Lifetime deals are tempting: pay once, use forever. Sometimes that's a genuine bargain. Sometimes it's a graveyard of tools you never opened.

A three-question check

  • Do I have this problem right now — not 'someday'?
  • Is the company stable enough to be around to honor 'lifetime'?
  • Is the price less than a year of the normal subscription?

Three yeses and it's usually a smart buy. Any no, and you're likely buying a subscription you'll forget to use — just up front.