Obie Fernandex has an interesting post about improving software pricing models. He talks about possible strategies for alternatives for personal software.
I don’t need Dreamweaver for work, so I can’t get my employer to pay for it. You will also never get me personally to pay you $399. I stress, never. It’s not that I think your product is bad or that you don’t deserve compensation for your work or anything like that. It’s just that I really can’t afford it. Your pricing model for someone like me is unrealistic.
I’ve paid for more software in the past 12 months for personal use than I have in a long time. All of these products were priced for me as an individual.
The pricing was derived the right mix of value and functionality . By meeting my specific needs at a price point I was able to absorb. Pricing is a difficult task affected by many factors.