# What is a one time purchase?

> A one time purchase means you pay once and keep the app, with no monthly fee. Learn how it differs from a subscription and what NotchStar's $4 covers.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/one-time-purchase/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

A one time purchase means you pay once and keep using the app, with no monthly or yearly fee. It is the opposite of a [subscription](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/subscription/).

## Why it matters

The total cost is known on day one. For a small utility that does one job, many people prefer paying once to adding another monthly charge. The trade is that a one time price has to cover all future work the developer does on that version.

## What NotchStar's purchase covers

NotchStar costs $4 once. One [license key](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/license-key/) works on up to three of your Macs, does not expire and needs no account. There is a 7 day [free trial](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/free-trial/) and a 7 day [refund window](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/refund-window/). Prices as of 4 November 2026.

## What it does not promise

A one time price does not mean free updates for ever, and it is not a lifetime guarantee that every future feature is included. NotchStar has no automatic updater in version 1.0: you download a new version from the site and drag it over the old one, and your settings and license carry over.

## Related

Other notch apps use other models, and the guide on [one time purchase Mac notch apps](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/best-one-time-purchase-mac-notch-apps/) lists them with dates and sources. See what you get in the [Clipboard tool](https://www.notchstar.com/features/clipboard/).

## Keep reading.

- [What is a software subscription?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/subscription/): A subscription charges you on a repeating schedule, usually monthly or yearly, to keep using an app. Learn how it differs from paying once.
- [What is a license key?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/license-key/): A license key is a code that proves you bought an app. Learn how NotchStar's key works, how many Macs it covers and what happens offline.
- [What is a refund window?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/refund-window/): A refund window is the number of days after buying when you can ask for your money back. Learn how NotchStar's 7 day window works and how to ask.
- [Mac notch apps you can buy once, with no subscription, priced](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/best-one-time-purchase-mac-notch-apps/): Which Mac notch apps cost one payment instead of a subscription? Prices, Mac counts, trials and macOS versions from official pages, checked 4 November 2026.
- [Clipboard history that lives in your notch](https://www.notchstar.com/features/clipboard/): Searchable clipboard history in the Mac notch: text, links, images and files. Skips password manager copies. Click any item to copy it again.

## More in Buying and licenses.

- [What is a license key?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/license-key/): A license key is a code that proves you bought an app. Learn how NotchStar's key works, how many Macs it covers and what happens offline.
- [What is a free trial?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/free-trial/): A free trial lets you use an app in full for a set time before you pay. Learn how NotchStar's 7 day trial starts, what ends it and what happens to your data.
- [What is a software subscription?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/subscription/): A subscription charges you on a repeating schedule, usually monthly or yearly, to keep using an app. Learn how it differs from paying once.
- [What is a refund window?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/refund-window/): A refund window is the number of days after buying when you can ask for your money back. Learn how NotchStar's 7 day window works and how to ask.
- [What is a merchant of record?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/merchant-of-record/): A merchant of record is the company that legally sells to you and takes responsibility for the sale, including tax. See why NotchStar uses Dodo Payments.