The idea
One-time pricing works best when the purchased deliverable and future obligations are clear. Downloadable software, templates and self-hosted tools differ from a hosted service that keeps incurring storage, support or AI costs. Buying a licence once does not remove the customer’s hosting bill or guarantee every future major upgrade.
What founders found
Sendy is a current example: its site lists a $69 one-time software fee, with hosting and email delivery handled separately. It says minor updates are included until the next major version. This separation makes the promise easier to understand than unlimited hosted usage forever.
How to use it
Campfire is an instructive change of course. DHH announced the self-hosted chat product at $299 once in January 2024. In September 2025, DHH and Jason Fried announced it was free; the current site confirms free, open-source availability. It belongs in the history of pay-once software, but should no longer be listed as a current paid licence.
A working example
Compare contribution margins, not just the upfront payment with historical revenue LTV. Consider refunds, support, fees, future updates and the cost of replacing customers. A higher headline price can still fund less development if the obligations are open-ended.
From the people doing it
Sources & further reading
- Sendy pricing and FAQ ↗ — Price checked 18 October 2026
- DHH: Campfire is ONCE #1 ↗ — 19 January 2024; launch price $299
- Campfire current product page ↗ — Now free/open-source