Hmm… This sentence carries a lot of significance. Perhaps it would be better to leave the app as it is and focus your creative energy on something truly meaningful to you. Every project thrives on commitment as its foundation. Try pursuing what you genuinely love, so it feels fulfilling rather than burdensome.
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@Albertkinng I appreciate this, it’s refreshing to have someone worry about our well being and mental state 
but to be clear that is quite specific to the cosmetics shop and the work involved in pumping out more collectibles at an exciting rate.
I rely on Clear myself for daily planning, without a system like this a lot of things fall through the cracks in my life and I feel like I get a lot less done just planning on the fly. So I think that’s probably why it’s a project I’ve found satisfying to work on for something like 8 years+ between 1.x and 2.x.
@r1y3 it would be a handful of premium collectibles that rotate each month, so yes they would ‘disappear’. There’s probably some wiggle room on how strict we are there, e.g. it’s probably OK to let people keep using some past the end of the month, and it’s gone if they change it.
I could see us running end of the month shop days to feature them if anyone wants to pick up a favorite permanently.
@tacogy3 the Pro offerings will grow over time. Sync / Clear Web when ready and Shortcuts support is also in development. Definitely expecting some fence sitters who are eventually converted when sync is added, or perhaps X other feature.
There was a separate question earlier about why sync is shipping separately and later. Ideally we probably would prefer to launch membership with sync / web ready, but each time we tackle sync it always turns into a months longer project than anticipated, and I expect the TestFlight phase to take some real time as well. Really want the syncing to feel quite reliable and sound when it ships.
So it just started to become pretty high stakes and stressful to attach our business pivot to this.
Of course if anyone here is interested in membership, but basically only for sync, I absolutely recommend you wait until it is ready.
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I’m sold! That’s a good price! No pressure to deliver “stuff”. When you enjoy building, the result is enjoyable for the users.
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Is there a reason you need to build sync in separately instead of relying on iCloud like several other apps do? Not sure exactly how that works since I’m not a developer myself.
I’ll be honest with you, this just feels like more and more of the same thing I’ve complained to you about over the last year with things like the gesture changes, the animation changes, and the eventual “Clear X,” it still feels like you are innovating just to innovate and adding bloat to what was an elegant and simple app. You’re overtuning things and finding and “fixing” problems that aren’t there. Other than the few things folks were looking forward to that you promised were coming (sync, web app, Apple Watch, etc) that will now be paid for, Clear felt complete, yet you kept poking and prodding at it.
I love Clear, and while I don’t use it as much since the animation change and won’t be recommending it to folks after so many great features get locked behind a subscription, I’m really appreciative of you and the team and the work they put in to build this app that has genuinely made my life so much better. That being said, sometimes things can just be what they are and it’s okay to move on and make something else. Instead you’re continuing muddying up a wonderful, useful app and driving users away.
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25 usd per year sounds much better!
thank you and your team for offering Clear all these years. you cant imagine how lost i am with the native Reminders app since your mac app has gone…
I hope we will be able to view the lists side by side on a web window and be able to drag tasks between them just like on your mac app. please say yes!
last question, when will it be out?
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I love Clear and use it everyday, I’ve paid for lots of the extras, themes, sounds etc and think it’s good for the money but looking at what you might get for the paid premium it’s not much more than we already get now. I’d be more than happy to pay for the option to sync my Clear between devices but as for the other stuff, I personally don’t think it’s worth what might be the yearly cost.
For how much I use Clear I’d happily pay a yearly subscription for the option to sync but not for the other options listed above, sorry.
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I am more than willing to pay for a fully functioning Clear app that can reliably sync between my phone, iPad, Mac & watch. I care less about the store stock or changing themes and prefer having greater functionality like the ability to sort lists or designating repeating tasks, I want to be able to use use Clear for productivity and not just simple list making.
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At this point, I believe it should be a separate app: Clear 2.0 offering the same features plus sync, but as a subscription-only model. This way, users who want to upgrade will need to download the new version. Many others have taken a similar approach.
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I personally don’t have a problem with the subscription model, I will gladly pay it for an app that I consider necessary. I’ve purchased a few icons and fewer themes, and maybe a sound package. As a side note, as a colorblind guy I don’t see a lot of difference in a LOT of the themes, so I found one I like and haven’t changed it. I LOVE Clear, and as others have noted, its simplicity is its beauty. For me, it is a tool, but a very good tool. It serves a very important purpose in my life. But, I don’t go to the app to have fun. It feels like it’s going in more a direction of Snapchat or TikTok, trying to be fun and exciting and cutesy. I really don’t want that, and going forward if functionality suffers because of this I’m out. I don’t feel like some of the biggest requests have been addressed, opting instead for more themes or functions no one has asked for. I still want a way for items to stay where they are in the list once they are marked completed. Personally I’d rather see less time spent on themes/icons/sounds and more put into the big requests. Why not a once a month release of a new theme etc? Anyway, I LOVE Clear and will continue to use it as long as it doesn’t get too bloated
As for me, I appreciate the hard work and openness of these guys, I want to thank the Clear team for this. I’m also one of the old Clear users back in 2012, how fast time flies. Clear is the number one application on my phone, I log in to it a dozen or even a hundred times a day. And I wouldn’t really want it to fail, and be closed as a project. Desiring only prosperity. As for subscriptions, I’m not a fan of subscriptions, I have very few of them, but I’m always ready to support Clear, as I mentioned earlier is the number one application on my phone. I also spent a lot on cosmetics, icons, themes, etc. and the fact that the model of the store did not really justify itself, I can also understand this, and I will agree who has already mentioned it above, that in the store for the last six months or more, there is nothing new at all, personally I just had nothing to buy. In any case, you can discuss it here for a long time, in the end, if you sum up, in any case, I will subscribe to Pro.
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@rgspb I do think there will be better alignment with Pro if our business is tied to increasing Clear’s utility in a more rounded way. I mean, I consider ‘fun’ to have some utility too, but it’ll feel better having that be one piece of the Pro membership vs. the entire backbone of the business.
@Thomas10 that is totally cool, I expect many to hold off on membership until sync is ready and included. We’ll be basically 100% focused on shipping sync following initial Pro rollout.
@usermuser hmmm going to have to look into the drag and drop support for Clear Web. I imagine it’s possible but we haven’t implemented it or checked into it yet. There isn’t a built-in side by side view currently but you can of course set up separate smaller windows per list if you’d like.
We’re hoping to start some TestFlight for sync/Clear Web alpha pretty soon… like later next month hopefully? Will post in the forums recruiting testers. But I’m not sure how long the testing phase will last, obviously we want to test enough to feel confident in its robustness for shipping to everyone.
@Jaxson iCloud does make it way easier to just get it up and running but it then makes it very difficult to do things like Clear Web or future collab feature.
BTW I don’t entirely disagree with your complaint, and I feel this business model pivot will actually help correct for that by relieving pressure for like ‘exciting big updates’: Clear Pro (And Syncing) - #18 by phillryu
@alx_ras thanks man, I really enjoyed collaborating with you on some of the shop collectibles. I hope you are still loving Clear in 2038 
, another 13 years from now!
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New account here but longtime Clear user from back in the day - a few notes I wanted to bring into the discussion that I’ve seen mentioned a little but felt I could expand upon. Prefacing this by stating how appreciative I am that you have looked for community feedback regarding this great app for a while now and have been some of the most transparent (rimshot) developers I’ve seen, and have done great work with this app and others like Web Roulette.
I am hesitant to say I am strictly against subscription models - I do have several and not just for streaming and cloud services. I understand why they are appealing (if not downright necessary) to developers in the current industry climate, speaking as a non-developer outsider and user. My perspective on them is pretty simple: am I paying for continued use of a service, or am I paying for new content and services to be added?
As far as I understand it, the syncing is what drives the most costs - for servers, backend stuff, etc. It makes sense to have this behind a recurring paywall to prevent a situation similar to what you stated about the shop, where a lot of purchases are made initially and then slows up - if you have recurring server costs the math just won’t work out. This is pretty much the only feature I can see paying for, and having it be an optional purchase seems best. You can provide perks (like themes or icons) with it, but overall I don’t see how a subscription model fits the other aspects of this app.
Like other users have said, back in the day before these subscription models, developers would typically create an app, support it with mainly compatibility updates, and then make a 2.0 (or another app entirely) with all new stuff. From my understanding, the only times that the old app would really need to be worked on was during iOS updates or new device releases, to ensure that the app works with the latest software and hardware. In game terms, it’s like the original Angry Birds - it came out with a set of levels, people bought it for those, and then new levels were worked on and more apps released with these levels. The old app wasn’t updated to include them, and no user was mad - they paid for an app with a set amount of levels, and that’s what they got. They could buy the second version if they wanted more, and could always go back and replay the levels in the game they already bought. Not one where the expectation is that there would be constant content additions for no added price. There was still a yearly update or so for compatibility, but nothing new would be added. I’m not trying to diminish the work that compatibility entails, however, can you really put that cost to be multiple dollars/month, per user?
Frankly, I don’t see how To-Do apps and similar can justify the subscription model. If for whatever reason you could no longer update the app, it would still work until some big software update broke it, and I think most users would be happy with it in a stable state. Clear 1.0 was still loved and used on new devices prior to the 2.0 release, it kind of shows my point about not needing constant (or any) updates - and to me, unless I’m getting new, necessary content, I don’t see the value in paying a subscription. As it is, if I had to be disconnected from the internet for a year, ostensibly the app would still function perfectly fine with no updates to it - and in situations like that I don’t see how a subscription model is okay.
Again, much respect to you and the team for all you’ve done with this app throughout the years, just wanted to offer a perspective on subscriptions that I have not seen written out as much. I will still use the app and may even pay for a syncing solution especially if a Mac app gets made or other features like sharing lists with family and friends (another online/server-required feature, I know), but would be hesitant to recommend to anyone who didn’t already have it before a pricing scheme like this goes into effect.
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I found this app a few days ago and my concern isn’t a paid version (I’d buy it today), it’s the removal of gamification and novelty as core features. This app is an ADHD godsend with the updating store every 24 hours, earned rewards, and changing visuals. It’s a never ending hit of dopamine so it makes it fun to come back to the app. My brain ignores static to-do lists and reminders no matter how hard I try to keep them front and center. I will ignore a reminder that pops up every minute; It’s just how my brain is wired. ADHD brains struggle with static, predictable stimuli because they quickly become background noise.
A few days before finding Clear I had literally asked a friend if he could create a to do list widget that changed colors every few days so it’s a new input my brain processes and doesn’t glance over. Clear does all that and more for constant engagement and visual change. The quotes feature is so brilliant, sending fun facts instead of normal push notifications means I actually want to see what the quote says, which reminds me I have a to do list, which reminds me to go to the app. And if I get bored of those facts, I can pick new ones! Same thing with the store (I wonder what the theme is today? Omg what’s the font going to be?) and with the colors (my brain is ignoring red, I’ll make it different to change the input), and the app icon changing is something I haven’t seen before but it’s so genius, fun, and engaging. I have a mental screenshot of what my homepage looks like so any changes in the visuals automatically break that “sameness” in a way I can’t ignore (wait what’s that app?). Making the skins part of a monthly rotating package removes that daily novelty. Rewards aren’t enough since some are just impractical or don’t apply to how I use the app.
My heart sank when I saw the words “monthly themes” not “paid subscription”. I’ll pay anything for those features to remain unpredictable to the brain. It’s a crazy strong value prop over similar apps. I think you’re missing a targeted marketing / branding opportunity for neurodivergence. It’s why I picked this app and why I’d pay for it.
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Absolutely! I also liked working with you, it turns out that a whole year has already passed, and as if yesterday we talked and came up with something, and discussed. Maybe we’ll come up with something else, I’m always open. Clear - love!
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@signposthead syncing (and hopefully eventually collab) will definitely incur usage/server costs, but for us as an indie team, I do think it’s fair to also include ongoing development and support under the service umbrella if this is main revenue stream for Clear. E.g. the ‘fixed cost’ of the initial syncing infrastructure will likely be something like 2-3 man years of work involved and this needs to be paid for over time.
The paid sequels model you refer to worked better back in the day when there was still a relatively mainstream culture and market of purchasing paid apps, but this is pretty cratered today. (E.g. I would be really surprised if any new Angry Birds release followed that original model? And personally I would bet say, the next version of Things will abandon it as well, but will have to see there!)
And I do feel that tying Clear’s revenue too much to ‘big new versions’ will be unhealthy longterm for the minimalist core of the app.
But yeah from what you’ve shared so far, I would hold off and consider membership once sync at least is shipped.
@ColorYourList that’s cool you found it a few days ago! Curious what led you to find it?
I’m not diagnosed but I’ve always had a hunch I have at least some ADHD tendencies myself, and Clear’s design probably expressed it in its obsessions with removing friction, and enhancing the dopamine of the todo loop, etc.
That core will remain, but we mostly cannot commit to amount of energy that was focused on new collectibles early last year, more info in this post: Clear Pro (And Syncing) - #16 by phillryu
Clear will continue to be distinctly and uniquely fun compared to the competition, but I’m frankly excited to distribute some more of our energy this year to things like sync/collab and shoring up its longterm future. (Things that may really help introduce Clear’s fun to more people too.)
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Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I saw that you’re active on the thread which is why I made an account.
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My friend said programming the app I asked for was difficult so I searched for existing options. The bright colors and gradient icon caught my attention and when I started going through the features I nearly cried. It’s exactly the variability I need to actually pay attention to the lists.
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re: development and creativity for new themes and icons: is this something that can be automated by AI (prompt: design 100 icons for a dynamic to do list etc etc)? Or can you open it to third party “fan base” developers for crowd sourced creativity where you give credit? Or leave the store in place and allow users to sell their design packages and set up a revenue sharing model for purchases? Creates another revenue stream for you but not sure what it would cost to operate
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A month is too long for visual change impact. My brain has long tossed it out as irrelevant / repetitive stimuli. Will the monthly rotating themes be available for purchase so they remain permanent? And / or can you release enough themes / icons per month to allow for enough variability? If I collect a bank of 50 themes / icons / sounds / quotes with new ones monthly, I can probably swap through them often enough.
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Is it hard to program a “randomize” feature that either auto changes on a cadence (eg program the icon to swap out every X days using your existing themes?) or with a click changes elements (eg “roll the dice” for a new theme). My original thought was a widget that changed colors on some cadence - anything to unpredictably break up the “sameness” of the visuals
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I love quotes btw I hope you’re leaving those!
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Thanks for this news - mixed emotions from me!
I still use Clear 1.0 and the ancient Mac app on my laptop and desktop, and it’s my most used app to organise my life. I couldn’t organise my day without the syncing in my workflow. I manually update all apps on my iPhone via the App Store except Clear just to keep the old syncing version. I can’t enable auto update or id lose my working Clear.
If a desktop app was released compatible with the sync I would pay for it, the price wouldn’t matter, and I would update my phone Clear too, but unfortunately like others above, I don’t do any kind of subscriptions. I prefer pay once and own it, then pay for new releases if necessary.
List sharing doesn’t interest me either, it would be great if it could utilise iCloud like the retro Clear app I’m still using today
I’m still living the Clear dream!
Thank you
Hey Phill and team, many thanks for the update. As a user of Clear for over ten years I am totally supportive of the subscription model. Having over 85 separate lists there is no other app out there that has such a productive user interface and which I use numerous times EVERY day. If your business was not financially successful, allowing investment into further development, and your app disappeared it would be an absolute disaster for me and the many other Pro Users. I am 100% agreeable to paying a subscription for such a valuable app.
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@phillryu I would GLADLY pay $25 per year for a subscription, but Clear is useless to me if it can’t sync across my iphone and macbook like it used to. Bring that back, and you can take my money! BTW, I’ve been using clear for YEARS as well. If you want to run a business and make money, my suggestion is stop with all the bells and whistles and bring back the most basic feature of sync across phone/laptop. Themes and games and cosmetics are worthless if I can’t keep my lists connected across platforms. I thought you said that you were working on bringing this back a while ago? If you do, count on me to pay annually for the rest of my life!
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What about a one time fee (you can make it like 3-4 years worth of subscriptions) that also gets people a lifetime subscription.
Also the sync feature - is it as important as people are making it out to be? Like is the added cost to support the back end of syncing worth it to be able to charge a subscription fee?
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