The Subscription Trap: Are Software Giants Like Microsoft and Adobe Extorting Us?

Once upon a time, you could walk into a store, buy a software CD, and own it. You paid once and used the software for years, upgrading only when necessary. Fast forward to today, and software companies like Microsoft, Adobe, and Autodesk have turned that straightforward model into a subscription trap—a never-ending cycle where you pay and pay but never truly own anything.

The Office 365 Example: More Expensive, Less Reliable
Take Microsoft Office 365 as a prime example. In the past, purchasing a perpetual license for Microsoft Office cost around $150-$250 depending on the version. You owned the software and had access to essential apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint indefinitely. But now?

Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365) requires an ongoing subscription that costs $69.99 per year for a personal plan or $99.99 per year for a family plan. Over a 5-year period, that’s roughly $350-$500—double the cost of the old one-time purchase. And what do users get in return? Frequent app crashes, bloated software updates, and an increasing number of unnecessary features that slow down performance.

Cost Comparison: Buy vs. Subscription
Here’s a simple breakdown of how much more you’re paying with a subscription:

This model isn’t just draining wallets—it’s exponentially increasing the long-term cost of using the same software. Why? Because companies no longer want you to buy the product—they want to lock you into a recurring payment that never ends.

No Physical Distribution, So Why Higher Prices?
One of the most baffling aspects of this trend is that modern software distribution is digital-only. No CDs, no packaging, no in-store shelf space. Yet the prices have skyrocketed. In theory, the absence of physical distribution should make software cheaper, not more expensive. So why are companies charging more?

The answer is simple: profit maximization and monopolistic control. With few competitors in specialized industries like graphic design (Adobe), CAD software (Autodesk), and office productivity (Microsoft), these companies can dictate prices with little pushback.

Open Source Alternatives: The Underdogs Fighting Back
Thankfully, a growing number of open-source alternatives are challenging this monopoly. Tools like LibreOffice (a strong alternative to Microsoft Office), GIMP (for Photoshop), and FreeCAD (a replacement for AutoCAD) offer powerful, community-driven solutions for free. These programs might not have all the bells and whistles of their commercial counterparts, but they provide 80-90% of the functionality without the endless fees.

What Can Be Done? Breaking Free from Subscription Extortion
So, what can be done to break this cycle? Here are a few possible solutions:

Push for Regulation – Governments can introduce legislation to prevent price gouging in essential software services.
Adopt Open-Source Solutions – Businesses and individuals can collectively migrate to open-source alternatives, reducing dependency on monopolistic vendors.
Demand Perpetual Licensing Options – Consumers can pressure software companies to offer a one-time purchase alternative, ensuring long-term control over the software.
Time to Reclaim Control
As users, we must ask ourselves: Why are we allowing software giants to hold our data and productivity hostage? With alternatives available and growing dissatisfaction among users, perhaps it’s time to take back control. Subscription models may have benefits for some, but when they become the only option, it’s no longer about convenience—it’s about control.

The subscription trap is real. The question is: Will we break free or remain captive?