I was initially excited about IdeaBuddy, but their marketing practices left a bad impression. They use bait-and-switch tactics, where you think you’re getting a full-featured product with your original purchase, only to be asked to pay more to unlock essential features.

For example, the lifetime plan does NOT include the whiteboard feature, which is a crucial tool for many users. Once inside the software, you’ll find that you need to upgrade to a 3-tier plan for an additional $69 to access it. This is misleading, as most people would assume a “lifetime plan” includes all core features.

Additionally, IdeaBuddy actively encourages users to leave positive reviews in exchange for free upgrades. They email customers offering a free upgrade to the 3-tier plan if they submit a good review and provide a screenshot. This kind of manipulation raises serious questions about the company’s integrity, as it incentivizes biased reviews instead of honest feedback.

Even though the software itself is decent for beginners who are just starting a business, there are better free alternatives for collaboration, such as Whimsical, that offer more powerful features without these shady upselling tactics. Due to these unethical marketing practices, I decided to request a refund. I cannot support a company that engages in such misleading strategies.