A question that I wondered about for some time was how web developers that create open source programs, that are free to use, earn money. As a marketer, I was always taught to constantly look for new ways to monetize your business. If you have created an amazing piece of software, essentially your “baby”, why would you let people use it for free when you could easily make money off of it. I did some research and below are a few ways that open-source developers end up monetizing their project.

• Developing a quality piece of open-source software is a great way to get name recognition. Not only can a top company contact and handpick the developer regarding a position in the company, but it is also a wonderful resume building tool especially for college students.
• It is possible to offer the software without every feature. Charging for upgrades is a way for open source developers to earn income.
• Charging to offer support for the piece of software is another way to make money.
• Many of these sites also have a PayPal icon asking for well earned donations.

Regardless of how the open source developers are earning their money, they sound like they are doing well. I also read that open-source products reduce business development costs by 50%. Everybody wins!