My policy is to donate $5 to each WordPress plugin I use on a website.
Here’s a calculation that makes $5 look about right:
- Say a plugin has 500,000 downloads
- If 10% of those that downloaded used it, that would be 50,000
- If 10% of those that used it donated, that would be 5,000
- 5,000 donations times $5 is $25,000
- Not bad for something given away freely
But not that many people donate to plugins, you say? True, but plugins are free and donation is optional. Also, I don’t want to try to make up financially for those that don’t donate.
Five dollars is very little, you say? You’re right, but it’s more than the average iPhone app at $1.99. And probably most people develop plugins for publicity, not direct profit.
We should donate to WordPress plugins because:
- Website developers gain from being able to easily add sophisticated functionality to WordPress instead of building it from scratch
- Profit will prevent the plugin developer from abandoning your favorite plugin
- Most other people don’t donate to WordPress plugins
- The plugin developer asked
Some thoughtful articles on plugin donations:
- WordPress Plugin Developers In Dire Need Of A Sustainable Business Model
- It’s Not About Money or Gratitude
- Define I Have Donated = True
What are your thoughts on WordPress plugin donations?
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