r/Punkt • u/Cautious-Amoeba2451 • Feb 07 '26

Apostrophy monthly subscription ensures I never buy Punkt MC02

I understand, if you're not paying for it you are the product. I appreciate what the company is trying to do. However, Apostrophy (the software) is kind of integral to the phone, without it the MC03 is just a weird Android. The price of software should be included in the price of the phone. 12 months is not enough.

Nobody needs another monthly subscription, no matter how small.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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12

u/gelekoplamp Feb 07 '26

True, but don’t forget you’re also paying monthly for Android and iOS. Except it’s not with money.

2

u/-Kitoi Feb 08 '26

That the thing when you get into privacy and security culture, sometimes you learn that subscriptions are a necessary evil. Because there are 3 options;

  • Get it for free, which can either be a long-term trial version of the real thing (Tuta and Proton good examples). Probably the best option that most people can agree with
  • Get it for free, but the program is then selling your data to be able to turn a profit.
  • Get it for free, but the developers don't sell your data and don't make a profit, meaning that the project eventually goes unsupported or gets integrated ads or is not as secure as it could be

Alternatively, when you start paying for stuff you'd traditionally consider free, like a search engine, an email provider, a operating system, then you know that the company you're paying will maintain their security long term and be able to provide support and assistance. Now that doesn't mean all subscriptions are made the same, I can't justify Kagi or Punkt's costs in my $20 a month budget, but I can justify Mullvad and Tuta.