Paying a monthly subscription to watch as many TV shows and movies as you want is a pretty good business model for Netflix, and MacPaw thinks it’ll work for software, too. The company’s trying that out with its new Setapp service where subscribers pay a monthly fee to get access to a growing list of apps from several developers.
For US$9.99 a month users get access to about 50 Mac apps right now, and MacPaw is adding more over time. Currently, Settapp’s library includes titles such as iStat Menus, RapidWeaver, Ulysses, and WiFi Explorer. All of the apps are fully functional; no time-limited or demo apps allowed.
MacPaw CEO Oleksandr Kosovan said there won’t be any unwelcome surprises or bait-and-switch with Setapp. “No annoying ads. No paid upgrades. No hidden charges,” he said. “Just get Setapp, and you’re all set.”
Setapp adds a new directory to your Mac that’s similar to Apple’s App Store in that it shows apps you can download, and offers app descriptions. The apps you download work as long as your subscription is current.
Setapp is available as a public beta now, and includes a 30-day free trial. You can sign up for the beta at the Setapp website.
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