Is such a shame that Steinberg asks for 100 euros for each update…from me and aswell for thousands of users all over the world who ve been paying for cubase from the 5.0 version…If i calculate the total amount spent ….is more than 2000 euros total spent till now…Why Logic respects their users?if you buy Logic (which is alot more cheaper and more affordable), you can update anytime free to the newest version…Is inadmisible to ask at 2 -3 years to buy the software again and again at the full price….This politic is dirty and disgusting… I think to end this nightmare and to migrate to Logic…Is not likely to see this treatment…
Hi and welcome to the forum,
If you buy Logic, you make some kind of commitment, you want to use Apple products. Apple is not selling software, Apple is selling hardware. That means, by buying Logic, you sent an information, you will most probably buy another Apple product in the future. And the product will probably cost more than 2000€.
Apple is selling Logic to sell the hardware. I’m telling this as a big Apple fan.
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For a 15 year period (wasn’t it in around 2008-9 that CB5 was introduced), I guess it will be much much more.
I’m too. I do like New York for sure 
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15 x 100 = 1500? Less than 2000? Inflation notwithstanding. Less if you bought in the summer sale.
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Sorry, I don’t understand the quote. I was saying that in 15 year period, the money one would spend on buying Macs would be much much more.
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So you are complaining about a voluntary upgrade price of 100 for something you got to use for 25 years? Did you want Steinberg employees to work for free for you to get free upgrades?
Apple makes their money selling hardware, Steinberg doesn’t. When you buy Macs your Logic is tied to an OS that is tied to hardware. Every now and then Apple basically “flushes” their ecosystem of old stuff and then you’re stuck buying a new computer IF you want the latest software to run. The same has not been true for Steinberg for the vast part of the past quarter century.
“Don’t let the door hit you…”
&
I’m sure you’ll find something unfair about the Apple ecosystem. Just give it time.
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Sometime I get confused. Senior moments… 
I thought you were talking about the total cost of upgrading Cubase. Doh!
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No problem, actually it got me to clarify this
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I bet so too
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Why use Logic when you can use GarageBand for free
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I can’t buy Logic. I’m a Windows user. From what I just looked at, a new Mac Pro starts at $6999. Hmmm … I think there is a reason Logic is “cheap”.
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Lol. How do you think Steinberg pays for its engineering? No, it’s no “exposure”!
Apple can subsidise its software product by ripping you off in other ways…
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Logic only works with a very expensive dongle (An Apple PC).
I consider buying one from time to time, then it’s evident that none of my hardware will work with the thing. I’d have to buy at least 4k worth of stuff (Namely Audio Interfaces, but sometimes everything else too…Monitors/keyboards/mice/storage media/etc) to replace perfectly good stuff I already have.
So, after a bit of pondering that I can easily replace stuff ‘myself’ that goes bad, or even upgrade things among high end enterprise class Intel/AMD motherboards and CPUs, and keep using pretty much everything else in the studio (sometimes even stuff like RAM and storage devices), I keep passing on the Apple ecosystem.
If it were my first purchase out of the gate, things might be different, and I might buy a Mac. It’s hard to justify now. Apple has terrible legacy support. None of my gear has ‘drivers’ for the new Apple Silicon. It’s still great hardware tho’…
As for upgrade fees…everything else decent out there that is multi-platform and so feature packed ALSO charges…either for upgrades, or ‘subscriptions’.
Depending on what you need/want your software to do, there are pros and cons with all of the different commercial options out there. In 2025, it’s more affordable than ever before to build a very capable music workstation.
One of the biggest issues with Apple, is every so often they totally break legacy support. They make it impossible to use existing gear. By the time they finally get half the bugs out of the ‘supported gear’, it’s obsolete and you get notices that the next OS is yanking support for all system drivers before blah date. So the stuff you paid a fortune for, and never got working at 100% of what was promised is now a ‘brick’ if you wish to ‘upgrade’ the OS and host machine.
If you can afford the ‘out with the old and replace EVERYTHING’ approach every 6 to 10 years. Go for it. Macs are pretty cool if you can afford them.
If you’d like to still be able to plug almost any PC peripheral ever made into your system, even ANICNET stuff, and it still work, you’ll want to keep a bog standard PC or two in the studio…and those cannot run 'Logic".
It costs me more keeping my piano, guitars, and other acoustical instruments maintained than it does to upgrade some software from time to time. Some years I skip about half my software upgrades (don’t need or want it that bad), but the versions I have still work fine.
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So in short its a never ending debate, how do I survive to make tools that you can use to earn a living and survive.
That its why corporations have clear defined rules policies and goals.
it’s a constant balance.
I can summarise the gist of all the arguments ever presented here on this forum.
My own understanding is this
To survive and thrive in any system, clear structures and goals are crucial, whether for individuals or corporations. Policies and guidelines provide direction, consistency, and a framework for achieving those goals while ensuring fairness and accountability.
So this is the gist of all the arguments posted above.
Apple’s Ecosystem Model:
Apple locks Logic Pro to its hardware because its business strategy is centered on selling premium hardware. By offering free upgrades for Logic Pro, Apple adds significant value to its ecosystem, encouraging users to stay within their product lineup (Mac, iPad, etc.). This approach enhances customer loyalty but ties the software to their hardware, which might feel restrictive for some.
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Steinberg’s Pay-per-Upgrade Model:
Steinberg, as a software-first company, generates revenue directly from its software. Charging for upgrades allows them to fund development, ensure sustainability, and cater to a broader range of hardware setups. While the cost of upgrades can be a barrier, this approach offers more flexibility since users aren’t tied to a specific hardware brand.
Both approaches have their pros and cons:
• Apple’s strategy: Great for those already invested in the Apple ecosystem, but not ideal for users who prefer cross-platform flexibility.
• Steinberg’s strategy: Provides independence from hardware but adds a financial burden with recurring upgrade fees.
Users are often drawn to free or low-cost options, especially when major players like Apple provide high-value tools for free (within their ecosystem). However, companies like Steinberg can’t adopt the same model without significant challenges because their business models are fundamentally different. Here’s why:
1. Apple’s Advantage: The Ecosystem Model
• Revenue from Hardware: Apple’s primary revenue comes from selling hardware (Macs, iPads, etc.), not software. By offering free Logic Pro upgrades, Apple strengthens the appeal of its hardware ecosystem.
• Economies of Scale: Apple can afford to offer software for free because their hardware sales subsidize the cost.
2. Steinberg’s Reality: Software-First Business
• No Hardware Subsidy: Steinberg doesn’t sell hardware at a premium like Apple. Its revenue comes almost exclusively from software sales. Offering free upgrades would cut directly into their profitability.
• Development Costs: Professional-grade tools like Cubase or Nuendo require significant resources for updates, testing, and support. Charging for upgrades ensures these costs are covered.
The Users Perspective
Users naturally compare offerings, but it’s crucial to communicate value clearly:
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For Apple users: Logic is a great free tool, but it’s tied to Apple hardware. If you’re not part of the Apple ecosystem, it’s not an option.
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For Steinberg users: Steinberg provides cross-platform flexibility, specialized features, and consistent updates. This is what the upgrade fee covers—freedom and innovation beyond a single ecosystem.
It you like Apples model, stick to Logic
It you like Cubase then help them keep giving you cutting edge tools so that you can earn and live your dreams.
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For the record, 2013 iMac running Open Core Legacy Patcher so I can run the current OS( Thanks Apple for bricking my system) Some things in Logic wont work of course since Im on Intel chips here.
That said, LOGIC just sits there. Cubase 14 and StudioOnePro7 rolling along. I cant be tied to the Apple OS when this system stops working.
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No…Were some updates like from 6 to 6.5 , 7 to 7.5….Logic doesnt asks users to pay for any single updates….why this not possible at steinberg?…because THEY DONT RESPECT their users and clients
Did you read any of the long list of answers you’ve got?
Your comparison is simply just a rant, far from reality.
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100 euros just for an update is WAY TOO MUCH…a full license of windows is lower than 100….and you say that is fair for a user who paid 400 euros at the start -for the full Pro version,to pay yearly 100 …and 100 ?Go ahead and invest yourself …
This is the next rant that makes no sense.
If this is too expensive for you pay your money for the expensive Apple hardware and your Logic software and be happy.
Every further discussion is useless here.
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Finale didn’t do paid upgrades for a long time there. It didn’t take long for them to run out of funds for doing even the most basic of updates (security and compatibility for newer OSes and plugins). It got to the point that simply keeping the servers going to register the product ‘as is’ became a money losing proposition. Finale is going defunct as a product.
All business models require a revenue stream…it’s that simple.
Finding the balancing point between the greed of investors, and ‘value to consumers’ isn’t easy. Software developers are going to charge as much as people are willing to pay, and they should!
Each ‘upgrade’ provides more features, supports more new system architectures and devices, adds or improves more plugins, instruments, and content libraries.
If all we got were security upgrades, and the ability to run on the latest OSes, then yeah, 100euros a pop might be a bit much…but Steinberg is always packing more into the product than the basics required to keep the software running, 100 seems fair to me. It’s in line with what their competitors are doing.
Apple is a little different for reasons this thread has more than driven home.
If I want the new stuff, I pay for it. If I don’t want or need it, I pass…
Unlike the OS, it’s not installed on darn near every computer sold. Boutique software and productivity suites are niche markets. It gets installed on a relatively small number of systems. If they have no steady revenue stream, they simply go out of business.
There are free options out there, and stuff that cost way less than Cubase Pro. They have a lot of potential to make awesome music.
Thing is, they won’t be very good out of the box though…it’ll take 5 times the ‘work’ to get top notch results. If the budget is a problem…it’s still a valid option for many. You can make real music with free software. Give it a try.
If all you need is a MIDI controller keyboard and one or two audio inputs/outputs, by all means, a Mac with Logic may well be all you need, and a good little investment. Trolling software developers about it won’t change anything. Houses like Steinberg need revenue streams, or they go broke.
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