Ask YC: Best way to sell downloadable software?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=257238

by pg • 18 years ago

32 13 18 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

My friend works for a company that wants to sell a piece of downloadable software. They've talked to Digital River but say they aren't very responsive. Anyone know what the best options are? Thanks.

cperciva• 18 years ago

What platform does this software run on? There's a far larger ecosystem on Windows than on OS X or freenixes.

What sort of software is this? Mass-market software selling for $5 needs a completely different solution from special-purpose software selling for $5000.

tlrobinson• 18 years ago

Wil Shipley just launched Golden%Braeburn for OS X apps, which looks pretty nice (same system used in Delicious Library):

http://golden-braeburn.com/

warwick• 18 years ago

5% of your sales for what it offers? Remember, they're not hosting your payment stuff, or processing credit cards, or anything like that.

Golden%Braeburn strikes me as something that would be great, but I'd really only want to pay for it once.

ericb• 18 years ago

swreg.com and regnow.com are two options. I rolled my own and got a merchant services account. I think I remember seeing good things about swreg. Their rates are certainly lower.

If you are trying to lock down a shareware program, armadillo is the best.

The ASP is worth joining to get the best info if they're doing a lot of this: http://www.asp-shareware.org/

bd• 18 years ago

Shareware selling friend (ASP member) recommended:

http://www.shareit.com http://plimus.com

hermitcrab2• 18 years ago

I have heard of lots of problems with Armadillo since DR bought them.

bprater• 18 years ago

What functionality (pieces of the puzzle) does he not want to deal with? In general, selling software boils down to being able to take money (credit cards) and provide the software (via a secret URL or a serial code).

nickb• 18 years ago

What's the price point of the software? A buddy of mine sells a pretty well known app for under $100 and he uses http://www.esellerate.net/ He mentioned that Kagi is also an option: https://www.kagi.com/kagisolutions/index.php

If the software is over $150 or so, it's probably better to setup your own payment system down the line.

tom_rath• 18 years ago

We use Plimus and are very happy with them.

I would recommend you avoid SWREG and other Digital River properties. Our experience with DR was very unpleasant and a quick Google search on "swreg scam" and a review of this summary: http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/07/04/swreg-customers-bew... should tell you why.

jamesbritt• 18 years ago

How do people handle unlocking features that should not be available unless a license has been bought?

hermitcrab2• 18 years ago

Anything other than Digital River.

e-junkie + paypal and/or GoogleCheckout is one non DR option: http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/07/23/cost-effective-soft...

Plimus, Avangate and Fastspring are others.

duane• 18 years ago

The best way to do it is to make software that is so good people will want to buy it. It's really the most effective piracy solution.

Also, a smart programmer can provide a better solution that anything digital river can offer.

Maro• 18 years ago

Just because a piece of software is really good doesn't mean ppl. will want to pay money for it. It's not an effectice piracy solution.

Ask YC: Best way to sell downloadable software?

Related Stories