timo I use several apps that allow me to sync data between mobile and desktop versions — even if, yes, they are subscription-based (which is clearly the current trend) rather than one-time purchases.
For example, I use Todoist (a task manager that, by the way, would integrate very well with time tracking features).
Over time, of course, the total amount paid through a subscription can exceed a single purchase. But it is tied to the user’s ongoing decision to continue using the service — which ideally improves, evolves, and gets updated over time. In that sense, the financial relationship itself becomes a form of mutual commitment and quality assurance. A one-time purchase does not really provide that same guarantee.
I may have found the single purchase convenient at the moment of buying, but I would certainly have preferred an annual subscription at the same price, provided it worked across devices. That would feel more professional and more useful, and it would tie me over time to an evolving idea of the service — at least until I reassess the cost–benefit balance.
Best regards,
Michele
