How to market paid software without a free version
Selling software without offering a free tier or listing in official directories makes it exceptionally difficult to gain visibility and traffic. Developers end up second-guessing their monetization model and feeling pressured to surrender and release a free version just to compete.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1relying on alternative marketing, SEO, and GEODid this help you?
- 2considering releasing a stripped-down free version to get tractionDid this help you?
- 3using platforms like CodecanyonDid this help you?
- 4exploring video marketing on YouTubeDid this help you?
- 5Posting on LinkedInDid this help you?
- 6Cold outreachDid this help you?
- 7Targeting bookkeepers or payroll staff directly instead of business ownersDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I am in a similar situation, I also have a premium-only plugin, not listed in the WP directory.”source ↗
“And I'm now really on the fence. Thinking that maybe I should 'surrender' and release a free version ( or at least try to ).”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why can't I talk to a real person on enterprise software support?
- 6How to bill clients for API costs and software licenses
- 4Why am I paying a monthly fee to sell software for commission?
- 16Why pay for an expensive SEO suite when you barely use it?
- 16Why can't I just see the price of software without a sales call?
- 5What Microsoft Purview licenses do I need for eDiscovery searches?