1Password, 1Password Pro - What's The Difference?
June 22, 2009
The difference between 1Password and 1Password Pro isn't very apparent, at least right now. 1Password costs $4.99 and features all of the great password and content storing features you have come to expect from Agile Web Solutions' rock solid software. 1Password Pro costs $5.99 and contains exactly the same features as the regular version with the only additions being an easy switching mode that allows you to quickly copy-and-paste usernames and passwords to Mobile Safari and a quick copy to clipboard option. This certainly doesn't seem like enough to warrant another $5.99 if you already own the regular version, and many customers have agreed by sounding off on the companies' blog.
According to the developer all of the confusion stems from an issue with Apple's approval process. Agile Web Solutions fully intended to update the regular version of 1Password with some of these new features through a free update. They even submitted this update "2-3 weeks before WWDC," but apparently the update got stuck in the approval process. Since they received no response from Apple, they decided to submit the Pro version of the app that they had been working on without some of its key features just so they would have a 3.0 compatible app available.
Since this isn't the 1Password Pro they intended it to be, Agile Web Solutions introduced the app at $5.99 to allow customers to get on board early. The price should remain at $5.99 until the first major feature upgrade, which will include organization tools like folders and favorites, syncing over-the-air with MobileMe and WebDAV, etc. At that time, the price will be raised to $14.99 and the app should no longer be confused with its "regular" counterpart.
So, in the end, Apple's approval process got in the way of Agile Web Solutions' plans and they had to make a last minute decision. From their perspective, it seemed like the best possible way to avoid not having a 3.0 compatible app in the App Store. The result of this issue make 1Password Pro a better deal for you, the consumer, since they are deeply discounting the price of the app because of their unique situation.
If you would like to get the full scoop from the co-founder of Agile Web Solutions, Dave Teare, you can check out the comments he has made in the companies' blog.
