More revenue from subs

Autodesk is thinking about eliminating perpetual licensing within the next two years (starting first with AutoCAD LT). Paying repeatedly is more expensive than paying once, of course. As I remind my kids, by buying a $70 high-gain antenna and never paying for cable tv, our family so far saved $27,430 -- and counting.

With the elimination of the perpetual license, how much more will Autodesk programs cost you? Owen Wengerd did the research, and found the following ratios:

40% -- Annual subscription becomes more expensive (than perpetual) after 2 years and 5.5 months

12.5% -- Monthly subscription becomes more expensive (than annual) after 8 months

Most products carry the same ratios, but there is an anomaly with LT-branded software, which tends to be 30%, ie. 3 years 4 months. Perhaps the better ratio is the reason AutoCAD LT will be the poster boy for permanent-license elimination.

(Note: the # indicates products that are on the Autodesk Web page but are hidden by CSS code.)

Product Perpetual

License Upgrade

Fee Monthly

Subscription Annual

Subscription

Month/Year

Ratio Rent/Perp

Ratio 3ds Max $3,675 $2,575 $185.00 $1,470.00 12.59% 40.00% 3ds Max Entertainment Creation Suite Standard $5,775 $4,045 $290.00 $2,310.00 12.55% 40.00% AutoCAD $4,195 $2,935 $210.00 $1,680.00 12.50% 40.05% AutoCAD Design Suite Premium $5,245 $3,670 $265.00 $2,100.00 12.62% 40.04% AutoCAD Design Suite Standard $4,525 $3,170 $225.00 $1,810.00 12.43% 40.00% AutoCAD Design Suite Ultimate $6,295 $4,405 $315.00 $2,520.00 12.50% 40.03% AutoCAD LT $1,200 $840 $45.00 $360.00 12.50% 30.00% AutoCAD 2015 for Mac $4,195 $2,935 $210.00 $1,680.00 12.50% 40.05% AutoCAD LT 2015 for Mac $1,200 $840 $45.00 $360.00 12.50% 30.00% Building Design Suite Premium $6,825 $4,780 $340.00 $2,730.00 12.45% 40.00% Building Design Suite Standard $5,775 $4,045 $290.00 $2,310.00 12.55% 40.00% Building Design Suite Ultimate $12,075 $8,455 $605.00 $4,830.00 12.53% 40.00% Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate $6,825 $4,780 $340.00 $2,730.00 12.45% 40.00% Factory Design Suite Premium $6,825 $4,780 $340.00 $2,730.00 12.45% 40.00% Factory Design Suite Standard $5,775 $4,045 $290.00 $2,310.00 12.55% 40.00% Factory Design Suite Ultimate $10,495 $7,345 $525.00 $4,200.00 12.50% 40.02% HSMWorks Professional $7,500 $5,250 $310.00 $2,470.00 12.55% 32.93% Infrastructure Design Suite Premium $7,345 $5,140 $370.00 $2,940.00 12.59% 40.03% Infrastructure Design Suite Standard $5,775 $4,045 $290.00 $2,310.00 12.55% 40.00% Infrastructure Design Suite Ultimate $12,075 $8,455 $605.00 $4,830.00 12.53% 40.00% Inventor HSM $7,500 --- --- $2,470.00 0.00% 32.93% Inventor HSM Pro $9,995 --- $465.00 $3,700.00 12.57% 37.02% Inventor LT Suite $1,495 $1,045 $55.00 $450.00 12.22% 30.10% Maya $3,675 $2,575 $185.00 $1,470.00 12.59% 40.00% Maya Entertainment Creation Suite Standard $5,775 $4,045 $290.00 $2,310.00 12.55% 40.00% Maya LT $795 $555 $30.00 $240.00 12.50% 30.19% #Plant Design Suite Ultimate $13,645 $9,550 $685.00 $5,460.00 12.55% 40.01% #Plant Design Suite Premium $9,975 $6,985 $500.00 $3,990.00 12.53% 40.00% #Plant Design Suite Standard $6,295 $4,405 $315.00 $2,520.00 12.50% 40.03% Product Design Suite Premium $5,775 $4,045 $290.00 $2,310.00 12.55% 40.00% Product Design Suite Ultimate $8,395 $5,875 $420.00 $3,360.00 12.50% 40.02% Revit LT Suite $1,675 $1,175 $65.00 $505.00 12.87% 30.15% #Smoke $3,495 --- $185.00 $1,470.00 12.59% 42.06%

Prices sourced from http://www.autodesk.com/store/all-products