Yes, that is true. I forgot to mentione it. However, there is a student version where designs are private. It does not have subD cap.
I went ahead and bought it ( 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers) and if you copy the BLACKFRIDAY50OFF code you get it for $24 USD just like it says. And my subscription is good for a full year too so you donāt need to worry about that. When it renews a year from now you can cancel within 5 days of that renewal which will be $48 USD. So it seems like itās worth a shot. You cannot use it for commercial purposes but it looks like you can use it if you make no more than $2000 a year with it. I downloaded the desktop version but I did run the cloud verification, it failed, but I installed it anyways and it is working just fine as I am not using the cloud. 
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ā¦ and most likely next year the sale would come backā¦
Possiblyā¦ It is also possible that the sale would only be available to new users, not renewing users. The other issue is that as it has been shown time and time again with other companies, once they have you locked in to using a cloud service the price goes up.
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LOL, that a streetwise smart marketing approach, a relatively good-ish sales pitch, and it might do the trick of convincing some to buy licensesā¦ but, as Iāve already mentioned, Iām old school: when I buy something I want to have it under my complete control. So no cloud stuff, no yearly license fee, nothing beyond acquisition price. And when I pay, the software becomes mine for ever. No dirty tricks, no hidden costs, no smartass stuff. And I also expect lifetime support. Can you deliver that?.. Guess not, cus otherwise youāll be facing a severe drop of revenuesā¦
Good for you, buddy.
That means all your stuff is (designs, makes, everything youāll create with their software will be held -and very likely viewed and stored -) on someone elseās computer. Also your softwareā¦ oh wait, itās not your software as itās hosted by them, so not only they have control over the software but also they have control over your work. And on top of all this, youāre paying them (monthly or yearly) to do exactly thatā¦ I must say, itās indeed a very smart moveā¦ from your perspectiveā¦ My perspective is a bit (more) different., but then again, we might be seeing things differently, so that could explain it. Anyways, good luck with the newly acquired license for something you donāt actually own and control.
Cheers, buddy.
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Like I said I did not choose the cloud version and have the desktop version and I can save my files to my pc. And I can cancel within 5 days of the renewal if they play any games on the price etc that I donāt like. I also have other CAD software so I can not be held hostage by them and I can import my saved files into my other software if needed for whatever reason. 
Who knows, I may not even like it but I am only out $24 USD and I can afford that.
That said, I have always been in the same boat as far as buying software that I can pay once, keep forever, and own it without limitations. But now I am older and still find the best deals possible to get what I need or think that I need, and typically avoid subscriptions like the plague. I currently only have 2 subscriptions and they are both CAD software.
Note: Neutral 3D file formats, such as .stp or .iges can be opened on any platform.
Note 2: Yes, even if you āsave locallyā in Solidworks for Makers, your files are still stored online in the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform, meaning your local save is essentially a copy of the cloud-based file; the default behavior is to save to the cloud, and you need to specifically choose the āSave to This PCā option to save solely on your local machine.
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All of that for $24? What software do you own that offers all that?
You can save files on the local drive if you wish. No need to sync them to the cloud.
What software Iāve bought, I own. The price isnāt the issue here. Ownership is. The principle is simple: you sell me something, and if i accept to buy, once Iāve paid your price, that something is mine to do whatever I want
Yep, I already knew that but thanks for verifying for the others reading this thread. 
There is always the option of buying SW as a perpetual commercial license. You own it for life! But you need $4000 for the standard license.
I didnāt said I accept your price. Price might not necessarily be an issue, but also on my forehead it aināt written stupid.
Payware, especially if it only works online is about as great as all those āfreeā apps and games in the stores for our mobile devices.
Sadly money is made best in big amounts, so end users like we are will always fall behind or be pushed out of the game.
For me the game was already over when I realised that there isnāt much left out there we can use that keeps your privacy intact while also leaving the rights for your creations in your handsā¦
Iām still using SW 2017 Premium which I paid about $10K+. The problem is their retroactive upgrading price policy. You have to pay full price for each version you skipped.
For me to upgrade to 2025 version now, I would have to pay $70k for 7 years that I didnāt upgrade, plus $10k for current version, $80k total. SW dealer has offered me a ādealā, which is $20k for retroactive upgrade + $10k+ (for current Premium version price). The deal saves me $50k! Greed at its finest!
SW itself is an excellent CAD, an overkill for hobbyists. But $24/year Maker version is a good way to learn and understand the power of parametric modeling. All 3D modeling software uses the same modeling fundamentals. Once you understand the fundamentals, itās easier to switch to a different software.
Keep in mind that files saved by Maker version is not compatible with standard version.
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Better buy a new seat instead of paying retroactive subs. Does not make sense what they offered you.
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I donāt know that is feasible with license ties to a commercial entity. Ether ways, the retroactive upgrade pricing is just pure greed.
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If you are a veteran you can get Solidworks for $20 a year. Iāve been using it for 4 years now.
When will new coupons be available?
try this:
https://www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-makers/makerspaces-offer
Disclaimer: I have not tested the link above.
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