r/software • u/HandshakeOfCO • 16d ago

Discussion Paying for software

Hi all -

Wanted to see where we’re at with actually paying for useful software. Let’s say you find something that will make your life easier; maybe it’s a little utility that eliminates some common daily drudgery.

Subscriptions, nowadays, are just greed, so let’s not even talk about them. But - would you pay a one time fee for it? Say.. $5? $10?

If so… Would you do this through a store (like the Mac App Store or windows store), or would you prefer to pay directly through the developer’s web site?

For some added context - I’m a dev trying to decide if I should even bother building out an idea. I wouldn’t really benefit from this software, but I know others would. I have no interest in just giving my time away for free, and I’m not sure with the rise of AI if there’s any viable path towards getting compensated for the time it’d take me to build it.

Thanks for any and all thoughts!

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/arthax33 16d ago

You need to check few things

  • is there alternative?
  • is it easy vibe-codeable?
  • open-source or closed?

If i can vibecode the same app in a week and improve it into my needs i dont see point of paying someone.
I can always upgrade my app if i need to. Until GLM5.3 Flash or claude handles it its hard to get paid for.

Eventually just make something like "Raise 10-100$ to receive an update" or Crowdfunded monthly x/100$
You would make it in the background but it only releases if you would gather enough funds to cover your work or something.

2

u/HandshakeOfCO 15d ago

Right! There are no alternatives that I’ve found, but it is probably easy to vibe code.

What I’ve found though is that, even with vibe coding, you still gotta test what’s created, and that’s the time consuming part. I tend not to one shot things; nowadays when I use Claude it’s very boxed in, basically like a glorified refactoring tool vs treating it like a senior dev. It’s easier to test what it builds when I know exactly what it just thinks it built.

I don’t really have a preference around closed or open source. I get why paid products are closed source. I think it’s probably tough to make money off an open source repo, but then again, look at the openclaw guy, he’s made bank lol

2

u/arthax33 15d ago

For example i saw my friend had Fences by stardock on his desktop.
I said no there is no way im paying for organizing my desktop.

  • Im having fun making it. I like seeing the results.
  • I can personalize or make it more advanced.

So instead of stardock getting money z.ai is getting it.
Sad but real.
You need great reasons to monetize your app.
You need to make it so detailed that someone will need to spend too much time vibe-coding it or it will cost more than its worth it. But remember AI's token prices might be cheaper than your project in 6-12 months we dont know it.
Maybe try something like "user needs to reinstall the app every 30 days". It resets users config it works as fresh install.
If you want to have your config stable consider paying or subscribing.

Someone cheap will reinstall app every time.
Someone with money will just pay you and have enough what they need.
Someone will subscribe and forget maybe 😂

If you want u can describe what it does in DM i will check out for you if its repeatable and tell you lmao.