[rosywoozlechan]

Are you speaking from experience? Free users don't provide publicity, and them not converting isn't a problem with the service. You told them exactly how you valued your service and that's what they expect to pay for it. Nothing.

[atian]

This is in response to toxic users. But supporting freeloaders costs money.

I’m saying weigh your conversions. Your comment suggests to discount freeloaders entirely.

[rosywoozlechan]

They're going to be toxic to you, in emails and on your support chat or @'ing you. They're going to drain your energy and make you upset. Nothing good will come from it.

[capableweb]

Basically any popular SaaS in the wild today would disagree with your "Nothing good will come from it" comment as 99% of them offer some sort of free plan.

It's really hard to start a service from 0 and get users to join the platform when it's new. Imagine then that there is no way for users to try out the platform before subscribing to it, uptake will be even lower.

You don't have to reply to every chat and communication channel, especially if it's clear that you've already tried to help the user and it's not enough for them. Ignoring is a powerful tool many forget.

[llaolleh]

I may be naive in this, but aren't most people not assholes? Including free users. I would guess that most free users are nice enough and would appreciate the work you do. Also, making a product free is nice because if it is really cool, users will advertise for you. If I love a product I will share it. Simple.

Maybe OP is jaded because a couple of bad free users trashed his work.

[rosywoozlechan]

Freeloaders are not worth it, based on my now over 10 years of experience in this space.

[capableweb]

I hear you, we have different experiences for sure, which is why the issue is not black or white. I also have around 10 years of experience and would guess neither of my projects nor the projects I work on would be successful unless we had a free tier.