I purchased this app when it was offered as a paid, one-time purchase. In my experience, when I buy an app with a single upfront fee, that purchase includes access to existing features and future updates. Many developers also choose to respect early adopters by maintaining full or lifetime access when an app later transitions to a subscription model, so the changes in this app were unexpected.When I originally bought the app, the core concept was that steps would be tracked and converted into food so the pet could be fed and kept alive. On the first day, this worked briefly, as the app tracked steps and allowed food to be purchased from the store. However, there was a bug where, after a few hours, it was no longer possible to buy anything from the store even though steps were still being tracked. As a result, the pet would eventually die and be replaced by a grave. This issue existed at the time and was never resolved then.If this bug has been fixed in later updates, that would simply mean the app is now functioning as it was originally designed and sold to work: tracking steps, converting them into food, and allowing the pet to be fed without limitation to keep it alive and happy. That functionality was the core value of the paid app.After the transition to a subscription model, features that already existed before are now locked behind a paywall, which significantly changes how the app can be used. Without an active subscription, steps may still be tracked, but they cannot be used to buy items from the store, feeding the pet is not possible, and the pet will inevitably die and be replaced by a grave. In practice, this leaves very limited interaction, essentially just watching the pet’s animations.A more balanced approach would have been to offer lifetime access to early adopters, or at least preserve lifetime access to all features that were already included at the time of purchase. New additions introduced after the move to subscriptions, such as the on-screen pet messages, could reasonably remain optional and tied to the subscription for users who choose them. This would have respected existing customers while still supporting ongoing development.Instead, early adopters are left with an app where, without subscribing, the pet can barely do more than move its face, cannot be fed, and is ultimately destined to die. This represents a major change from what was originally purchased and greatly reduces the usefulness of the app.Additionally, step tracking has been inconsistent, feeding interactions have been unreliable, and the pet frequently dies despite regular use. These issues were present even before the subscription change. Recent updates and the new on-screen messages have also made the experience less enjoyable rather than improved.Overall, the app feels very different from when it was originally purchased, and in its current state it no longer provides enough value for me to continue using, so I decided to delete it.Update – Feb 12, 2026Luís Fernando Santos Corrêa da Silva was the last person responsible for handling Tamewatch. When I originally purchased the app, it included all features unlocked. Later, the developers switched it to a subscription model, and now I can’t even use what I already paid for.Because of this, I cannot recommend either the app or the developer. This change feels very uncaring and disrespectful toward users who supported the app early on, and honestly it makes me feel scammed.I remember he offered me codes for three months, but since I had already purchased the lifetime version with everything unlocked, that offer felt very disrespectful.Additionally, after the update, some new features were added that actually make the app look worse, and there are still bugs that haven’t been fixed.
Thanks for the feedback, progress happens over time. We’ll investigate this issue.