I love free apps.
Who doesnt love getting something for nothing?
And when we refuse to pay, we make that decision for them.
Weve created a demand for bundled crapware.
This week, we updated ourHive Five for best Bittorrent clients.
The winneryou chosewas the same onewe think is the best: uTorrent.
Unfortunately, its also quite controversial forits crapware and advertising.
Of course, its easy to be mad at developers for this.
Its deceptive, its annoying, and in some cases,its actually harmful.
So why would a program thats so popular feel the need to trick its users and risk its reputation?
Because those offers pay the developers bills when we wont.
Why Programs Include Crapware
In case it wasnt obvious, bundled crapware makes money for developers.
Third-party companies will approach apps like uTorrent asking that they include an offer for their junk software during install.
More importantly, we saw how lucrative they can be.
Of course, MetroTwit doesnt have near the userbase that WinZip, Nero, or even uTorrent has.
uTorrent, for comparison, hasaround 150 million usersper month.
Theres potentially millions of dollars on the table.
After all, users will probably ignore it anyway.
And they can always uncheck it during the install.
Isnt that a pretty small price to pay for such a huge sum?
However, we have to consider the other side of the equation: user demand.
Well, we happen to have something of an answer to that: $20 per year.
The company offers a$20 per year uTorrent Proservice.
Thats not too bad.
Theres one problem: we wont do that.
Some people might upgrade.
Maybe even enough to make the company profitable.
However, Plex is the exception, not the rule.
Lifehackers no exception: well choose free over cheap nearly every time.
Does that let developers off the hook?
Infecting a users computer with software that you know is bad is a terrible way to do business.
But we keep them in business by using their software.
And wed rather they do that than watch our favorite apps disappear forever.
What We Can Do About It
Its easy to say its our fault.
Its another to fix the problem.
Especially once theyre used to free.
Some will offer upsells for extra features, or have subscriptions for additional services (likePlexs PlexPass).
Consider giving them a shot if you use an app or service regularly.
The fact that very few people actually pay for the full versions hasbecome a joke.
Thats a crappy thing to do to developers who write apps we love.
Again, if you find an app useful, dont be stingy.
Theyre going the extra mile by making their software free with no DRM or even nag screens.
Tossing a few bucks their way is the least we can do.
It is your money, after all.
However, these problems still exist.
You get to keep your free apps and developers get paid.
Maybe part of the solution is learning to live with this compromise.
Will this change the industry?
However, it couldnt hurt to try.
Thats supremely annoying, but we have to take responsibility for our part in it.
Illustration by Sam Woolley, comic byDoghouse Diaries.
