Ya it's a subscription, without it, it deactivates when you try to use it.
It's 10 bucks for 90 days, or 35 bucks for a year. Also has a 7 day trial, and if you buy, 14 day refund policy. So if you're hard on cash you could try those first.
I'm liking it, worth it imo.
The 100% main reason I play emu is to avoid the cost of a subscription. It doesn't matter what the 3rd party program does, even if it gave courtesy reach arounds, if it costs money then it's not worth it imo.