Is this a yearly purchase with a payment plan or is this a month by month license? Basically, what I want to know is, can I use S4 for a month (for a monthly fee) and then back out if I don't like it?

Scroll down this link.  Lost of FAQ
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Membership
 
Pricing is here
https://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions
 

Mod Bod
Is this a yearly purchase with a payment plan or is this a month by month license? Basically, what I want to know is, can I use S4 for a month (for a monthly fee) and then back out if I don't like it?

Seems like it to me.
 
Of course you could no longer use it if your membership is not active. Which is what you want if you back out.

Mod Bod
Is this a yearly purchase with a payment plan or is this a month by month license? Basically, what I want to know is, can I use S4 for a month (for a monthly fee) and then back out if I don't like it?

Yeah you can cancel but if it's before 12 months, SONAR reverts to demo mode. If you complete 12 months, you get to keep the software even if you decide not to renew. 

It does say if you remain a member for 12 months, you get to keep everything you got during those 12 months, even if you choose not to renew...
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Membership

Best of all, after 12 months of SONAR membership you get to keep everything you've received - even if you choose not to renew.

jinx
 

If after a thirty day period, you decide that you would like to pay for the balance of the year (or maybe for a new year in advance) is there a way to do that? I hate making monthly payments even though I think the subscription plan offers me options that are very attractive.

Another variation would be to try out the Platinum version to see how useful the extra plugins are and then switch to the Pro version if it appears that is a better fit. I have a pretty strong collection of third party audio plugs that I use consistently but I'm open to trying out the new stuff.

see Noel's post below

Mod Bod
If after a thirty day period, you decide that you would like to pay for the balance of the year (or maybe for a new year in advance) is there a way to do that? I hate making monthly payments even though I think the subscription plan offers me options that are very attractive.

Another variation would be to try out the Platinum version to see how useful the extra plugins are and then switch to the Pro version if it appears that is a better fit. I have a pretty strong collection of third party audio plugs that I use consistently but I'm open to trying out the new stuff.

Re the first question yes you can purchase a 1 year membership at any time and it will be active from that point on for 12 months.
 
For the second, if you are going month to month there should be no problem downgrading. If you paid for a full year however and downgrade I'm not sure if there would be a refund for the difference. If you upgrade to a yearly Platinum I believe you will only have to pay the difference.

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]

Mod Bod
If after a thirty day period, you decide that you would like to pay for the balance of the year (or maybe for a new year in advance) is there a way to do that? I hate making monthly payments even though I think the subscription plan offers me options that are very attractive.

Another variation would be to try out the Platinum version to see how useful the extra plugins are and then switch to the Pro version if it appears that is a better fit. I have a pretty strong collection of third party audio plugs that I use consistently but I'm open to trying out the new stuff.

Re the first question yes you can purchase a 1 year membership at any time and it will be active from that point on for 12 months.
 
For the second, if you are going month to month there should be no problem downgrading. If you paid for a full year however and downgrade I'm not sure if there would be a refund for the difference. If you upgrade to a yearly Platinum I believe you will only have to pay the difference.

Still not clear on question number 1. Of course you can buy a year subscription at any time. But at what price? If someone starts a subscription month to month at an upgrade price then decides after the end of the "introductory offer" period that he wants to convert to a lump sum year, does he pay full price 499.00 or upgrade price 149.00? Is there really an established pricing policy for this conversion?