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Ask HN: Why does Mozilla not ask the users to pay for Firefox

1 points by warpech 6y ago

A genuine question, that's timely in context of the recent layoffs at Mozilla: Why doesn't Mozilla take user's money for Firefox? I would gladly pay a few bucks per month for a browser. It could even be the same version that other people get for free. I don't want to pay for other services that Mozilla has to offer, like Pocket or VPN. I just want a great open-source browser from someone who is not FAAMG.

Normille 6y ago
Because there are eleventy billion free browsers out there already --quite a few of which are at least as good [if not better] than Firefox-- so almost no-one would see the need to buy a browser.
thu2111 6y ago
Donations have been tried as a way to fund other open source projects. It doesn't work. Almost nobody is like you.
sdfhbdf 6y ago
You can donate to the foundation - https://donate.mozilla.org/ https://donate.mozilla.org/
- warpech 6y ago
  Thanks, I suspected that but never really saw the opportunity. The information about donations is nowhere to be found in the Firefox browser, Firefox website, Mozilla website. So it seems like they are not even trying to get user's money through the donations channel. Also, the donations seem to fund every other Mozilla Foundation effort except Firefox. Quote from FAQ: "Firefox is maintained by the Mozilla Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation. While Firefox does produce revenue — chiefly through search partnerships — this earned income is largely reinvested back into the Corporation. The Mozilla Foundation’s education and advocacy efforts, which span several continents and reach millions of people, are supported by philanthropic donations."
jimmyvalmer 6y ago
Mozilla already accepts what you've described (a fee for a product indistinguishable from the free version). The industry parlance for such a thing is a "donation."
- warpech 6y ago
  You are generally correct, however, the donations to the Mozilla Foundation do not go into Firefox development (see my other comment).
  - jimmyvalmer 6y ago
    A distinction without a difference. There are few guarantees in life, death and taxes are two. And you don't have to look hard for someone willing to take your money.

1 points by warpech 6y ago

Normille 6y ago

Because there are eleventy billion free browsers out there already --quite a few of which are at least as good [if not better] than Firefox-- so almost no-one would see the need to buy a browser.

thu2111 6y ago

Donations have been tried as a way to fund other open source projects. It doesn't work. Almost nobody is like you.

sdfhbdf 6y ago

You can donate to the foundation - https://donate.mozilla.org/ https://donate.mozilla.org/

warpech 6y ago
Thanks, I suspected that but never really saw the opportunity. The information about donations is nowhere to be found in the Firefox browser, Firefox website, Mozilla website. So it seems like they are not even trying to get user's money through the donations channel. Also, the donations seem to fund every other Mozilla Foundation effort except Firefox. Quote from FAQ: "Firefox is maintained by the Mozilla Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation. While Firefox does produce revenue — chiefly through search partnerships — this earned income is largely reinvested back into the Corporation. The Mozilla Foundation’s education and advocacy efforts, which span several continents and reach millions of people, are supported by philanthropic donations."

jimmyvalmer 6y ago

Mozilla already accepts what you've described (a fee for a product indistinguishable from the free version). The industry parlance for such a thing is a "donation."

warpech 6y ago
You are generally correct, however, the donations to the Mozilla Foundation do not go into Firefox development (see my other comment).
- jimmyvalmer 6y ago
  A distinction without a difference. There are few guarantees in life, death and taxes are two. And you don't have to look hard for someone willing to take your money.