Since the launch of Chromatose we’ve been asked why we only offer subscription-based pricing. This is something I’ve put a lot of thought into and I’d like to explain the broader reasoning behind the decision.
I’m a solo indie developer building a niche product, not a large-scale company cross-subsidizing free/cheap apps. For Chromatose to survive, it must be sustainable. Complex apps like this aren’t “build once.” Chromatose is mobile-first, and iOS changes fast. Each iOS release requires maintenance, infrastructure work, and new development. My goal is to ship frequent updates forever with new generators, effects, features, integrations, bug fixes, and performance improvements. It’s true software-as-a-service that’s always evolving, but this comes with real ongoing costs.