Commercial wordpress plugins - You experience

3 replies
Hi.

I want to develop a plug-in for wordpress. My doubt is whether it would be licensed either as GPL or proprietary license.

I won't sell it. Users will be able to download and use it as pleased. I just don't want people using my code to create other plug-ins.

Please, I don't want to discuss whether plug-ins should or not be GPL because worpress itself is GPL.

I'm not interested in discuss this point. It's a nebulous point and even wordpress people are not sure about that (Linux is GPL but plug-ins don't need to be).

I wish to hear from you what problems and/or advantages you have facing releasing wordpress plug-ins with a commercial license:

- users reaction
- sales performance
- tactics you needed to implement to convince people to use you plug-ins
- any other experience you think is worth to comment.

Thanks.
#commercial #experience #plugins #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    The best plugins I use are commercial plugins and I don't hesitate to pay for them. I usually buy developer's licenses, if available.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cru
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      The best plugins I use are commercial plugins and I don't hesitate to pay for them. I usually buy developer's licenses, if available.
      This.

      As far as a business model for your plugin I would recommend having a lite version available on wordpress.org and then within that plugin offer an upgrade page.

      If it is a truly good plugin you should be able to get conversions from your free plugin. On top of that, you'll have an army of people out there who will be testing your plugin (the free features) that will help you improve both products.

      You'll have to incorporate some form of DRM into the paid plugin or it will be pirated to no end.
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      • Thanks both for your answers.

        My big concern is about how users see commercial plug-ins because while surfing in the net I saw too many complains and many developers saying that a commercial license would ruin any chance to your plug-in to succeed.

        DRM wouldn't be necessary because as I won't sell it I want everybody download and use it. The merrier the better

        I don't think it will be possible for me to release a lite version because it will be a rather simple plug-in (despite the fact it will be useful).

        Moreover, as far as I know, wordpress repository don't accept plugins that do cloaking links.

        Do you host your plug-ins in any site specialized into commercial plug-ins distribution or do you distribute them on your on site?

        What are the strategies do publicize them you use?
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