The 1Password macOS and Windows clients can be bought stand-alone, but their newer clients (such as the command-line client, for some reason) are subscription-only. It's confusing, and it looks like this Linux client is also subscription-only.
The 1Password macOS app is not subscription-only; the standalone purchase is just fairly well hidden because it's not the recommended path: https://support.1password.com/upgrade-mac/
This topic inevitably comes up on every HN 1Password thread.
> the standalone purchase is just fairly well hidden because it's not the recommended path
I don't care how many arguments they bring to the table that the subscription model is superior, the things that matter are still "broken" in the subscription model: Control over my data and "cost control".
With a standalone license i can control where i store my sensitive information, and don't have to rely on 1Password doing the "right thing" and protect their servers.
I can also choose if i want to upgrade, or if the current version is good enough for my needs.
I will never pay a subscription for any software.
https://support.1password.com/cs/migrate-standalone/
(note the text near the end regarding licensing)