It’s disappointing to see how far AppSumo has drifted from what originally made the platform valuable.

What was once a curated space to discover innovative software from promising up-and-coming developers now feels increasingly crowded with repetitive AI clone tools and low-differentiation products. The uniqueness and excitement that once defined the platform seem to have largely faded.

More concerning, however, was being charged a $99 membership fee without clear consent or transparent authorization. Unexpected billing practices of this nature only further erode confidence in a platform that should be focused on rebuilding trust and delivering genuine value to its users.

Perhaps instead of exploring new ways to monetize the customer base, the priority should be returning to the fundamentals that made AppSumo successful in the first place.