2 or 3 targets.
They could even allow to change - only one time for free! - the targets you want to use, compile for - for example you buy 2 targets, starting with target Mac and Target iOS and then want to use android instead of iOS … simple log in the user account and deactivate iOS target - now one target gets unused - and activate android. Sure, that change must be limited - otherwise users could switch between targets. They even could sell target switches - one is free, for each more you have to pay something. Good idea, or not ?
Even upgrade would be the same . simple add, buy an target after some time .

And it will NOT get more complicated - because all single Target versions will be gone - only the semipro version with 1 to 3 targets and the real pro versions (more licenses to use more than 1 computer to develop and get faster , more customer support will stay . will getting easier not more complicated.

Also such way would rise overall sale income - also because some hobbies , semi pro will start with one or 2 targets and upgrade to one or 2 targets more over the time - if XOJO stays powerful and has good support (bug fixing!).

[Sascha_S]

The Xojo pricing system isn’t particularly complicated, but it’s already more complicated than it should be. And I don’t think additional license variants and options within it will improve the situation.

I’m curious to see where the new pricing structure will lead us. I can’t imagine, for the life of me, that Xojo no longer needs beginners, hobbyists, and “just for personal use” developers, but only high earners to survive. I’m not saying that Xojo is too expensive, I’m just saying that there are 1000 more valuable options for that amount of money. That’s why I sincerely hope that a license will soon be offered again for people who develop programs only for themselves and friends, or who exclusively develop open or free software. The AI ​​revolution, in particular, will make it much easier for everyone to use and learn other languages.

However, since the topic of license prices is currently being hushed up with Xojo, I don’t feel like getting worked up about it any further. Unfortunately, I assume I’m just one of many who are currently reorienting themselves. It’s a shame, because I was very happy with RB, RS, and Xojo for over 20 years…

[PhilippeP]

@GarryPettet

I won’t be renewing my Pro license just for ConsoleApplications. I just can’t justify it as a non-professional programmer.

OMFG i just discovered by your post , desktop licence don’t build build console !!! you need 999 per year to build console ?? O.M.G !

[MarkusR]

the shop need selectable features + a sum of price
macOS Console
iOS
Windows Service
Linux Daemon
Web
Android
Database SQLite MariaDB MS ODBC PostgreSQL
Technical Support

[Christian_Schmitz]

Well, we can build a desktop app and run it like a console one.
I think we have samples for this. See Blog post

[GarryPettet]

This is a nice workaround but it makes no sense to charge the most for the simplest application. I am struggling to see Xojo Inc’s reasoning here.

[Sascha_S]

Would it be able to run as a deamon, so that it could launch on windows systems as a service f.e.?

[Thom_McGrath]

@GarryPettet

This is a nice workaround but it makes no sense to charge the most for the simplest application. I am struggling to see Xojo Inc’s reasoning here.

Greed. It would bring my license cost down from $1000 to $500, for example. I need Mac and Windows desktop, and Linux console. So I have to go with a pro license, which means I’m basically paying $500 per year for console apps.

I’m not thrilled by this.

And just to be clear, I have no use for web and mobile. At least not until Xojo solves their code sharing problem.

[DerkJ]

I would be nice if xojo could add actually more worth of value. So that this pricing would make sense.

Say documention that describes what expections can happen when instead of the user letting to figure that out? Or maybe complete wayland integration for linux? Or maybe fix bugs that are serious (bug releases?)?

Upping the pricing won’t mean the value is higher suddenly. For some that would mean the end, others it would be worth it.

In my eyes this is a very very steep price change. But maybe it’s necessary, who knows?