# One-time license or subscription | AutomaizeIT > A one-time license and a subscription differ in more than just how you pay – here's how to work out the break-even point and which model fits your… Source: https://automaizeit.com/en/knowledge-base/perpetual-license-or-subscription/ · Updated: 2026-09-18 Author: Mateusz Mierzejewski · Published: 2026-09-18 ## Short answer A one-time license usually pays off if you plan to use the application for a long time, on one fixed workstation, and you'd rather pay once than deal with this again at every billing period. A subscription works better when you want updates and support included for the whole paid period, when you'd rather spread the cost over time, or when you're not sure how long you'll actually be using the application. Neither model is universally cheaper – what pays off depends on your time horizon and how much you value predictable spending. You'll find current prices for both options in the application pricing on the website. ## How the two models differ - **One-time license** – a single payment, with no billing periods. You buy the right to use the application with no billing periods, on the terms described in the [terms of sale](https://automaizeit.com/en/terms-of-sale/) and in the offer for that plan – that document defines the scope of the licence and how long updates are delivered. - **Monthly or annual subscription** – a payment made in advance for a given period. A subscription does not renew automatically: before the paid period ends you receive an email with a payment link for the next period, and renewal happens only with your explicit consent. Not paying simply means access ends with the paid period, with no further consequences. - In both cases you buy a license for **one workstation** (one computer) – that doesn't change depending on the billing model you choose. - The price of the next subscription period can differ from the previous one – you're told about it before renewal, so you always know exactly what you'll pay before you pay it. ## How to work out the break-even point There's no universal number of months after which one model becomes cheaper than the other – it depends on the current prices of both plans, which you'll find in the pricing next to the [list of applications](https://automaizeit.com/en/apps/). You can estimate the break-even point yourself by comparing two values: - **The price of the one-time license** – the amount you pay once. - **The sum of subscription payments** for the period you realistically expect to use the application, i.e. the price of one period (month or year) multiplied by the number of periods. If the sum of subscription payments for your expected usage period exceeds the price of the one-time license, that's a sign the one-time license may be the better deal over a longer horizon – and the other way around, a subscription tends to be cheaper over a shorter one. Two more factors are worth adding to this calculation, even though they can't be reduced to a single figure: the value of spreading the cost into smaller instalments, and how much you value guaranteed access to current updates throughout your usage period. ## Updates and support A subscription includes updates and support in the price of the paid period – that's a standing part of the subscription plan's offer. For a one-time license, check the scope and duration of updates and technical support for the specific application in the offer description and in the terms of sale – that document sets out precisely on what terms, and for how long, updates are delivered after a one-time purchase. If your business depends on regular functional updates, it's worth verifying this point before buying, whichever model you choose. ## What happens if you stop paying or change computers - **Not paying for the next subscription period** – the subscription simply expires at the end of the paid period. There's no automatic charge to any account and no cancellation penalty – you decide whether to renew by responding (or not) to the email with the payment link. - You can opt out of renewals at any time on the subscription page in your account – you don't have to wait for the payment-link email. - **Changing computers** – the license is tied to one workstation. You can move it to another computer in your account yourself no more often than once every 30 days; if you need to do it more frequently, [get in touch](https://automaizeit.com/en/contact/). - **Losing your internet connection** – the applications require a constant internet connection the whole time you use them, because they verify the licence against our server every 60 seconds. A brief outage doesn't stop work immediately: only after 3 failed checks in a row (about 3 minutes) does the application suspend its functions, resuming automatically once the connection is back, with no restart and no re-entering the key. Longer outages on our side are compensated by extending your paid subscription period. Details: § 9 of the [terms of sale](https://automaizeit.com/en/terms-of-sale/). - Suspending the application's functions or letting a subscription expire doesn't delete files saved locally on your computer; even so, it's worth keeping your own backup of your working data. ## Who a one-time license suits A one-time license makes sense when: - you plan to use the application for a long time, on one fixed workstation, - you'd rather make a single payment than deal with recurring charges, and it's easier for you to book it as a single cost, - you don't particularly need the newest features on an ongoing basis – the version you're buying, with basic support, is enough for you, - you want certainty that access to the license you bought doesn't depend on future recurring payments. ## Who a subscription suits A subscription is the better choice when: - you're not sure how long you'll use the application and don't want to pay upfront for the whole expected period, - you want updates and support included in the price for the entire paid period, - you'd rather spread the cost into smaller instalments than pay one larger amount upfront, - you're still testing the application in your business and want to keep the option of not renewing, without extra formalities. A subscription can be the worse choice if you plan to use the application continuously for many years – the sum of successive period payments can eventually exceed the cost of a one-time license, and you'd still need to decide on renewal at every period. ## What to check in the terms of sale - **The scope and duration of updates** – especially for a one-time license: how long, and to what extent, updates are provided. - **The rules for transferring the license to another computer** – how many times and how often you can do this yourself, and when you need to contact support instead. - **The subscription renewal rules** – whether renewal genuinely requires your explicit consent, and whether the price of the next period is known in advance. - **The complaint and contract-conformity terms** – what you're entitled to if the application doesn't work as described, for example because the license verification server is unavailable. - **The right of withdrawal** – for digital content delivered immediately after payment, the withdrawal rules can differ from those for typical remote purchases. Check the exact conditions in the [terms of sale](https://automaizeit.com/en/terms-of-sale/) and the [withdrawal information](https://automaizeit.com/en/withdrawal-information/). ## Frequently asked questions **Does a subscription renew automatically?** No. Before the paid period ends you receive an email with a payment link, and renewal happens only with your explicit consent. Not paying simply means access ends with the paid period. **Do the applications work without an internet connection?** No – they verify the licence against our server every 60 seconds. A brief outage doesn't stop work immediately, and functions return automatically once the connection is back. **Can a licence be moved to another computer?** Yes, from your account, no more often than once every 30 days. If you need to do it more frequently, [get in touch](https://automaizeit.com/en/contact/). ## What next If you're not sure which model is right for your business, reach out through the contact form – we'll help you match a plan to how you'll actually be using the application.