PC SOFT® wants to turn your lifetime license into an endless subscription

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(the title has been changed to stay within the 80 character limit allowed on this site)
For your information, a copy of the freewlcode.com page (information from March 12, 2025). French version ici.

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Since February 2025, it is no longer possible to update your dongle. You must switch to SaaS mode. Therefore, you will pay an amount equivalent to your dongle updates, but your WinDev^®, WebDev^®, and WinDev Mobile^® 2025 no longer belong to you; they are controlled by PC SOFT^®!

It is therefore possible that one day you may NO LONGER BE ABLE TO OPEN YOUR EDITOR (and therefore your sources) if you stop your payments, if the PC SOFT^® servers become unavailable, or, worse, if PC SOFT^® disappears!

PC SOFT^® has changed its licensing policy. Here are the key points:

• They NO LONGER SELL a DONGLE version (their pricing page now only contains SaaS)
• They NO LONGER SELL dongle updates (you will need to migrate to SaaS to stay up to date)
• They will NO LONGER REPLACE broken/lost dongles (they will “help” you upgrade to a SaaS license)

Clearly, PC SOFT^® is forcing you to switch to SaaS mode. Why?

The advantages of the SaaS version, according to PC SOFT^® (source : FAQ et Suite SaaS)

• The SaaS version is completely dematerialized, there is no longer a physical dongle.*
• New features are available throughout the year. (editor’s note: with the risk of having bugs on these new features?)
• It’s easier to budget costs with their subscription plans. (editor’s note: Costs are usually planned for the fiscal year or according to mandates.)
• For customers outside France, customs fees are waived.*
• Start developing immediately.*
• Easy to change computers. (editor’s note: it’s normally not difficult to remove a USB drive and place it elsewhere.)
• Work offline. (editor’s note: the dongle allows this permanently, whereas SaaS has a 4-day limit.)
• Remote connection. (editor’s note: This also worked if a dongle was installed on the remote PC; other software options were available.)
• Windows Intel & Arm. (editor’s note: our PCs are mostly Intel or AMD, so Arm would be targeting Mac… M1 dates from 2020, so it’s catching up!)
• Compatibility (editor’s note: no problem with the dongle, however, a SaaS project may not open with a dongle license).

* benefit for a new purchase, does not apply to updates

The disadvantages they emphasize less are, in SaaS, …

• You will lose access to your editors as soon as you stop paying! There is no option to pause your subscription.
• It’s no longer possible to “skip” a year or two (as was possible with dongles). If you skip the renewal, upon returning, you must pay the subscription fee (€699) and the following 12 months (at €89/month), i.e., €1,767, which is the same price as a full dongle license (€1,790), while a double dongle upgrade cost €869 (source: price as of January 2025 archive.org).
• A limited-time promotional offer is currently available. But what happens if PC SOFT^® returns to its “catalog” price of €89/month? The annual subscription will be €1,068, compared to €749 for an update to the N-1 version of the dongle (source: price in January 2025 archive.org). Wouldn’t this be a disguised price increase?
• It’s payable annually (see “annual billing” on the pricing page) or for three years (billed all at once!), whereas a SaaS subscription was offered monthly, like many other services! What is the financial advantage of SaaS compared to the annual purchase/update of the dongle?
• You are using your resources when a SaaS subscription is supposed to use remote resources. (ref : SaaS)! Although it’s more convenient and efficient to run your editor locally, the term SaaS seems misused here. This is a dematerialized license management.
• Even if you have a dongle, it will have to be limited to V23 at the most because the SaaS covers version 24+. (source : FAQ : “La version Saas fonctionne avec quelles versions ?” et “Je possède des licences physiques avec clé physique-dongle. Que deviennent ces clés ?”). Your key, for example, in V2024, will thus “lose” six versions (that you had paid for!). If you cancel your SaaS subscription, you will only be able to open projects in version 23 and below!
• If you lose your dongle, your projects will be forced to migrate to 24+ to be opened exclusively in SaaS mode.
• The license is verified, via the internet, on their servers… You will be unable to open the editor (therefore your source codes), temporarily, if these servers are not accessible for more than 4 days (e.g. if the PC SOFT^® servers have been attacked, a network/port blockage at your home or your provider, no internet where you are, etc.) or permanently (PC SOFT^® bankruptcy)

Certainly, PC SOFT^® is currently offering, until March 31st, an attractive offer (your 2025 update for €540 per editor!) to encourage you to switch to SaaS. The offer has been improved in recent days by waiving the subscription fees that were still due a few weeks ago (eliminating the monthly payment in the process!) (source : prices from December 21, 2024).

But, in view of the above, ask yourself this question: “Isn’t this a trap?”.

If these conditions do not suit you, you have the choice of going to the competition. However, WLanguage is proprietary and, to our knowledge, no tool exists to migrate to another language. In short, you have to start from scratch if you leave PC SOFT^® tools. On the other hand, you chose this unparalleled tool because it offers many advantages. You would really like to continue using it.

So quickly express your disagreement with PC SOFT by email (e.g., at ) or by phone at +33.(0)4.67.032.032. Ensure the future of your source code and your business by demanding continued use of the editors you pay. Be firm because, currently, the company’s communication is limited to its official SaaS offering, with no possibility of negotiation (several testimonials to this effect).

If this doesn’t work, you can still take action:

• Individually : Simply apply the “to buy is to vote” rule. While waiting for an offer that suits you, you can continue developing normally with your current dongle version. You can always change your mind if needed by subscribing to the SaaS offer for one or more of your keys.
• Collectively : You know the saying “unity is strength.” Let’s come together to gain more leverage and structure our demands, particularly regarding “unlimited” access to the editors (and our source code). How? By registering below. We will then contact you to identify your needs, involve you in our activities, and provide you with any other relevant information.

Do not hesitate to share this page with your colleagues to inform them and encourage them to be part of this movement.

• Ce sujet a été modifié le il y a 1 année et 2 mois par Admin01_WxForum.
• Ce sujet a été modifié le il y a 1 année et 2 mois par Admin01_WxForum.
• Ce sujet a été modifié le il y a 1 année et 2 mois par Admin01_WxForum.

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May 9th Update

The page https://windev.com/saas , which allows customers to subscribe to the SAAS offering (the only one in effect at the time of writing this post), has recently been modified.

The crossed-out price indications (suggesting a temporary introductory offer) for the WinDev SAAS (€89/month), WebDev SAAS (€89/month), WinDev Mobile SAAS (€89/month), and WinDev Suite (€189/month) offerings no longer appear on the site. Only the offers remain, respectively, at €45 for the standalone products and €89 for the suite.

The frequently asked questions (FAQ) on this same page have been updated.

Previous version:

What are the advantages of the SaaS version?
The SaaS version is fully digital and does not require a dongle.
New features are published continuously throughout the year.
Our subscription packages make budgeting much easier.
For customers outside France, customs fees are no longer a concern.

Can I save my projects locally with the SaaS version?
Yes. You can save projects locally, on a network or in the cloud, as you choose.

Which versions does the SaaS version support?
The SaaS version allows you to use versions 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 2024 simultaneously.

Is the SaaS version fully digital?
Yes.

If I save my projects in the cloud, can I save them locally afterwards?
Yes. You can copy your projects from the cloud to a local or network directory.

I work on multiple computers (office, home, etc.). Can I switch from one computer to another?
Yes. You can switch from one computer to another. When your account is used on one computer, it cannot be used simultaneously on another.

What are the “initial subscription fees”?
Initial subscription fees are paid only once at the beginning of your subscription.
If you have a standard (dongle-based) license, you can benefit from a discount on these fees.

How do I cancel my subscription?
If you have chosen a plan with a time commitment, you will receive a notification before the end date. Cancellation must be made 30 days before the end of the subscription period.

I own dongle-based licenses. What happens to these dongles?
Owning dongle-based licenses entitles you to a discount on the initial subscription fees.
You can keep these dongles.
You will receive an update procedure for each dongle.
By completing this procedure, you indicate that the dongle-based license has been converted to a SaaS version, which validates the discount.
You will then be able to use the dongles to run versions 23 and earlier, if necessary.
The SaaS license will allow you to run versions 24 and later.

I’m not located in France and I purchase software through an official distributor in my country. Can I continue to do so?
Yes.

Is Technical Support still free?
Yes. You are entitled to 15 free requests per subscription year and per software product.

Does the SaaS version require a dongle?
No.

Will my applications and websites still work if I cancel my subscription?
Yes. What you have created belongs to you.

The differences we found

[Add] With the SaaS version, do I still own all the elements I create in my projects?
Yes, you retain ownership of your all the elements you create in your projects. You can save projects locally, on a server or in the cloud, as you choose.
Reminder: You can also export your application’s entire technical documentation, which contains all your source code, as a PDF file.

[Change] Will my applications and websites still work if I cancel my subscription?
Yes. What you have created belongs to you.
[in …] I’m stopping my subscription. Can I still distribute my applications?
Yes, you can continue to distribute the applications you have created during your subscription period.

[Add] Can I temporarily suspend my subscription, then resume it and get back all the elements from my projects?
Yes, you can. Just note that a one-time initial fee will be applied to any new subscription.

[Add] I have a dongle and it has stopped working. Can I replace it?
Yes, you can exchange a damaged dongle. An exchange fee will be charged, contact us to learn more. You can also convert your dongle-based license to a SaaS subscription, and get rid of all the risks of dongle-based licenses.

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