A security scanner switched from subscriptions to pay-per-review
A in Taiwan built Abyssguard, an app that checks AI-built code for security and problems. The first pricing model was a flat monthly , but few users paid. Developers signed up, ran one free scan, and left. The product was not the main issue; the bigger problem was trust.
People did not want to pay every month for a tool they might only need once or twice. The pricing changed to a , where 1 credit pays for 1 deep review. Users can see basic results for free, but detailed analysis and repair steps require a credit. This worked because the commitment was small, payment was tied to useful findings, and users could see their credit history clearly.
improved, and paid users were more serious: they read the reports and returned. The main lesson was that too much time went into building the free tier before proving that people would pay.
Key points
- Abyssguard checks AI-built code for security and problems.
- The original monthly had poor because users often left after one free scan.
- The new model uses credits: 1 credit pays for 1 deep review.
- Basic results are free, while detailed analysis and repair steps are paid.
- The founder’s key regret was building the free tier too long before testing whether people would pay.