If You Created Forum Software, Would You Charge For It?

Again, the title says it all: If You Created Forum Software, Would You Charge For It? If so...why, or why not? Get discussing below!

 

I would say no. Forum software's that are free has a bigger audience than the paid ones

 

I wouldn't either.You would get enough in donations and premium members to make up for it.To me no matter how good a paid software is it's still not free which is the best.

 

I think depending on how much I had to spend on it e.g. if I had to pay loads of developers, then I would probably charge to make the costs but if I worked on it by myself and there was virtually no costs involved, then I would certainly offer it for free

 

No because it would be so crap you wouldn't want to buy it.

 

why do you say that? You've got to think positive

 

Because a fly knows more php than I do?

 

I know jack all about php, but it still would'nt stop me wishing and dreaming and putting something into the discussion about creating a forum software, and charging for it or not, etc.

 

Yeah well I wish I could create one and if I did I'd offer a premium version and a free version.

 

I would definitely charge for it. My reasons are quite simple, I put the hours of work into it, I should have some form of compensation to it. That and I'd be able to hire some employees to make the software even better with support and help in bug fixing.

 

I would charge for it, but I would make sure the forum software is all quality before even thinking of selling it. Gotta be unique from the others, gotta offer something the others don't or you wont get any sales.

 

I might produce a free version but that can only be free hosted (like forumotion) but then produce a professional version with many more features that can be self hosted that has a small charge

 

that sounds like a great idea, and would certainly be a great way to generate extra revenue with your software

 

That sounds like a great idea. I would join up, that's for sure.

 

I would not charge for the package itself, but addons/plugins yes I would have a flat fee for all of them. I would also have any support/questions have a yearly fee as well.

 

well that's interesting...why would you charge for addons/support?

 

To pay the developers for the work there providing to the software, and other less important things.

 

then why not charge for the whole package, or create a lite & paid version???

 

Isn't that really the other way around, because paid software has the majority of add-ons for free? Because about 99% of the addons for any well known forum software are third party (meanining not made by the software's team) so how would you require all add-ons to be paid.. Profit from third party add-ons that you didnt make?

 

I suppose a lite and paid version would be better, now that you mention it. I was initially aiming for people to download it and gain a client base, then charge a few bucks for addons made by us. Other authors can make both free or paid, there choice.