AppSumo is the biggest lifetime deal marketplace, but it is not the only one. RocketHub, Dealify, StackSocial, DealMirror and Earlybird all sell software lifetime deals (LTDs), and their buyer protection is not the same.
The price of a deal gets all the attention. The terms decide what you can do when the tool disappoints you. So this comparison skips "best deals" and looks at three things for each marketplace:
- Refund window: how long you have to change your mind
- Redemption deadline: how long you have to activate your code
- Shutdown protection: what you get if the product closes
Every term below comes from each marketplace's own help center, terms page or deal pages, checked in October 2026. Terms change, and the deal page always wins, so read it before you pay.
Disclosure: LTD Explorer earns an affiliate commission from all six marketplaces. It does not change what we write here, and you can check every claim on the linked policy pages. More on how we work in how we review.
The short answer
- Longest standard refund window: AppSumo, with 60 days on most lifetime deals.
- Only one with a written shutdown refund for everyone: DealMirror, as wallet credit, not cash.
- Strictest: StackSocial, where many software codes are final once redeemed.
- 30 days and a clear process: RocketHub, Dealify and Earlybird.
If you only remember one thing: a lifetime deal lasts as long as the product does, and the refund window is the only time your money is fully protected. Test the tool for real work inside that window.
AppSumo
AppSumo's terms say its lifetime deals "typically have a 60-day refund period" from the day you buy, for any reason. Some deals have a shorter window, such as 30 days, and digital downloads like ebooks cannot be refunded. The exact window is in the Deal Terms on each deal page.
Things to know:
- Refunds are final. You lose access right away, and you may not be able to buy the deal again if it has left AppSumo.
- AppSumo can review or limit refunds based on account activity, so repeat buy-and-refund patterns get noticed.
- Paid upgrades or add-ons bought directly from the software company follow that company's refund policy, not AppSumo's.
- AppSumo Plus members get extra purchase protection on some deals ("We Got Your Back"), paid as store credit.
AppSumo's own help center is honest about the risk: "lifetime" means the product's lifetime, not yours. If the product shuts down, the deal ends with it.
Browse AppSumo deals on LTD Explorer
RocketHub
RocketHub gives a 30-day money-back guarantee on most deals, for both its exclusive deals and its marketplace deals. Deal pages usually add that you must activate your license within 60 days of purchase.
Things to know:
- Some deals are sold with a "no refunds, no exceptions" term. RocketHub says this will be stated clearly on the deal page.
- After 30 days, refunds are not possible, because the vendor has been paid.
- Refunds can be declined for abuse or excessive usage.
- Codes expire. If you miss the redemption date, reactivating an old code depends on the vendor.
- Many RocketHub deal terms exclude future features that carry per-use, API or heavy hardware costs. That matters for AI tools.
Dealify
Dealify offers a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase, for any reason. You request it by email or through its refund form. Its standard redemption period is also 30 days unless the deal says otherwise, which is shorter than most others here.
Things to know:
- Dealify can limit or suspend accounts that ask for an excessive number of refunds.
- Ebooks and PDFs can only be refunded if you have not downloaded the full file.
- Its support team works Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm US Eastern time.
StackSocial
StackSocial is a mixed store: software sits next to online courses, VPNs and gadgets. Its terms say refund policies differ by vendor and product, and each product page states its own policy.
On many software lifetime deals, the rule is simple: an unredeemed license can be returned for store credit within 30 days, and once you redeem it, the sale is final. Some listings say "No refunds, all sales are final" outright.
That means you cannot test the software and then ask for your money back on those deals. For a tool you have never used, look for a free trial on the vendor's site first.
DealMirror
DealMirror gives a 30-day money-back guarantee to regular buyers and 60 days to Prime members (Prime is a paid membership and is non-refundable). It is also the only marketplace here with a written rule for shutdowns that covers every buyer:
- If a product is discontinued within 12 months of purchase, Prime members get 100% back as wallet credit and non-Prime buyers get 50%.
- Its "Prime Protection Promise" applies the same split when an exclusive tool shuts down within one year of launch. You need to contact support within 30 days of the closure announcement.
Note that this is wallet credit you can spend on DealMirror, not money back to your card. Other terms to read:
- If you simply want a different product, DealMirror swaps the deal instead of refunding it.
- A later price drop on the same deal is not a reason for a refund.
- Opening a chargeback before contacting support can get your account banned.
Earlybird
Earlybird is smaller and curated: fewer deals, with each one picked by its team. Every purchase has a 30-day refund window by email, no questions asked, and codes need to be activated within 60 days.
Things to know:
- Deal terms usually include future updates, but features with recurring costs are "considered on a feature-by-feature basis."
- Ebooks and PDFs are refundable only if you have not downloaded the full file.
Buying direct from the software company
Some tools sell lifetime plans on their own website. You become a direct customer, which can mean better support. But no marketplace stands behind you, so the vendor's own refund terms are your only protection. Read them before you pay. You can find vendor-direct deals on our direct deals page.
How to pick a marketplace for a deal
The same tool is sometimes listed on two marketplaces. When that happens:
- Compare the refund window first, price second. A 60-day window on a $79 deal is often worth more than a 30-day window on a $69 one.
- Check if the refund is cash or credit. Store credit only helps if you plan to buy there again.
- Note the redemption deadline. Put it in your calendar the day you buy.
- Read the "future updates" line. For AI tools, check whether new AI features are excluded.
- Test for real work before day 20 of a 30-day window. Leave time for support replies.
And before any of this, ask yourself whether you would pay for this tool monthly. If not, the safest deal is the one you skip. We wrote more about that in why lifetime deals go unused. If you want to understand the shutdown risk itself, read why lifetime deals die.
Sources
- AppSumo Terms of Use (opens in new tab) and Refund Policy (opens in new tab)
- RocketHub Refund Policy (opens in new tab) and Marketplace FAQs (opens in new tab)
- Dealify Refund Policy (opens in new tab)
- StackSocial Terms (opens in new tab)
- DealMirror Terms and Conditions (opens in new tab)
- Earlybird Terms of Service (opens in new tab)
