Legacy software apps face backlash as prices surge for long-time users
Popular legacy applications like Evernote, Plex, Quicken, Robokiller, and Inkdrop have significantly increased subscription prices, with some users seeing costs rise by over 300% in recent years. These hikes are driven by companies seeking to monetize loyal, long-term user bases, especially after acquisitions. The trend has sparked frustration among users who feel exploited despite their continued support.
Evernote’s price increases, from $70 annually in 2016 to $250 by 2026, reflect a broader trend among legacy software apps where long-term users are targeted for higher revenue after acquisitions. Bending Spoons, the parent company, cited Evernote’s 7.2-year average customer tenure and 200 million accounts as key assets, indicating that user loyalty was a strategic incentive for pricing experiments. Over 200 pricing and feature tests were conducted between 2023 and 2025 to gauge user tolerance, suggesting a data-driven approach to extracting value from established user bases.
This trend could erode trust in long-standing digital tools, particularly among users who invested time and data into apps over years. As companies monetize loyalty through steep price hikes, users may reconsider their digital dependencies, potentially accelerating migration to alternatives or open-source solutions. The broader impact may be a shift in consumer expectations—where permanence and affordability are no longer assumed, and long-term engagement is seen as a vulnerability rather than a benefit.