Software monetization that is not evil [closed]

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I have a free open-source project with around 800K downloads to date. I've been contacted by some monetization companies from time to time and turned them down, since I didn't want toolbar malware associated with my software. I was wondering however, is there a non-evil way to monetize software ?

Here are the options as I know them:

• Add a donation button.
  • I don't feel comfortable with that as I really don't need "donations" - I'm paid quite well.
  • Donating users may feel entitled to support etc. (see the second to last bullet)
• Add ads inside your application.
  • In the web that may be acceptable, but in a desktop program it looks incredibly lame.
• Charge a small amount for each download.
  • This model works well in the mobile world, but I suspect no one will go for it on the desktop.
  • It doesn't mix well with open source, though I suppose I could charge only for the binaries (most users won't go to the hassle of compiling the sources).
  • People may expect support etc. after having explicitly paid (see next bullet).
• Make money off a service / community / support associated with the program.
  • This is one route I definitely don't want to take, I don't want any sort of hassle beyond coding. I assure you, the program is top notch (albeit simple) and I'm not aware of any bugs as of yet (there are support forums and blog comments where users may report them). It is also very simple, documented, and discoverable so I do think I have a case for supplying it "as is".
• Add affiliate suggestions to your installer.
  • If you use a monetization company, you lose control over what they propose. Unless you can establish some sort of strong trust with the company to supply quality suggestions (I sincerely doubt it), I can't have that.
  • Choosing your own affiliate (e.g. directly suggesting Google Toolbar) is possibly the only viable solution to my mind. Problem is, where do I find a solid affiliate that could actually give value to the user rather than infect his computer with crapware? I thought maybe Babylon (not the toolbar of course, I hate toolbars)?

Answer 1

Donationware for charity

If users feel that your software provided them real value, they'll donate some amount. It is hard to know how much value your (free) software may bring to someone until they have the mechanism to show you. I've seen web forum and podcast fans donate hundreds of dollars because the information/community helped them where other methods/sources failed. Use disclaimers or clear messaging that donations != support or upgrades.

If you choose to give the donations to charity, no evil is done. In fact, quite the opposite IMO. You could post up the feedback from the beneficiaries as part of updating your site, which may drive adoption. Win-win.

Of course, if your code is open source, other people could go ahead and do this - does your licence prohibit them? Paint.net had this kind of issue sometime ago.

Answer 2

As you don't seem to like any of the options you've listed, there are a couple of other options:

• You could offer to customise the software for users for a fee.

For example, they might want a change which you don't want to have in your main branch, but possibly could do for them for a fee. As you don't want to do paid support, you could give them the source for this, although you probably would not make it publically available if it didn't fit in with your main goals for the project.

• You could also allow people to pay to prioritise a change.

You might have your own plan for doing work, publish a roadmap, and then allow people to contact you with a payment to prioritise things which you aren't currently going to do in the near future.

Answer 3

You could always follow sublime text and do what I call the npr model of funding. Basically every couple of saves remind people that they could buy a license if they feel the software is worth it and remind them that this software requires some of your time to make.

This has the advantage of still leaving your software free for use and you can set up a reasonable license fee that those who feel they use your stuff enough can pay.