Mixed licensing / subscriptions questions

Miscellaneous Editions & Licenses
1

I read the FAQ and the upgrade information.
I could not find the information about the following questions:

  1. DTTG 3 already had a subscription

I never noticed that, maybe because I bought DTTG way before DT.

How much did that cost and what did it give over the free version?

  1. With a regular DT 4 license, I get no DTTG 4 license

Do I need such a DTTG license for every device, or handles one license all my iPhones / iPads?

  1. Compatibility

Can I use DTTG 4 together with DT 3, syncing to the same locations?

Can I use DTTG 3 together with DT 4, syncing to the same locations?

  1. New updates / new features

I get that a license pays for 1 year of updates.

Is this really about ANY updates, or is this (like many other desktop and mobile licensing models) just excludes new features, while I still get basic bugfixing or changes required for new OS updates?

Many thanks

2
  1. Same as DTTG4: 2.99 per month, $19.99 per year. It activates multiple databases, sync, PDF annotations, OCR, now also AI and custom metadata.
  2. As the product page clearly states: every DT Pro 4 license comes with 5 iOS seats, every Server 4 license with 25 iOS seats.
  3. Yes.
  4. When the Mac license no longer receives updates, DTTG4 falls back to the free state. You get updates, but no longer the features that require a license or subscription.
DTTG4: Which features are unlocked with a subscription?
3

So, if I upgrade DTPro3 to DTPro4, I can install DTTG4, but it is in the "free state”, with “the features that require a license or subscription” disabled? In order to be able to use all of DTTG4’s capabilities, in addition to the DTPro4 license, I have to also buy an extension to that license?

Is there somewhere a web page that describes all of the capabilities of the “free state” of DTTG4 v. all of the capabilities of DTTG4 when a DTPro4 license is used to unlock DTTG4? Like that page that describes the differences between DTStandard, DTPro, and DTServer?

IOW: what are “the features that require a license or subscription” that aren’t available in DTTG4 if I upgrade DTPro3 to DTPro4, but don’t buy an extension for that license?

Or am I not understanding this at all? V confusing.

4

So, if I upgrade DTPro3 to DTPro4, I can install DTTG4, but it is in the "free state”, with “the features that require a license or subscription” disabled? In order to be able to use all of DTTG4’s capabilities, in addition to the DTPro4 license, I have to also buy an extension to that license?

You have a DEVONthink Pro license that is current and get updates, you can use it as a license for DEVONthink To Go 4, too. When the time for updates run out, DEVONthink To Go 4 will fall back to the unregistered state. When you when buy an extension, your license is current again, and you can, again, use the license for DEVONthink To Go.

Is there somewhere a web page that describes all of the capabilities of the “free state” of DTTG4 v. all of the capabilities of DTTG4 when a DTPro4 license is used to unlock DTTG4? Like that page that describes the differences between DTStandard, DTPro, and DTServer?

No, we haven’t done that. But it’s quite obvious as soon as you launch the app: only the global inbox, no sync, no OCR, no PDF editing, no AI, and no custom metadata. That’s roughly it.

5

So basically, DDTG 4 is crippled without a subscription if you can’t sync. I suppose there might a mobile-only use-case, but DTTG (3) is great for collecting anything and everything that is then synced to the Mac for the heavy lifting.

I’m disapointed that there is not the comparison page asked for by JJJakes, particularly as I have always seen DEVON as much more honest and open about all aspects of pricing, licensing, etc. I seldom even load iOS-Apps that are free-with-in-app-purchases, as there is almost never clarity about what the free version offers and what the in-app-purchase adds. Sadly, the App Store page for DTTG 4 (and the DEVON website) has gone the same way. I know you want (have) to sell your product, but just switching to marketing-speak promoting the benefits at the expense of open communication makes it look as if you have something to hide. Why not just be upfront about how it is - and keep users’ trust?

Sorry to be so negative. I love your software! It’s just that for my use case the new set-up is more complicated to work out what is right for me. Having to dig for the information needed do that is/was frustrating.

6

So to sum up:

  • Upgrade DTPro3 → DTPRo4
    • DTPro3 is scheduled to stop working after 3 months
  • Same day, install DTTG4 (which is in the "free state”: Global Inbox only, no sync,…) and use the DTPro4 license to unlock it (which enables full DTTG4 functionality)
    • DTPro4 and DTTG4 receive updates for the 1 year of the original DTPro4 license period
  • When the DTPro4 license expires:
    • DTPro4 remains fully functional but stops receiving updates
    • DTTG4 “reverts to the free state” (Global Inbox only, no sync,…)
      • I could I guess opt for an App Store purchase of $2.99 or $19.99 to unlock DTTG4 for a month or a year, which would restore full DTTG4 functionality and updates?
  • If/when I decide to buy a DTPro4 license extension:
    • DTPro4 starts receiving updates again
    • DTTG4:
      • Auto-magically unlocks itself and starts receiving updates again, and full functionality is restored?
      • Unless I had opted for the App Store purchase, in which case that DTTG4 App Store “license extension” continues to be active until its term expires?
      • If I had bought an App store license extension for DTTG4, now the DTPro4 and DTTG4 licenses expire on different schedules?

And it sounds like DTTG4 doesn’t really do much without a license of some kind.

Am I getting this?

7

Actually, we simply didn’t expect it to me much of a problem as it’s quite obvious when one launches the app.

8

More or less, yes. You might need to register the license in DEVONthink To Go 4 again.

9

That does sound rather like the supplier of a product not looking at it through potential customers’ eyes. As I wrote, I can’t try DTTG 4 yet as I’m still on iOS 18. On principle, I don’t like being forced to try an app to find out what it can do. There are too many that require a sign-up or are dishonest about what data they collect/scrape. A simple, clear description on the App page (but written with potential buyers in mind) is worth a lot upfront. Some apps have that, far too many do not.

And JJJakes has just summarised the complications I was referring to. I’ll have to go do the budgetary sums.

10

Is there anything aside from

That I should be aware of? Other than this, is the summary I gave complete and accurate?

11

Well, there is no “App store license extensions” for DTTG4, only a plain and simple subscription, monthly or yearly. No, the rest seems correct to me. In the end it all quite straightforward: to drive DEVONthink To Go 4 you need either a DEVONthink Pro or Server license “in good standing” or an App Store subscriptions. Legacy subscriptions from version 4 also work.

Please have also a look at our Upgrader’s Guide that also explains hopefully also a lot.

2 Likes
12

I’m completely disappointed… I just renewed my license for DT4 and also bought 15 days ago DTTG3…

I did this because I don’t like subscriptions. And now, I discover that DTTG4 is no longer a single purchase!
And there is no information for holders of a standard DT4 license.
Will DTTG3 at least continue to work?
I am surprised not to see more messages from people, who, like me, have just invested in your products and now feel wronged by your choices.

13

On the contrary, we’ve been receiving many messages of thanks and appreciation for the new licensing model.

And there is no information for holders of a standard DT4 license.

There is no information to discuss regarding the Standard edition and the “Mac and mobile bundle” applies to the Pro and Server editions.

…and also bought 15 days ago DTTG3

DEVONthink To Go 3 one time purchases after 2024 are valid for DEVONthink To Go 4 until the end of 2026.

Will DTTG3 at least continue to work?

It is in maintenance mode as mobile development’s focus is version 4. So while it won’t disappear immediately, eventually it will no longer be developed.

1 Like
14

I need to second what the other posters wrote.

And I am disappointed, to say the least.

I am NOT going to subscribe to ANY software EVER!

And i think many see it this way.

I thought that Devon Technologies were using a licensing model that is often used on desktop and now more and more on mobile: Buy the App, get one year of updates and new features, after that you only get basic security updates, bugfixes and required updates (for OS updates, for example) but no new features - until you decide that you want such a new feature and buy another year of updates and all features that got added in-between.

I have no problem with such a license!

And it is even so that I researched this topic because I wanted to support Devon Technologies and buy a DT 4 Standard edition.

I have no need for the new features of version 4 and just wanted to give my part to this.
And I also have no need for the server or pro editions.

But then I noticed the potential problems with the mobile App.

I even thought about getting the DT4 Pro edition, so that my mobile devices could get a license too - but that does not work, as long as I don’t buy the update every year!

And THAT is, by definition, a subscription!

Basically, that is “Augenwischerei” as we say in Germany, it’s a trap as DTTG in free mode is completely useless - I want to add stuff on the mobile devices that get’s synced.

I see no way to continue using DT and DTTG with the new license models!

I either need a yearly DT Pro or Server subscription, or DT Standard and then a DTTG subscription.

That is not what I want and can or will do.

I am sorry.

To be honest, there would be an easy fix!
Apply the same license type I mentioned above to DTTG too!
Let me buy that App and be happy with it for 10 or 20 years without new cost - as long as I don’t need or like a new feature which makes me buy another year.

And just to tell that:

Other Apps like Working Copy or Loopy Pro (and lots of others) use the same model!
And I bought the updates every year! Just because I liked the new features!

I hope I could get my point over clear enough.

I would give more details and idea about this, if I had the impression that you possible would change the license model for the mobile App, but from what I saw, this is not very likely. Sadly.

Instead, I start to research alternatives to DT / DTTG.

Adding stuff could be done with Syncthing and on the Mac, there are some alternatives to manage documents. This would loose a basic client on iOS / iPadOS but as I said, I mostly only add stuff on the mobile devices.

I am disappointed to learn this, sorry.

2 Likes
15

So, I just paid €60 for DTTG3, which simply entitles me to the one-year license for DTTG4, when it only costs €23…
Thank you Devonthinks!

I feel like I’ve been fooled…

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16

me: Do I need such a DTTG license for every device, or handles one license all my iPhones / iPads?

you: As the product page clearly states: every DT Pro 4 license comes with 5 iOS seats, every Server 4 license with 25 iOS seats.

That was not my question.

With DT 4 Standard, I need a DTTG subscription!

And my question was, whether such a subscription handles all my devices or if I need one subscription for each device?

But as I know understand I either need the yearly DT 4 Pro or Server subscription, or DT 4 Standard with a yearly DTTG subscription. Nothing else is possible and it does not work without a subscription.

I just wanted to understand if the DTTG 4 subscription is required only one time for all mobile devices, or if it is required for each and any such device.

Thanks.

17

Can you clarify what only costs €23?

18

One-year licence to DTTG4

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19

To repeat me shortly:

I am always willing to buy new features I like!
And I constantly do so for multiple Apps!

There are vey good licensing models for this.

You did something like this for DT, but you destroyed this model by crippling the DTTG license model!

You either need a yearly DT 4 Pro or Server subscription - or when you don’t buy this, a yearly DTTG subscription.

And no, that is NOT a good idea!

20

But you actually said…

Do I need such a DTTG license for every device…

…referring to a license, not a subscription. And the answer regarding licensing is accurate.