Waves returns perpetual Licenses after huge backlash
4,1 / 5,0 | 
A couple of days ago, Waves shocked users with the announcement that it would move to a subscription-only model. Well, the internet has spoken and Waves now says that perpetual licenses will be back. This means that you’ll again be able to purchase and update Waves plugins like before.
Waves Perpetual Licenses are back
When we wrote about Waves’ switch to a subscription-only model a couple of days ago, we could already sense that this move likely wouldn’t be very popular with long-time users of the company’s plugins. And indeed, Waves Creative Access was immediately faced with a massive backlash – including in our own comment section.
And once again, it goes to show that the powers of the internet should never be underestimated. In a statement issued today, Waves now says that it’ll bring back perpetual licenses – “following your feedback”, as the company puts it.
Here’s the statement by Meir Shashoua, co-founder and CTO of Waves Audio:
“Over the past few days, many of you have expressed concerns about our decision to discontinue perpetual plugin licenses and our move to an exclusive plugin subscription model. I would like to start by apologizing for the frustration we have caused many of you, our loyal customers. We understand that our move was sudden and disruptive, and did not sufficiently take into consideration your needs, wishes, and preferences. We are genuinely sorry for the distress it has caused.
After respectfully listening to your concerns, I want to share with you that we are bringing back the perpetual plugin license model, side-by-side with the new subscriptions. You will again be able to get plugins as perpetual licenses, just as before.
In addition, those of you who already own perpetual licenses will once again be able to update your plugins and receive a second license via the Waves Update Plan—again, just as before. This option, too, will be available alongside and independently of the subscription program.”
The company further says that it’ll make the perpetual licenses and update plans available again “as quickly as possible”. We’ll have to wait and see what that means.
In the meantime, the new Waves Essential and Ultimate subscription plans remain available.
What are your thoughts? Are you glad that Waves is bringing back perpetual licenses, or has your trust in the company been shattered by this sudden move?
More information about Waves and the Licenses
This might also interest you
12 responses to “Waves returns perpetual Licenses after huge backlash”
Too late. Decided I’m happy with my Eventide, Izotope, Arturia and Sound Toys suites, which have none of the headaches of WUP or any of that silliness. No need for this Waves jibber any longer.
Sorry Waves. this has made me reconsider our 20+ year relationship. I’m out.
I have zero interest in subscriptions for plugins or DAWs. Most professionals I know have a hard enough time scraping by as it is.
I sold my complete Waves account on ebay this was the best decision Ive ever made!
I always sensed a level of distrust between Waves user community and Waves business practices with their frequent updates essentially turning perpetual licenses into one year. The switch to subscription only could be the last straw that sends many of their customers elsewhere. Time will tell, but plugin customers have plenty of options today with competitors trying to win over those customers. Losing customers trust and loyalty can been a very difficult hurdle to overcome.
Any plugin connected to DRM is poison to composers and musicians. If you can’t install a plugin without a code or a login or a “hosting VST”, it isn’t yours. Consider that when looking ahead ten years and you want to re-record your stuff with instruments used now.
I´m out. This turn doesn´t change the fact that I´ve totally lost trust in Waves. They already showed their real colors.
They completely lost my trust. Won’t subscribe and won’t update or buy new plugins from them.
It’s over.
There are plenty plugin companies that do better or just as good plugins and don’t do that to their users.
Who cares if they do subscription or not ? It’s a snake oil brand with shady pricing (-95% half the time) with a terrible manager and impossible to remove plugins.
At least with subscription the pricing is honest
Sorry to say it but over the next few weeks, I’ll be going through my legacy projects which I might want to resurrect one day, identifying suitable alternatives to where I’ve got Waves plugins on a chain, and then kick ‘em off. I’m definitely not going to be including Waves on anything new.
What other plugin companies require annual license fees to “keep them compatible and current”? Snake oil. Average plugs at below average prices (up front), then they got you. I was a rube buying almost everyone of them, but turns out I use about 5% of them on a regular basis, and most of those could be swapped for something else. Waves won’t see any more of my money.
I’m the same – will never be using Waves again, I’ve lost complete trust in them (well, actually I lost trust in them with the WUP requirement…).
Any old projects have already been bounced to tracks and stems (FX on and off) so at least I can open the old projects without needing any Waves plugins active/installed.
I understand that it costs time and money to update the codes to run on newer OSs, for example, but I can’t get my head around charging existing users the development costs so that the plugins can then be sold to new users at a greatly reduced price. Especially when most other companies don’t expect you to do this. Now, if this was for a ‘legacy’ plugin that wasn’t for sale anymore but the user base wanted to keep using, then I could understand more the idea of existing users contributing to the development costs. That’s just me though 🙂
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from X. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information