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The Cost of Freedom: Open Source Value, Support & Risk
Open source is “free”—so why do serious teams pay for it? In this episode, Eloy Crespo breaks down the real value behind paid open-source offerings: support, SLAs, performance, security, compliance, integrations, and long-term sustainability.
We cover:
• “Free as in beer” vs. “free as in freedom”—what businesses actually buy
• Why support, SLAs, and accountability matter at scale
• Interoperability, open standards, and avoiding vendor lock-in
• Real-world examples of starting “free” and moving to paid
• How open source stays sustainable (and why it needs funding)
If you’ve ever asked or been asked “why pay for free software?”, this is your answer.
🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD
RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation.
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Why pay for 'free' software?
02:13 Problems with English?
03:09 Can we compare Open Source with proprietary?
05:20 Comparison with physical world eg. right to repair bill
06:32 Do you still offer a free (as in free beer) product?
09:50 Is there a moral angle?
11:37 Is the public perception around Open Source changing?
13:52 Can you share some figures with us?
16:15 What about outside of Europe?
18:05 What about the private sector?
19:54 30 second elevator pitch - Why Pay for 'Free' Software?
View all episodes
By @fps_gbg – PeerTubeOpen source is “free”—so why do serious teams pay for it? In this episode, Eloy Crespo breaks down the real value behind paid open-source offerings: support, SLAs, performance, security, compliance, integrations, and long-term sustainability.
We cover:
• “Free as in beer” vs. “free as in freedom”—what businesses actually buy
• Why support, SLAs, and accountability matter at scale
• Interoperability, open standards, and avoiding vendor lock-in
• Real-world examples of starting “free” and moving to paid
• How open source stays sustainable (and why it needs funding)
If you’ve ever asked or been asked “why pay for free software?”, this is your answer.
🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on open-source tech!
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-matters-podcast/id1807042369
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4frqRzV9DsAC0HfJ3ewaeD
RSS: https://www.collaboraonline.com/feed/mp3/
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Collabora Productivity or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered official guidance or fact-checked technical documentation.
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Why pay for 'free' software?
02:13 Problems with English?
03:09 Can we compare Open Source with proprietary?
05:20 Comparison with physical world eg. right to repair bill
06:32 Do you still offer a free (as in free beer) product?
09:50 Is there a moral angle?
11:37 Is the public perception around Open Source changing?
13:52 Can you share some figures with us?
16:15 What about outside of Europe?
18:05 What about the private sector?
19:54 30 second elevator pitch - Why Pay for 'Free' Software?