Pixlr-o-matic, now the most expensive FREE app in the App Store

Pixlr-o-matic the free retro photo app from Autodesk was recently updated, and with that update came some additional in-app purchase options. Whilst free apps with optional paid for in-app purchase add-ons is nothing new, what sets Pixlr-o-matic apart from the rest, is the total costs of all the extras. Unlike most apps that bundle their extras, Autodesk have opted to charge £0.69/$0.99/€0.79 for each effect pack, so for example under "Light Effects" you have things like Light Leaks and Smoke, and under "Frames" you have Grunge and Film. In total there are 16, yes that's right, 16 add-on packs, at £0.69/$0.99/€0.79 each; so if you bought all 16 packs, then Pixlr-o-matic would cost you a whopping £11.04/$15.84/€12.64, making what was a very good app, the most expensive, FREE photo app in the App Store!!

Comments

[Fredrik Nilsson]

Make that second most expensive; nothing beats Hipstamatc Disposable.

[Skip Hunt]

Is all the free stuff that was there still there? Or are they charging for it now? Just wondering if maybe shouldn't update?

[Glyn Evans]

@Skip, yeah, the original free stuff is still there :)

[jdh322]

I will simply delete this app. I don't like developers like this. I have no problem with them making a buck, but be realistic.

[mr timney]

The main beef & rant is... They have added an in-app store selling Filter, texture & frame packs, but not just here is a few for $0.99 or buy the whole collection for $3-4 etc Ohhhhhh no they have 16 yes that is correct SIXTEEN in-app purchase packs all at $0.99 each pack. So for those loyal users who want to have everything available for your favourite app... Dig really deep & keep churning out the cash, because now it's going to cost you $16 worth of effects packs to complete your favourite Pixlr-o-matic app. No you do not have to buy a darn thing, but $16 is absolutely ridiculous! I am all for supporting the developers etc, but ummm how about a discount system? buy them all & save 50-60% in a bundled pack? Then I would be happy to support them. But $16 worth of extras is a disgustingly greedy slap in the face way to show your loyal users base the new & unimproved update.

Unimproved is how I refer to an app that now 100% uses your cellular data package to apply the effects direct from their website. They aren't even built into the app any longer!!! Thus the reason that ALL original filter, textures & borders have been rearranged to fit how they are online via their website. So they day you cancel your data plan or simply don't have internet or wifi, this app will become useless. Users want everything built in, I NEVER want to have my images processed & sent over the air to be processed & back to my iPhone... IF I did I wouldn't use my iPhone & have edited it online... Thus a cheap, poorly executed app update!

Unfortunately for an app I really enjoyed, I am thoroughly unimpressed, disappointed & disgusted by their greed & stupidity. I would have been more than happy to purchase every in-app effects pack! But if they think I am going to toss them $16 to own all that they have "offered" they are out of the freaking minds!

From a highly recommended app to NOT recommended at all. They've just dug their own grave... I truly hope they have a shovel big enough to dig themselves out & redeem themselves.

[Plop]

Mr Timmey,

Effects are added direct from their website?

Are you mental? That simply isn't true. Put your phone in airplane mode and the app still functions the same. Exactly the same.

[mr timney]

@Plop (mental therapist)

All effects & content is initially loaded & sent from their website to the iPhone. Thus is you install the app fresh from your computer & have no data plan or wifi the app is useless. So for future reference & use, if you buy all the in-app purchases & one day you cancel your cell plan with no data, install the app & want to use what you paid for... you will not be able to do so!

[Fredrik Nilsson]

mr timney,

The in-app downloads are no different here than they are for other apps. You will get the same problem with Photoforge2, Hipstamatic, Magic Hour (you need a Wi-Fi just for getting the basic full resolution filters with this app) and so on.

I fully understand that this app's developers has made you upset, but you try too much to discredit it. Try to stay with what differs with this app from others.

[Plop]

Mr Timmey,

What sort of maniac would spend several hundred £/€\$ on a phone and then not pay out for a data plan or have wifi they could connect to?

Your scenario bears no relation to the real world.

[Monica]

Pixlr-o-matic is one of my favourite photo apps, and frankly the in app purchases don't bother me at all here. On the one hand, everything I liked about the app is still free and, on the other, with a few notable exceptions most of their paid packs just aren't that great, so it's no big loss to just not buy them. Now if they brought in a much needed feature, like the ability to crop pics and made us pay for it, then I'd be miffed.

[GDUB]

Love this app and use it daily. I was excited about the update but only purchased the addons that interested me. I thought it was worth the money.

[mr timney]

To those with ethics & common sense... forgetting about the fact we know you do not have to buy any of the add-ons, & those who might only want one or two... Do you not see that many might want to have them all & thus a complete Pixlr-o-matic & in doing so do you not think $16 to do so is absolutely ridiculous?

Keeping in mind that since ScratchCam released verso 2.0 & implemented an in app download centre it has thus far added 10 in-app packs (filter, texture & scratch packs) all for FREE to their loyal users & the app itself only costs $1.99 of which they continue to add more & more.

Then keep in mind MagicHour which is also only $1.99 has it's own Filter Market in-app & these effects, filters, textures etc are all FREE to it's users!

So to justify the greed & selfishness that Hipstamatic has convince many of you is justified & now becoming a standard for greed amongst the apps we all enjoy is mind-blowingly ludicrous. I have never once even said or asked for the Pixlr-o-matic add-ons to be free, but to be priced realistically & or bundled in an affordable "Buy all & save money" option.
*Keeping in mind further that if you visit Pixlr-o-matic online you can edit & get them all for free... But since we own an iPhone it's $16 to enjoy these extras... Why should we have to pay for others who get the same for free, only because we are mobile?

If we accept this soon none of you will be buying & enjoying photography apps in abundance like we do. Instead you will use what you own, buy very few new ones & won't be checking in here at iPhoneography.com for the latest apps... why? because every app will be a greedy cash cow.

[Glyn Evans]

Whilst some will agree with my thoughts and many others, just as with any app that stirs the community, many will also be happy to support a developer by paying for add-one, regardless of price, after all look at Hipstamatic.

With that in mind, I think we can now draw a line under this one, as the devs will probably not reverse their pricing structure.

Also, I don't believe that many other devs will follow this trend, as in the long run they will loose customers and ultimately sales.

[Fredrik Nilsson]

Appearantly Autodesk has listen to the critics. According to the latest update, the maximum cost for the exttra filters now caps at the price for at the price for three filter packages.

[RjB]

I had sort of forgotten about this thread at the same time that I deleted the app because of the pricing structure. I hadn't seen Fredrik's last post here. For some reason tonight, I decided to reinstall the app and was pleasantly surprised to be able to pay $2.99 and have access to every single one of the download packs. There is some really nice stuff in here and at $2.99 all in, I am excited to start giving the app some use.

[Akelei]

I've got that app after a friend sent me the link for the pc, and i found it great. So when i got my iphone was one of the first app i wanted to have. Then I realised I could get more if I payed, so i got some of them, not all because I didn't like them all, and later, around the end of January I got a messege saying that I was a good client and because of that I will have more of the styles for free, and since then, every new style they put in I can have it for free which I think is super cool. Or maybe every body can lol dunno :P But i love it and i didn't mind paying for some of them (wasn't that much, like 5£)

cheerio