What is the longest license time period you consider?

I am curious to hear from people regarding the longest license time periods they are comfortable purchasing for an anti-virus or anti-malware product. I see some people on this and other forums who buy licenses that last five and even more years. The longest license I have ever been comfortable buying is two years. It always seems like something goes wrong with the product on my computer, or the company sells to someone else or goes bankrupt, or I just get tired of it and switch to something else. Buying a long license doesn't seem to be such a great value in those cases.

So, I am wondering what is the longest license you ever had or the longest you would be comfortable purchasing?

Also, I am not counting life time licenses that one can sometimes get on a ridiculous deal or as a giveaway. I have two lifetime MBAM licenses that I think I got for $25 a piece a few years back. Of course, I am not running those in real time at the moment given MBAM's problems ... sort of proving the point of my question in the first place. What good is a lifetime license if the product goes downhill enough that you don't want to use it.

Thanks!

 

I have a 7 PC license for NOD32 valid until 2020 and a 15 PC License for Emsisoft Anti-Malware valid until 2030

I only buy licenses for products that I have tested extensively and know I want to stick with.

The more years you buy, the cheaper it is on the long run

This is my Emsisoft License Page Still gotta install it for other family members though

 

OMG that must have been one chunk of change for 15x 14yr licenses.

 

when you renew in advance, you get 60% off, couldn't resist seeing that 2030 validity date

 

I only buy lifetime licenses.

 

No more than 2 years.

 

what AV offers lifetime license? I have an MBAM lifetime license but that's not an AV

 

Same here, usually. I don't like extended trials.

 

2030 seems like a risk to me. What are the odds that a technology company will still be in business in 2030? I say that being a current holder of two Emsisoft licenses ... both one year.

 

you're right, I kinda get a bit excited. Let's just hope for the best

 

I wouldn't be surprised if security software in 2030 becomes radically different to the methods employed today.

 

I don't buy AVs, but long time ago I bought a lifetime license for MBAM.

 

Wow I wish I was in your family lol!

I think the longest deal I ever did was for ESET for a four year license. This was many years ago and I got a great deal back then.

 

Lifetime for mbam

 

I purchased lifetime licenses for Malwarebytes and Outpost Security Suite. I still use Malwarebytes, but only used Outpost very briefly, because it slowed down my computer. Any other licenses that I've purchased have been 12 month ones. I generally prefer to use free software.

 

For me it's two, maximum three years.

 

same here but only if the lifetime include all updates of the soft , if lifetime is just based on a specific version like v1.x.x.x.x only and stop at v2 , i wont buy it.

 

I only use free products.
If one day I had to use a paid software, I'd prefer to purchase a lifetime license

 

Been with bitdefender since 2014 and I have another 2-year 3 pc key waiting when this subscription runs out in 99 days.

I pick them up from eBay next to nothing.

MBAM I have four Lifetime licenses been with them since version 1.

 

3 years for Avira, I trust them, and the price for 3 devices was unbeatable... When I joined Wilders I use to spend considerable amounts of money on security which in hindsight was a bit of a waste although I've always wanted to support the security industry. I'm planning to buy two licenses of Macrium Reflect but no more anti-malware licenses...

 

I sell solutions and I would only recommend 2 years. You get a discount, and you get to re-evaluate whether:

a. the product continues to offer the protection you need
b. the product still matches your usage pattern

For example - you used to be able to upgrade your product at any time with ESET - now their US operations will only allow us resellers to do that at a renewal window. We used to be able to renew/upgrade at any time - now we are forced to doing it in the +60 > -60 day window without getting a custom quote done. So if ESET MultiDevice is a better product for you because they launched it, and it wasn't available at last renewal, I can't get you into that product at renewal/upgrade prices, unless we're in the window. So - buying a 3+ year license might cause you upgrade issues if that's the direction you want to go.

Policies change - your usage profile changes - products change. That's why I find 2 year deals to be that 'sweet spot' for the products we sell most of.

 

Lifetime opfw and mbam here.

Only really had year licenses otherwise.

Not many companies do good value multi year licences.

 

I second that!

 

I like this observation. Besides, if you're someone who dumps a software with the slightest provocation, well that extra one year's time enables you to go back if you change your mind and you're still slightly ahead than if you'd purchased a single year license at full retail. By the way, a year is the longest I'd consider, I know it's frittering money away but I have no patience....

 

same here. but that exclude nearly all current antivirus products for sure (which i dont user for years now)
sandboxie and malwarebytes to name