A while back, I looked into purchasing some new software that would help me make better videos for my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. I know that’s a common issue among aspiring content creators, finding the right software to help them make what they want to make at a certain quality. But over the course of this search, I came to two frustrating realizations.
First, there are an astonishing number of incredible and useful tools to make all kinds of content, be it videos, music, or images.
Second, every one of these tools require a regular subscription to use and the cost ads up a lot, especially if you want to utilize certain features.
Now, I’m very much aware of just how prevalent the subscription model has become for so many services. I concede that I have multiple subscriptions for streaming services, as well as a few web services that I prefer not to name. But I was not aware of just how much everything, from software tools to even features on certain cars, require a goddamn subscription.
I know I’m not the first person to complain about this. You don’t need to look hard to find consumers at all levels voicing their anger about how many subscription services are necessary these days, from broadband internet to streaming media that’s now more expensive than cable ever was. But none of that anger seems to be impacting anything.
Companies of all kinds are still looking for ways to turn a one-time purchase into a never-ending subscription. You can ascribe that to pure greed, annoying trends, or a dystopian manifestation of late-stage capitalism. It really doesn’t matter what’s driving it. It still sucks.
I quickly realized that I literally cannot upgrade my current video editing software without spending hundreds of dollars annually just to access that software. I can’t even walk into an electronics store, buy disk or access code, and download the software as a one-time purchase. I can only ever buy a limited subscription or a “free trial” version that is basically the most useless version of the software.
For someone like me, who doesn’t have the budget to pay hundreds of dollars every year for professional grade software, that’s not just frustrating. It’s infuriating. It’s effectively bars me from ever making content that’s polished beyond a certain point.
That’s not to say I’m completely devoid of options. There are open-source alternatives to certain software programs. I’ve even tried a few of them. But I’ve yet to find one that matches the functionality of the consumer-based versions I’ve used for years. Hopefully, that changes at some point. If I find an open-source software for editing videos that works just as well as what I’m using, I’ll jump at the chance to switch to it. But for now, I’m stuck with what I have.
In addition, I came across something else in my effort that’s worth sharing. In searching for a free or cheap alternative to video editing software, I also came across quite a few sites that basically pirate that software. Now, for reasons I hope are obvious, I’m not going to share the names of those sites or where I found them. But I imagine I’m not the only one who came across them while looking for better software.
And unless you’re really tech savvy and have some damn good anti-spyware software on your computer, I do not recommend using those sites to get pirated software. This is not like the days of Napster and Limewire. The kind of malware you’re likely to get from these sites is dangerous and not just in terms of flooding your computer with spam.
But those same sites, some of which had domains located outside the United States and Europe, probably provide a much easier method towards obtaining software or media of any kind. There’s no need for credit cards or creating accounts. And if you ever do need to pay for something, it’s often done in cryptocurrencies. But even with the risk that comes from that, the price is far lower than what most software companies are charging.
I found one particular well-known software that was 1/5th the price from the retail version. And they accepted crypto as payment.
Even if you’re not good at math or finance, you can still understand the concept of price gouging. And when it comes to software and media, it feels exceedingly egregious. It’s not like making these products requires rare Earth metals or some kind of expensive manufacturing process. They’re lines of computer code stored on computers, easily copied for pennies and distributed for pennies more. So, having to pay more than $100 a year just to access them feels like a bad deal.
And if that gap continues to grow, then you can assume piracy won’t just become more tempting to the average consumer. It’ll become preferable. If people feel like they’re getting gouged, then they’re not going to feel bad from stealing from a company, especially if they don’t even sell you something physical. I don’t doubt companies will fight this, as they’ve always fought piracy. But take it from someone who remembers the days of Napster. That’s a losing battle in the long run.
But that battle is still playing out. And in the meantime, I still find myself stuck with software that’s becoming increasingly outdated. I’ll still make the most of what I have. But I’m already at a point where I will go to any length to avoid another subscription to my monthly bill. And if the situation continues getting worse, then that’ll just be another middle finger to customers and a never-ending gift to piracy.
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