Licensing
Big Picture Money uses a perpetual license model. You buy the software once and keep it forever. Optional Connected Services add hosted features like Plaid bank sync and multi-device sync when that add-on ships.
What you get
| Promise | Detail |
|---|---|
| Buy once. Own it forever. | No subscription is required to keep using the software you purchased |
| License never expires | Your edition remains usable indefinitely |
| Updates for your edition year | Every purchase includes all updates released for that calendar year |
| Your data stays yours | Fully accessible regardless of upgrade or Connected Services subscription |
| Offline after activation | One-time online activation; no periodic license checks |
Big Picture Money (perpetual license)
- $35 one-time purchase for the current yearly edition
- Works completely offline after activation
- No account required to use the software
- Optional third-party services (such as SimpleFIN) are connected directly by you
- No time-limited trial — the app requires a valid license. Purchases include a 60-day money-back guarantee instead.
Connected Services (optional subscription — coming soon)
- $79/year optional add-on on top of your Big Picture Money license — not a separate software purchase
- Adds Big Picture-hosted services: managed bank sync (Plaid), encrypted cloud backup, multi-device sync, managed AI access, and the mobile companion
- No committed release date yet — features are planned; see pricing for current status
- Cancel any time: the desktop app and all local data continue to work without Connected Services
- Same 60-day money-back guarantee as the software license and future add-ons
Yearly edition upgrades
- $25 optional upgrade to a newer yearly edition when you choose
- You may stay on your purchased edition forever
Activation
After purchase you receive a license file (license.bp) by email. Import it in the app and complete an online activation for each data file you use. After that file is activated on this computer, later unlocks of the same file do not need another online license check.
See Onboarding for how licensing fits the first-run sequence, and:
- Purchase Big Picture Money
- Activate your license
- Upgrade your license (optional $25 edition upgrade)
Connected Services subscribe steps will ship with that add-on; until then see pricing.
Devices
Each license supports up to 5 active devices. Manage activations on the website My Devices page. See Manage your devices.