I purchased the MimicPC lifetime deal for $295 through AppSumo, enticed by the promise of long-term premium access, monthly credits, and all future updates. The deal included:
• Monthly Usage Time: 110 hours/month (Medium Plan)
• Monthly Gift: $55 credit
• Access to All Hardware Plans: Mini/Medium/Large/Large Pro/Ultra
• Supports Popular Open-Source Apps: Stable Diffusion, RVC, Ollama, FaceFusion, etc.
• 24/7 File Management and Free 50GB Storage
• Intelligent Energy Saving
• Supports All Version Updates

However, MimicPC has since released a free plan that includes nearly identical features. The free plan offers:
• Access to All Pre-Installed Apps
• 50GB of Private Storage
• Upload Models and Extensions with One Click for Free

Moreover, closed-source AI models, which were not clearly distinguished at the time of purchase, now require additional payment, even for lifetime users. The included credits are restricted to open-source models only, rendering the “monthly credit” nearly worthless for accessing newer, more advanced tools.

In effect, this means free users now receive the same benefits I paid nearly $300 for, and I’m being asked to pay again to access tools that were implied to be included.

This constitutes a bait-and-switch, and AppSumo’s 60-day refund window offers no protection when products devalue themselves after that period. AppSumo should either enforce the original deal terms or remove vendors that erode lifetime value post-sale.

This experience has shaken my trust in AppSumo and its curation process.
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MY REPLY ON MIMICPC REVIEW REPLY BELOW:

Thank you for your reply, but I must respectfully disagree with your explanation, as it continues to ignore the core issue and fundamental breach of expectations tied to this Lifetime Deal.

Let me be very clear. I did not pay $295 just to receive some extra credits compared to free users. I paid for a premium experience and long-term access that would significantly surpass what free-tier users receive, both now and in the future. Your current setup offers nearly identical core functionality to free users, while limiting Lifetime Deal (LTD) holders’ credits to only open-source models, which makes them far less valuable.

Your claim that the LTD was “designed to support open-source applications exclusively” does not reflect the reality of how this deal was marketed on AppSumo. There was no transparent disclaimer or clear boundary at the time of purchase between open- and closed-source model access. This distinction only emerged later, after new, more valuable features were introduced and placed behind an extra paywall, even for those of us who backed your platform early.

It’s misleading to say that I am receiving ongoing value when I must now pay extra just like any other pay-as-you-go user to access the full power of MimicPC. And no, this is not a standard welcome credit situation. It is a restructuring of the platform that now requires LTD users to pay again for core features that were never properly excluded from our original deal.

Also, pointing out that I will “recoup” the cost of the LTD after five months does not justify stripping away what should have been permanent, full access. That is not how true lifetime deals work, especially when the primary draw of the platform has shifted and LTD holders are no longer treated as premium users. If this is what “honoring a deal with the utmost sincerity” looks like, I fear what future updates might bring.

This is not just about one product. It is about trust in how you treat your early supporters.

And to AppSumo: I remind you of CEO Noah Kagan’s public pledge in 2024 to crack down on misleading or exploitative LTDs. This situation reflects exactly the kind of vendor behavior that pledge was meant to prevent. Ignoring it signals that the promise was just marketing and that early backers like me have no real protection once the refund window closes.

I supported MimicPC when it was new and unproven. That support came with a financial cost and a leap of faith. Today, I am asking for a fair outcome. I expect either a full refund or a meaningful compensation, such as unrestricted credit usage or access to closed-source features. Anything less is simply ignoring the problem.

I hope both MimicPC and AppSumo choose to do what is right. Otherwise, this becomes yet another cautionary tale for future buyers who place their trust in Lifetime Deals.