The world of open source software (OSS) has long faced a critical paradox: everyone loves free tools, but few are willing to pay the people who create and maintain them. This reliance on volunteer labor often leads to burnout and a lack of long-term sustainability, leaving popular projects vulnerable. But this is changing. Developers are now experimenting with creative business models that ensure projects can thrive without compromising the core principles of open source.

The “Open Source Maintenance Fee”

One of the most innovative approaches is the “Open Source Maintenance Fee,” a model being pioneered by the Wix Toolset project. While the software itself remains free and open source, its creators are charging a fee for participation in the project’s community and support channels.

Here’s how it works:

• The code is completely free to use, modify, and distribute. Anyone can take the source code and build their own version.
• However, if a company wants to open an issue, comment on a pull request, or get official support, a fee is required.
• The fee is a tiered subscription based on company size, ranging from $10 to $60 per month.

This model is a direct response to the frustration maintainers feel when commercial companies use their free work for profit but offer nothing in return. It’s a way to ensure that the time and effort spent on maintenance—like addressing bugs, reviewing code, and answering questions—is fairly compensated.

“OSS does not mean that everything is available for no cost.”

This approach is designed to be fully compliant with FOSS principles, which protect the freedom of the code, not the right to free support.

“Enterprise-Only Features”

Another increasingly popular model is offering paid, exclusive features for enterprise customers. The creator of the lightning-fast Python package manager uv is a great example of this. The core uv tool is open source and free for everyone, providing immense value to the Python community. To generate revenue, the project will develop and sell specialized features that are only valuable to large companies—things like advanced security tools, corporate compliance features, or dedicated premium support.

This strategy is effective because it monetizes the project without restricting the main product. The core, widely used tool remains free and accessible, while the project earns income by solving specific, high-value problems for large organizations. It’s a smart way to ensure the project can hire full-time developers and continue to innovate at a rapid pace.

Why These Models Are Crucial for the Future of Tech

These new funding models are more than just business strategies; they are crucial for the long-term health of the entire technology ecosystem. They address the very real problem of developer burnout, which often leads to critical projects being abandoned or left vulnerable. By creating a sustainable path for funding, these projects can:

• Ensure Security: Maintainers can dedicate time to patching vulnerabilities and responding to threats, preventing supply chain attacks like the infamous XZ Utils incident.
• Encourage Innovation: With a stable income, developers can focus on building new features and improving performance, rather than juggling their passion project with a full-time job.
• Foster a Healthier Community: Charging for commercial support filters out low-quality requests and gives maintainers more time to focus on truly impactful work.

As more projects adopt these models, we could see a future where open source is not just a passion project but a viable and rewarding career path for developers. This shift will ultimately benefit everyone who relies on open source software, from individual developers to the world’s largest corporations.