Subscription via the Apple Mac Store

DAT4

I used the Windows version of Quicken for 25+ years. About 5 years ago, I move to macOS.

Since moving to Mac, I have been using a competitors product [Removed] At the time of my move , I did try Quicken for Mac, but was not impressed.

I've recently read numbers articular on the improvements the team has made with Quicken for Mac. I would love to give Quicken another try.

However, for various reasons, I will NOT purchase an app (or a subscription based app) unless it’s through the App Store. Please consider giving users the option to purchase Quicken through Apple's the App Store.

Banktivity offers their users two purchase options, directly for the vendor’s website or from the App Store.

I know I cannot be the only user that limits their purchases/subscriptions to the App Store. I don’t mind paying an extra fee to cover Apple’s 30% subscription cost for the first year's cost and the 15% renewal subscriptions.

Bottom line, if an app is not offered in the App Store, count me out.

fun1000000

You wouldn’t buy a Quicken product directly from Quicken ? I doubt your request will be happening anytime soon, if ever.

smayer97

Quicken USED to sell via the Mac App Store but have since decided not to. There were some issues with getting new releases and even updates to users in a timely fashion and many users complained because when bugs were introduced that meant leaving users unable to use Quicken for a period of time, sometimes for many weeks. I think that may have been one big reason for pulling out, though there may have been others.

Chris_QPW

The "store" idea is a mixed blessing (or nightmare depending on your point of view).

By running any change through whatever organization is running that "store" the user is better protected from things like viruses.

On the other hand it also can mean long delays before they approve changes, and in some cases out and out refusing to allow the changes.  As some game apps have found out in the recent past.  And I believe Quicken got caught in that too when they wanted to include running the conversion from the Quicken Windows data format to Quicken Mac, which was done in crossover.  So they ended up with two different versions one for the Apple store, and one for direct download. And then having to point at the conversion program on their server if the person using the Apple store version wanted it.

It also means that programs that are not meant to make money or very little tend to not get released because a single developer doesn't want to go through all the hassle and cost just to release something the would put out "freeware".

jacobs

@DAT4  Bottom line: if you won't buy/update the app from Quicken directly, you won't be switching to Quicken Mac.

As others have detailed, there were multiple problems Quicken (and its users) experienced during the time they offered purchases through the App Store. I don't know what your reasons are for refusing to buy Quicken Mac directly as hundreds of thousands of users have, but if you're adamant about that, you're ruling out Quicken as an option. 

Greg_the_Geek

And you didn't even vote for your own idea. 

smayer97

It's silly the way this site does that... if you create an idea, it should automatically add your vote! Alas, you have to do it manually as a separate step AND realize/remember to actually do it.

Chris_QPW

Note this thread wasn't an idea that could be voted on until today.  It must have been changed to an idea by a moderator.

mohamadkarbi

I find no problem in making Quicken available on Mac App Store except for delay in updates. If someone is willing to accept that, then let it be. Quicken for Mac is one of the best personal finance apps there. New users always start looking for apps on the App Store first; so it's good opportunity too for exposing Quicken for more new users

jacobs

@mohamadkarbi  While you many find no problem with Quicken being sold via the Mac App Store, Quicken and its users did find problems with the App Store, which is why they discontinued it years ago. Among the issues:

• Quicken can push out bug fixes and new releases instantly via their own servers. With the App Store, every tweak needed to go through Apple's approval process. Apple has shortened that delay time from several years ago, but there's still a lag. And once a year Apple shuts down for a week, so if there's a bug fix needed at that time (as once happened), users are stranded for more than a week.

• Apple takes a 30% cut of the purchase price. And developers cannot sell directly for less and jack the price up on the Apple store. So Quicken would need to give up 30% for App Store purchases, or raise the price for everyone.

• Quicken is now subscription-based. While subscription renewals can be managed through the App Store, it's more complex for both the seller and user than dealing directly seller-to-user.

• Due to Apple's requirements, Quicken needed to store its data file in a different location for versions sold through the App store -- which meant maintaining two sets of code which needed to be updated in parallel. 

Quicken now has years of sales data since they discontinued selling via the App Store. If they thought they could sell more and make more money using the App Store, they would -- but they have concluded (so far at least) that the disadvantages outweigh any advantages. 

mohamadkarbi

Wow, thanks for the details answers. Fair enough.. However, for the 30% fees point, Quicken can still manage subscription through their website directly. That's, users have option to subscribe through Apple or through Quicken - as in MS Office. I download office from App Store but I pay through Microsoft website. Anyway, we're just thinking loudly. I'm big fan of Quicken for Mac wether it was through App Store or through Quicken site :)