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I'm not sure I want a free alternative. I want an inexpensive option that I'm pretty sure won't get acquired and shutdown, but also has reasonable enough reven

I'm not sure I want a free alternative. I want an inexpensive option that I'm pretty sure won't get acquired and shutdown, but also has reasonable enough revenue to remain in business, occasionally blessing me with new features. A free service like locationkit (seen here a few days ago IIRC) looks OK, and I'm reasonably sure it's supported by revenues for other services from the parent company. However, even that feels like it might get shut down if it becomes too big a burden. Something with a good understandable license that I can pay a reasonable amount ($5-$20/year, for most low-mid volume use cases) would be great, as long as I can really use it for commercial purposes. I had some high hopes for Yahoo services a few years back, but they seemed determined to plague everything with confusing or commercial-hostile licensing.

pvg 11y ago
That sounds a lot like some of MaxMind's products.
- mgkimsal 11y ago
  I think it is. I've not tested their quality, but saw their pricing - buy credits then they get used up per API call, similar to Twilio's per minute deductions from a credit. If the OP has a way to best MaxMind's quality,and can charge, that'd be good. But the OP was talking about a 'free' model, which I'm not really interested in.
lucb1e 11y ago
I agree, paying a small fee for it sounds good. However it might gain a lot of popularity and support if there is also a free version, e.g. for non-commercial purposes only and updated only once a year or so. I would personally not want to pay up front without knowing anything about this database from a company (or private person) that only asks 5 bucks a year for it.
dennisgorelik 11y ago
> $5-$20/year That seems to be way too low. $20/month+ could make sense, but less than that should be simply free (limited edition). Dealing with payments is just too much overhead.
- mgkimsal 11y ago
  maxmind already does something like this, although you're just buying credits. twilio does the same thing. Other mail services i've used do credits as well. For my projects/demos/etc - $20/year is where I'm at with twilio (which has led to clients using it and spending hundreds or thousands more, minimum). With maxmind, $10/year might be all that I use (considering 1000 calls might only be $1 charge).
  - dennisgorelik 11y ago
    Ahh - Amazon Services model: charge on a metered basis. You would make almost nothing on small customers, but if some of your customers grow significantly - that's where your real revenue would come in (seamlessly for you and your customers). Should work too.
    - atmosx 11y ago
      You should also try selling that strategy to investors, while not being Bezos, or find another job to support your venture :-)

pvg 11y ago

That sounds a lot like some of MaxMind's products.

mgkimsal 11y ago
I think it is. I've not tested their quality, but saw their pricing - buy credits then they get used up per API call, similar to Twilio's per minute deductions from a credit. If the OP has a way to best MaxMind's quality,and can charge, that'd be good. But the OP was talking about a 'free' model, which I'm not really interested in.

lucb1e 11y ago

I agree, paying a small fee for it sounds good. However it might gain a lot of popularity and support if there is also a free version, e.g. for non-commercial purposes only and updated only once a year or so. I would personally not want to pay up front without knowing anything about this database from a company (or private person) that only asks 5 bucks a year for it.

dennisgorelik 11y ago

> $5-$20/year That seems to be way too low. $20/month+ could make sense, but less than that should be simply free (limited edition). Dealing with payments is just too much overhead.

mgkimsal 11y ago
maxmind already does something like this, although you're just buying credits. twilio does the same thing. Other mail services i've used do credits as well. For my projects/demos/etc - $20/year is where I'm at with twilio (which has led to clients using it and spending hundreds or thousands more, minimum). With maxmind, $10/year might be all that I use (considering 1000 calls might only be $1 charge).
- dennisgorelik 11y ago
  Ahh - Amazon Services model: charge on a metered basis. You would make almost nothing on small customers, but if some of your customers grow significantly - that's where your real revenue would come in (seamlessly for you and your customers). Should work too.
  - atmosx 11y ago
    You should also try selling that strategy to investors, while not being Bezos, or find another job to support your venture :-)