Both options give you access to nearly all Curio features, with some minor differences due to App Store requirements:
Choose a traditional license if: You prefer owning software outright, want to control when you upgrade, need academic/volume discounts, want access to beta releases, or need specific features like AppleScript support.
Choose a subscription if: You prefer lower upfront costs, want automatic updates, like the convenience of the Mac App Store, or only need Curio periodically.
A traditional license or a subscription may make more sense to you, depending on your specific needs, so we're happy to be able to offer you a choice.
A traditional license or a subscription may make more sense to you, depending on your specific needs, so we're happy to be able to offer you a choice.
If you still have questions please contact support.
We invite you to read our Curio Subscriptions FAQ if you'd like to learn more about subscriptions.
Download Curio from our website and start your 2-week trial immediately with all Professional features enabled. The Welcome to Curio project opens automatically to guide you through Curio's features.
After the trial expires, you can continue using Curio for free with Standard features and up to 5 idea spaces per project. Larger projects become read-only. Purchase a license anytime to unlock full functionality.
The traditional license is a one-time purchase for the current version of Curio plus a full year of free updates.
After one year, your app continues working normally but won't receive new updates until you purchase a renewal. You can renew anytime for another year of updates.
Note: Only Curio from our website supports license keys; only Mac App Store Curio supports subscriptions.
Yes, traditional licenses allow installation on multiple Macs that you personally own or control. Read our License Agreement for details.
Students and educators are eligible for a discount. A school-issued email address, such as .edu, .k12, .ac.uk, or other recognized academic domain, or an uploaded academic credential is required.
Volume discounts are automatically applied at checkout:
| Quantity | 2-9 | 10-19 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discount | 10% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 30% | 40% |
Traditional licenses are only available from the Zengobi website. For upgrades, enter your current license key and email to see upgrade pricing.
Important: License keys only work with Curio downloaded from our website, not the Mac App Store version.
After purchase, download Curio from our website and drag it to your Applications folder to install.
Enter your license key in Curio's License dialog (Curio > License menu) or click the instant activation link after purchase. Curio confirms your license with our server and activates the appropriate features. You'll receive an email confirmation.
Curio periodically checks for updates and license changes in the background. If it can't reach our server, it uses the last known information.
Your traditional license includes one year of free updates with new features and improvements released every few months.
At the end of this year your Curio app continues working normally — it does not expire or deactivate! — however, you will no longer receive app updates.
You can purchase an upgrade/renewal anytime from our website to extend your license for another year of free updates. Curio will automatically update itself to the latest release — no need to download anything or enter a new license key!
No, this is not a subscription!
When your year of free updates ends, Curio continues working normally — you just don't receive new updates. Unlike Mac App Store subscriptions, your app never loses functionality or expires.
You don't have to upgrade — you can stay on your current version indefinitely.
When ready, simply purchase an upgrade on our website. Your license will be renewed for another 12 months of updates, and Curio will automatically update itself to the latest version on next launch — no downloads or new license keys needed!
You still get access to minor ".x" releases (like bug fixes) for your current major version, even after your free updates period ends.