TreeSize changes support policy for perpetual licenses and requires customer subscriptions
JAM Software, responsible for the popular TreeSize disk space analyzer software, has generated dissatisfaction among its most recent users. The company announced that it will no longer offer support or updates for perpetual licenses after the maintenance period unless customers opt for a new subscription plan. The situation is made worse by JAM Software’s long-standing policy of not providing license keys or installers to TreeSize perpetual license holders after end of support.
Since 2025, JAM Software has implemented a gradual transition of most TreeSize editions to subscription models. Currently, the sale of perpetual licenses is restricted to personal use and includes 12 months of updates, technical support and the possibility of downloading previous versions and the license itself. You are also offered the option to extend this support period. Hendrik Christ, product manager at TreeSize, assured that the company does not plan to stop selling perpetual licenses for the personal version of the software.
As perpetual license maintenance periods expire, customers are facing the reality that extending support now often requires signing up for a subscription to a program they already have the right to use.
On Reddit, a user shared an email they received, which informed them about the end of support for their perpetual license in September. The statement warned that, after that date, access to updates and assistance would be lost, as such benefits “are only available upon subscription.”
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Christ explained to Ars Technica that given “current economic conditions,” the move became “necessary to continue developing and supporting TreeSize reliably over the long term.”
One of the biggest criticisms leveled at JAM Software is its refusal to make backup installation files or license keys available to customers with unsupported licenses. The TreeSize email mentioned by the user recommended that he make backups of the software.
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“I honestly think it’s very despicable to deprive paying customers of the ability to simply download the installer for a software version they’ve already paid for,” said one Reddit user.
Even before the introduction of subscription models for TreeSize, Christ stated that JAM Software did not permanently retain all installation files and keys after the end of the customer support period. This is justified because, according to him, “old versions of software may contain known bugs or even security vulnerabilities.”
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He added that “making these files available for download indefinitely and without restrictions is something we consider a risk to our customers, particularly in corporate environments.” Additionally, Christ mentioned the technical and organizational costs involved in the ongoing maintenance and support of older versions and their respective keys.
Although TreeSize claims this is a long-standing policy, the negative reaction from users highlights a clear discrepancy between the expectations when purchasing a “perpetual license” and the reality faced when a software vendor moves its business model to subscriptions.
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To ensure customers aren’t surprised, Christ said the company “proactively notifies customers via email well before the end of the maintenance period to back up their installation file and license key.” The goal is “to ensure that no one loses access to the software they have already purchased.”
There is also the question of considering whether it is really worth subscribing to a disk space analysis service, especially when there are free and effective alternatives available, such as WinDirStat.
Christ admitted the change has been “frustrating for some customers.” When asked about refund requests received online, he stated: “As our customers receive what was agreed upon, i.e. indefinite use of the version of the software they purchased, we do not consider a refund to be justified.”
There is a free version of TreeSize, however, it does not include certain features such as searching for duplicate files, removing redundant items and comparing disk space usage over time. This version is not recommended for commercial use.
TreeSize’s trajectory reflects the rise of the subscription economy, with the software industry increasingly seeking recurring revenue. Over the past decade, software vendors have turned to the subscription model in search of more predictable and stable revenue streams.
In TreeSize’s case, JAM Software aimed to “continue offering our customers a relevant, well-maintained product over the long term,” in Christ’s words.
He concluded by explaining that “the overall economic landscape is more challenging today than it was a few years ago, and we as software providers feel it too.” To continue meeting its own standards and responsibility to corporate customers who depend on high-quality software, the company prioritizes predictability in development and support. “A subscription model gives us that predictability in a way that one-time purchases cannot,” concluded Christ.
