[Gametes]

I have a question for all you hobbyist developers out there:
How much do you make from your shareware apps?

Please list what kind of app you make (if you don't want to disclose too specific information), how much you charge for it (range is fine), and how many licenses you get at that price (ballpark).

I'm trying to decide what route would be most satisfying for me, between the user base of freeware apps and financial reward of shareware apps (which is, frankly, unconfirmed)...maybe even open-source, etc.

[yeslekmc]

This would appeal to me as well...

[Brass]

My primary application (a home user application for managing information for a specific use) is freeware/donation-ware. I get about 800 to 1000 downloads with each version released.

I'm considering going shareware with the next major release which will add some much requested features. I'll charge either $5 or $10 (US).

I'm undecided as to whether to make it nag-ware or cripple-ware. Donation-ware simply doesn't work, AT ALL.

The application wasn't initially written with the aim of making money, but I've spent a lot of time and effort on it, and with nearly 6,000 downloads now, and only 1 person offering any kind of payment so far, I'm starting to think that maybe I could be making some money for all my labour. If it makes me $1000 per year, I'd be happy. That would pay for a new iBook every second year, and that would make it worthwhile to me!

[macrophyllum]

I get about 200-300 download per release version and charge, or have charged in the past, $10.00-$15.00. I make anywhere between $200 to $500 a month. I have never charged for an upgrade.

[asagoo]

With an address book application of mine, I sold approx 10 licenses per month, at $19. The first two versions were free, which established a user base and gave it some press coverage.
I have now made it freeware again, and it's amazing how much better the reviews are on free software compared to shareware, although the product is the same. I find it much more rewarding this way, but while I still was a student, I appreciated the occasional cheques.

Amar

[Bwa]

I sell Mac shareware games. It's very rewarding, makes a solid amount of money, and I have some very happy customers and great reviews.

It's also a lot of work but I enjoy it as a change of pace from my day job (low level Ethernet drivers, file system stuff, etc on embedded systems).