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Ask HN: How to monetize a Browser Extension without making users pay or leave?

Hi, I have a cool idea for a browser extension. I tried to make it a website at first to add ads, but a browser extension seems more appropriate. How could I make money off a browser extension without making the users pay and without using dark patterns that would make the users flee?

tucaz 3y ago
Get someone to pay/fund you because it works really well with their site or app?
- throwawayadvsec 3y ago
  actually the extension targets one specific site and they wouldn't really be happy about it it's nothing nefarious but it's adding a feature that they refuse to add to their websites because it could hurt some of their numbers
  - icecream_so_gud 3y ago
    Adversarial compatibility is a good thing for users. If the site doesn't want to implement what your extension would do then either they will try to shake you down, buy you out, or implement the feature on their site. The latter two seem like a positive for you.
cannibalXxx 3y ago
How about you make it available for free for a while and then monetize it? or else use it in freemium
- throwawayadvsec 3y ago
  I think people are going to use it(a few millions people could need it and there is no solutions available today), but I don't think it would be important enough for them to ever pay.
0x073 3y ago
I don't think browser extensions are good to monetize. Personally I would never pay to any of it. I donated to two open source projects that are browser extensions but I don't think that's the target of you. If you can't control the site I wouldn't pay for an extension that could easily break.
cddotdotslash 3y ago
What about a freemium model? Allow users to get basic features for free, but add hooks into the UI prompting them to upgrade to access more advanced features.
ApolloRising 3y ago
Depending on what the extension does, you should be able to monetize it by figuring who needs it the most and if companies would sponsor it.
pizza 3y ago
The artifact is being released for free. But you want to be compensated for your dev time. So maybe a patreon or github sponsorship or something like that.

tucaz 3y ago

Get someone to pay/fund you because it works really well with their site or app?

throwawayadvsec 3y ago
actually the extension targets one specific site and they wouldn't really be happy about it it's nothing nefarious but it's adding a feature that they refuse to add to their websites because it could hurt some of their numbers
- icecream_so_gud 3y ago
  Adversarial compatibility is a good thing for users. If the site doesn't want to implement what your extension would do then either they will try to shake you down, buy you out, or implement the feature on their site. The latter two seem like a positive for you.

cannibalXxx 3y ago

How about you make it available for free for a while and then monetize it? or else use it in freemium

throwawayadvsec 3y ago
I think people are going to use it(a few millions people could need it and there is no solutions available today), but I don't think it would be important enough for them to ever pay.

0x073 3y ago

I don't think browser extensions are good to monetize. Personally I would never pay to any of it. I donated to two open source projects that are browser extensions but I don't think that's the target of you. If you can't control the site I wouldn't pay for an extension that could easily break.

cddotdotslash 3y ago

What about a freemium model? Allow users to get basic features for free, but add hooks into the UI prompting them to upgrade to access more advanced features.

ApolloRising 3y ago

Depending on what the extension does, you should be able to monetize it by figuring who needs it the most and if companies would sponsor it.

pizza 3y ago

The artifact is being released for free. But you want to be compensated for your dev time. So maybe a patreon or github sponsorship or something like that.