Thrive Themes was Acquired... My thoughts 

Totally agree with you about the pricing. I am not going to build a website on an achitecture that lures me in at $299/year, but then renews at $599/year. Knowing that it a huge ordeal to have to rebuild your website on a different platform if you don't want to pay the higher price. You're right, this is very manipulative. And is typical of sleazy businesses. I use a LOT of SaaS software. This kind of pricing is a big RED FLAG.

It way worse. Never buy thrive themes. They now disable you content if you don't renew. Today I gave them support access. Within an hour the entire site was destroyed and the admin user and all pages gone. Then they tried to gaslight me saying they had not touched a thing. Unreal.

Wow! Such a great analysis of 'what's wrong with many tech companies'. They become 'feature creatures'. Always rolling out flashy new features - but most of are half baked. No investment in bebugging. I always avoid those apps that are 'Swiss Army knives'. Prefer to fewer apps that do one thing - and do it really well.

I've been a Thrive Themes customer for quite a while, and your video is the first I'm hearing of the company being acquired. I really hope they're not planning a huge price jump for those of us who have been around quite a while. So far, I've heard NOTHING, and I really hope they stick to their position that nothing will really change for grandfathered members.

The writing is on the wall. Hanne leaving, then the acquisition, then the affiliate agreement change...I expect the shoe to drop on this.

Thanks for this! I saw the headline of the announcement the other week and immediately went into "head in the sand" mode, as I didn't have the energy to dig into the "what does this mean" question just yet. Your comments helped me sort through those emotions, and I appreciate your thoughts!

Insightful. Thank you.

I had the same response as you when I read about the change. I just didn't feel good about it. But, you make some great points. I appreciate your insight. Will wait and see.

I'm so with you on this. For me, the Thrive Team (yes team) was an example of how SAAS companies should work (another example is Infinity tool, they also have similar work discipline). Yes, acquisition is good thing... mostly for owners. Users sometimes could be left in the corner. Hope this won't be a case. How Thrive changed over the last 2-3 years is just incredible jump. I'm so grateful for what they have done with a lot of things. I'm still waiting for some improvements, but overall, it's just awesome tool. Alternatives? Elementor? Not sure there are any.

We've been using Thrive Themes for many years (for the Metal Mastermind, Jason Stallworth, and The Muscle Program websites) but only recently we've had some weird issues with the Metal Mastermind site, mainly the blog all of a sudden displaying a blank page. So I had to switch to another theme. I'm still using Thrive Architect and Leads, which works fine, but annoyed with the issue we had. And if they're raising they're price, we'll more than likely find another theme to stick with.

So basically if you are grandfather under the old pricing you are good but if you are new user then prepare to dish out the big dollars and be a premium buyer. I get that they want to target the premium market and not the lower end or people just starting out. Which is why I'm looking at alternatives because signing up $300 per year initially then have it jump to $600 in year 2 for renewals I'm not a fan. I'm with you on the pricing. It's like when drug companies acquire patents and then jack up pricings because they are in monopoly position or anti competitive position for life depending drugs. They teach this stuff in business school now. Gain monopoly or oligopoly power, then raise the prices as much as possible to monetize the consumers.

Can you please stop pretending their bait and switch tactics are OK in any context. Just realized that an expired thrive membership leaves us not even able edit existing pages. This was never the case before and I am pissed. I would happily switch if another solution had a means to easily import thrive data.

I know this video is a couple of months old, but good stuff. I have been with Thrive almost since their inception, was part of the alpha squad and have used it on hundreds of projects. My own internal projects as well as the bulk being client builds. Being a Tech Centric Guy and consultant, I have tried other products over the year. But ALWAYS, I mean ALWAYS I come back to Thrive. Tried Elementor... Hate It. Why use something other than Thrive Architect. And when Theme Builder came out. I took me a little bit to adjust to it. NOW, I Love it. I can knock stuff out so fast that I have to hold off on delivering projects... as it sometimes feels too easy compared to the client investment. But long story short... most everyone that watched your video feels the same way and has that level of uncertainty. I just hope that the product continues to develop and that we get some PLEASANT Surprises along the way. But AGAIN... Appreciate the Video.

Wow I didn't realize the price increased so much. I have a grandfathered plan and really glad I do, $600/yr is spendy for a lot of businesses just starting out!

As long as they don't touch the older, no subscriptions plans, it should be fine!

Great feedback...thank you. I was concerned too. Hope they don't raise our prices after all these years and hard work. Thrive Themes are you listening? Thanks!

I have the same feeling as you😢

So sad about all of this!

Think now would be a good time to have an integrated upsell plugin added. This is a major missing component imo! Curious to know what you guys use?

Thanks, for your videos. I was about to introduce some clients to thrive themes but with this new pricing are they just TOO EXPENSIVE? Are there any more affordable alternatives? Big slug an extra $300 after one year's use.

My biggest concern is I keep getting "my license has expired Message". I have been subscriber since 2015 and my subscription renews on Oct 4. I just received my second installment of expired license. I can not access or edit the course I am launching. It only took a day to get online last time. This has me worried.

I really hate the pay low year 1 and get invested so then we will double slug u for your loyalty. Like u I’ve been with thrive for 5plus years so grandfathered, but I’ll be looking and listening for any signals to jump, and learn something else. I’m hoping they build on thrive and even more create value with it, not try to move us to other tools. I don’t like that Hanne went at all. It bodes poorly for continuance of approach… she was an amazing ceo.

Great points!

You´re right -but I have a bad feeling

Sad. Just sad. The company won't be the same after Shane leaves als the owner. He was a person of high integrity.

I am not a hater of Awesome Motive businesses. In fact, Wpbeginner was a great source of learning when I was starting 3 years ago. But when I started watching more videos and blog posts and doing my own research, I quickly realize they are only busy promoting there own tools. When I want to see a review of a plugin and see the "top 10" list by a wp beginner, I know it will be a biased review. So I stopped watching their videos and blogs. Now, about their company "Acquired" game in the WordPress world. When they see a plugin has the potential and growing they acquired that brand. And then they update their pricing to an insane level. Like seriously. People will pay more for AIO SEO when Rank Math is a way better option. Yeah, that's true they are in the business. That's not wrong. But still, I am not a fan of their recent acquisition and pricing models. Although, I have never used Thrive themes, when I saw 'Awesome Motives" - I thought let's share this personal thought. Again, I am not a hater of Syed Balkhi. His Wp beginner was a great source to learn WordPress, back in the old days.

No effing way! So if you have been a longtime thrive member our renewal is now $599 a year??? Wild. I've not seen any message from Thrive even advising about this change. This is a shocker. So we are grandfathered members?

I didn't even know about this. I just checked my pricing, was $228 for the suite, 25 sites, been on this package for 2 years. Next renewal is $299. At the new pricing, I would never consider Thrive - it is not that special to command such a high cost. Out of the reach of small bloggers and new users.

If Thrive Themes changes its ethics then I suspect many will leave. Unfortunately, industry consolidation is evitable given the economic system and that will not benefit consumers.

Stopping recurring payments to affiliates as of March 2023 is not cool 😢

Why am kind of comfortable is that if companies like this are buying software companies like thrive .. then there’s a bright future for Wordpress.. was scared with all this AI platforms that Wordpress would be out soon or later

@Convology. So if im paying $90 per quarter. Then i will keep paying that as long as i dont cancel?

Not the same without Shane. At least Hanne and Christine are still doing videos but the new owners content is pretty painful to watch. Also very expensive for new members. They might need to change the model to a monthly subscription. $600 per year is ridiculous. Hope they can keep putting out the longer form tutorials that Thrive is famous for.

First time am seeing your face👌

A few months later, are you sticking with Thrive?

Until now, they had a European approach. Is this new company European as well?

Thrive has gone down hill! The support is not helpful and bugs don't get resolved anymore since the takeover! The pricing is going way up and its not worth it anymore.