The beta is free, and stays free. This is for families who already know they are staying: one payment today locks a full year of everything, starting the day the free beta ends - and says thank you for funding an independent product while it grows.
$129 once - not a subscription, nothing recurs
The pass attaches to an account, so the account comes first. Signing up is free and stays free through the beta either way.
Why sell anything during a free beta? Because servers, and independence. This product is built by one family's company without investors; founding passes are how it stays that way.
What if the beta runs longer than expected? Then you wait longer at zero cost - the pass never starts ticking during the beta.
What exactly do I get during the beta? The same thing everyone gets: everything free. The pass is a year purchased in advance at the founding price, plus the founding badge on your account.
Is this a subscription? No. One charge, no auto-renew, no card kept on file by us. When your year ends, you decide what happens next.