Table of Contents
Can you get a refund for MKBHD Panels subscription after the 2025 app shutdown?
The Panels app by Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) will officially shut down on December 31, 2025, but its entire codebase will be released as open-source software on GitHub to aid developers. This decision follows a turbulent year marked by pricing controversies and sustainability challenges, with all active subscriptions set to receive automatic prorated refunds after the closure.
The Shutdown Decision
Marques Brownlee announced the discontinuation of Panels through an unlisted YouTube video released in early December 2025. He explained that the project, initially conceived to answer the frequent fan question “Where’d you get that wallpaper?”, ultimately proved unsustainable as a business. The app will remain functional until the end of the year, after which all user data will be permanently deleted to ensure privacy. Current subscribers do not need to take action, as the team will process prorated refunds automatically once the app leaves digital storefronts.
Open Source Pivot
In a move aimed at supporting the developer community, Brownlee committed to releasing the full Panels codebase on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. This specific license allows other creators to freely use, modify, and distribute the code, effectively gifting a fully built mobile application framework to aspiring developers. While the app itself failed to find a long-term footing, this gesture transforms a commercial failure into a valuable educational resource for those building their own wallpaper or media apps. Tech enthusiasts have praised this decision online, noting that open-sourcing a defunct project is the most respectful way to sunset a software product.
Analyzing the Failure
The trajectory of Panels was heavily influenced by its rocky launch in September 2024, which was marred by immediate backlash regarding its aggressive pricing model. Users criticized the $50 annual subscription fee as excessive for a wallpaper utility, comparing it unfavorably to major streaming services like Netflix. Privacy concerns also plagued the early release, as the app requested intrusive permissions to track user activity across other applications, a practice that alienated Brownlee’s privacy-conscious audience. Although the team attempted to pivot by adjusting prices and addressing data concerns, the initial negative reception made building a loyal, sustainable user base nearly impossible.