Feedback:
I really appreciate the intent in creating the Hobby plan, but the inability to go back and edit previously created files after it’s cycled out (10) is too crippled to be realistically useful except for learning, or as a toy.
As it is, the Hobby plan is pretty much only for creating disposable models. That seems like “Free” tier level functionality (or maybe $50/year) from my perspective
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Even a hobby game project has to be able to adjust assets later… (sometimes a year or more later!
).
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The old pro level ($240/year in advance) felt expensive (to me) for a hobby project, but the app is so amazing that I was going to do it for a year and see if I was really as productive in Shapr3d as it seems like I would be.
Now, at $499/year (2x the price!), it’s pretty hard to justify for a hobby (probably impossible). That’s ~ half the price of an iPad Pro to use it on, every single year…. (or the price of a 3d printer).
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Here’s what I’d like for the Hobby (or better yet, an “Indie”) tier:
allowed Import:
- image formats
- SHAPR files
allowed Exports:
- STL → (high quality) support 3d printing use-cases
- OBJ (with colors) → support hobby game asset creation
- USDZ → support Apple AR model creation.
- SHAPR files → support editing later, evolution to higher tier.
(I don’t actually need USDZ currently, but I can see that being advantageous for Apple AR folks).
This would make it usable for hobby level without loss of fidelity, retain the ability to edit models later and evolve into a higher tier (without having to remake all your models), but remove the professional CAD export/import formats.
If that’s too much functionality from your more informed perspective, perhaps consider this functionality in a pricing model closer to that of Unity3d which is free for personal use (defined to be “revenue or funding less than $100K in the last 12 months.” Powerful 2D, 3D, VR, & AR software for cross-platform development of games and mobile apps.).
Or the new “Hobby” level price having the functionality I list above but having a similar to unity3d limit on revenue or funding so that it’s an “Indie” level.
Even Unity’s full-featured Plus level is only $399/year, and there is a lot of functionality in Unity3d (so it’s a reasonable comparison).
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There’s such a range of uses from “learning”, “hobby”, “small business”, “medium business”, “large business” and the value that a user receives (and the income they can generate using the software) varies so much across that spectrum that I can see that it’s quite challenging to find pricing that works for everyone well.
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As a would-be hobby project user, the new Hobby price is great since it’s easier to justify for a hobby, but the configuration is too crippled to make sense (disposable models? ugh). Can’t back up our files and restore them? Plus Indie/small business will now have to pay 2x and many a hobbyist dreams of becoming an Indie someday… 
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Even having not yet actually used Shapr3d and only having just finished watching all your excellent 40+ training videos – I can say that Shapr3d looks like an amazing app. Congratulations.
That’s my feedback. Thanks for reading.