I am often reminded how much I hate the subscription model that is everywhere now. Subscribe for content, for software, for services...

I understand the reasons for it:

-The service provider wants consistent, regular, predictable income.

-Too much friction in micropayments

But it is hugely disadvantageous, costly and inefficient for the consumer. It can very easy for providers to abuse the automatic payments to increase fees, force upgrades, plan obsolescence, farm data, upsell premium services... and in general have more control over the product or service than the user who is paying for it. Not to mention that a standing relationship requires a contract and that's a perfect opportunity to push abusive and unreadable TOS.

Managing dozens or scores of subscriptions also has a mental cost. I would argue that a higher mental cost and more long term friction than making a series of one-off payment decisions.

Zaps show what is possible for micropayments. Easy, fast, one-click payments.

There is more we can do with this tech: paywalls, streaming, quick-sales, pay-for-update, invoicing, zapvertising...

We are just getting started.