Startup software marketplaces
Beyond startup credits & perks, you can buy software outright at a steep discount. These are the lifetime-deal (LTD) marketplaces founders use most — compared on discount range, refund window, and what each is best for.
AppSumo
The biggest LTD marketplace
The largest and best-known lifetime-deal marketplace — newly launched tools at steep one-time prices, with a generous 60-day refund window to test before you commit.
- Typical discount
- 60–95% off
- Deal type
- Lifetime deals
- Refund window
- 60 days
PitchGround
B2B SaaS, education-first
Curated B2B SaaS deals with strong onboarding, webinars, and support — favored by founders who want more vetted, business-grade tools than the typical LTD shop.
- Typical discount
- 60–90% off
- Deal type
- Lifetime deals
- Refund window
- 30 days
StackSocial
Software, courses & hardware
A broad marketplace spanning software, online courses, and hardware — wider than pure SaaS, useful for tooling, learning, and gear beyond your core stack.
- Typical discount
- 50–95% off
- Deal type
- Lifetime + annual
- Refund window
- 30 days
DealFuel
Dev & design tools
Deals aimed at developers, designers, and marketers — plugins, themes, courses, and utilities at lifetime prices, with a shorter 14-day refund window.
- Typical discount
- 70–90% off
- Deal type
- Lifetime deals
- Refund window
- 14 days
DealMirror
High-volume catalog
A high-volume catalog of lifetime deals across SaaS, themes, and digital products — lots of selection, so lean on the refund window and vendor research before buying.
- Typical discount
- 70–95% off
- Deal type
- Lifetime deals
- Refund window
- 14 days
SaaS Mantra
Curated, founder-friendly
A curated marketplace known for founder-friendly terms and a 60-day refund window — fewer, more vetted deals with direct access to the tool makers.
- Typical discount
- 60–90% off
- Deal type
- Lifetime deals
- Refund window
- 60 days
How to think about lifetime deals as a startup
LTDs trade a one-time payment for permanent (or long-term) access. They're great for stable, commodity tools — and risky for anything core that needs to scale with you.
Buy LTDs for stable, non-core tools
Form builders, screen recorders, schedulers, simple analytics — tools whose needs won’t change much as you grow are the safest lifetime purchases.
Use credits & free tiers for core infrastructure
For cloud, AI, databases, and auth, you almost always come out ahead with a startup credit or free tier than a lifetime deal — vendors give early-stage startups far more value through their official programs.
Mind the refund window
Most marketplaces offer 14–60 days to test and refund. Treat it as a trial: integrate the tool quickly and decide before the window closes.
Watch for “codes” and tiers
Many LTDs are sold in stackable “codes” that unlock higher limits. Buy only the tier you’ll actually use; over-stacking a tool you abandon is wasted money.
Check the company’s health
A lifetime deal is only as good as the company’s lifetime. Favor vendors with traction and a real roadmap over brand-new tools that may not be around in a year.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lifetime deal (LTD)?
A lifetime deal is a one-time payment for permanent or long-term access to a software product, sold at a steep discount on marketplaces like AppSumo, PitchGround, and StackSocial — instead of a recurring monthly or annual subscription.
Are lifetime deals worth it for startups?
They are great for stable, non-core tools (form builders, schedulers, simple analytics). For core infrastructure like cloud, AI, databases, and auth, you almost always get more value from a startup credit or free tier than a lifetime deal.
Are you affiliated with these marketplaces?
No. Credit for Startups is an independent directory and is not affiliated with these marketplaces. Discount ranges and refund windows change often, so confirm the current terms on each site before buying.
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