The Cost of "Free" Software

Linux, Mozilla, and Joomla are all leading names in the open source software movement that has been gaining ground slowly but steadily since the mid 1980's. Whether you are searching for an operating system, content management systems, or Windows managers, you may be drawn to open source services that proudly boast their "free" software tag. But are these products really free? This month we examine the total cost of ownership of open source software and why "free" might cost you more than you think.

Although open-source software has been available since 1984, there has recently been a heated debate on this so-called "free software". Richard Stallman, creator of the open-source GNU operating system, explains that when we call software "free" we mean that it respects the users' essential freedoms – the freedom to run it, to study and change it, and to redistribute copies. Hence, this is a matter of independence, not price. So when you hear the term free software, think of "free speech," not "free lunch."

The theoretical benefit to open-source software is that it's constantly improving because of the collaborative and public manner in which developers update and share the software. However, the 900-pound gorilla continues to be maintenance and technical support for open source software. Although the services may be free, it may cost you in time and effort when your website is down and there is no help line or support team.

Proprietary software users admire the dependability of such purchased programs and the support that comes with them. Software products like Microsoft Office are commonplace on computers in the workplace and at home; and the combination of their maturity and the support infrastructure that surrounds them enhances the user experience. This software, however, does come with an actual and often hefty cost to purchase.

Open-source products such as Apache and Linux have a proven track record of being just as reliable as proprietary operating systems as long as the capabilities of the software are aligned with the goal of the project. Open-source software may be worth the extra bit of implementation effort if the project team has the IT knowledge to support it; just as purchased software may be the solution for projects that cannot risk additional integration effort or that lack the in-house resources and expertise required to effectively utilize them.

As the everyday computer user will find out, there is no clear cut financial answer for choosing which type of software to run on your computer. When you factor in productivity, integration, and IT support, we find that the costs listed on your licensing contract are not entirely representative of the total cost of ownership of open source products.

Although open-source software may be listed as "free" it is not without cost. So think twice before selecting software products on price alone. Open-source software can be a great addition to your array of programs, but savvy techies will see the hidden costs associated with "free" software.