(Credit:
Mozilla)
It's been just under four months since Mozilla launched its pilot program for contributions, a way for users to donate to add-on developers for their time and effort.
The program was launched in tandem with a redesign of Mozilla's add-ons site that gave developers their own profile pages. Many add-on makers were already running donation programs through their own sites, but wanted the option to show up in Mozilla's catalog too.
Already it appears to be working, but on a smaller scale than some developers might have hoped. For the half dozen developers that CNET News talked to, none has made enough from it to, say, quit their day job. While Mozilla would not reveal specifics on which developers are getting the most contributions, it did provide us with the total amount given: around $20,000. An organization spokesperson said that most of that came in September and October.
Of the 500 or so developers who are participating in the program, the average contribution falls somewhere between $5 and $6, with the largest thus far being $150. All have gone through PayPal, which is the sole way to pay through Mozilla's add-on site. PayPal then gets a small fee out of each transaction, something that comes out of the developer's pocket, although this varies based on how much the user gives.
Other ways to make money
Some developers believe Mozilla has gone about the payment problem in reverse. With the current contributions program developers are given the chance to ask for money before the user even downloads the free add-on. So why not give them a way to ask for a contribution after a user has downloaded and installed it?... Read more
Mozilla has introduced a new pilot program for Firefox developers to make a little money off add-ons they've created. Developers now have the option to place a "contribution" button on their add-on page, which lets users donate any amount they wish via PayPal.
CNET News Poll
Contributions are optional, meaning users can continue to download and use add-ons without having to pay anything. Mozilla is also letting developers pick their own suggested price, although users can choose to pay whatever they wish.
For the pilot program, add-on creators get the entire amount of the contribution, minus PayPal's transaction fee. However, in the future that could change with Mozilla taking a small cut. Mozilla is also encouraging developers to set up special PayPal accounts for contributions under $12, since PayPal's fees are less if set up for micropayments.
Mozilla is running the pilot with a limited number of developers, and will likely open it up to all if it's a success. It's definitely a smart way to attract add-on developers to host their creations on Mozilla's site, since there's now a simpler way for them to get paid. However, it will be interesting to see if users are willing to part with their money when they don't really have to.
How much would you be willing to pay a developer for their add-on? Vote in the poll to the right.
Update: Here's an example of what it looks like live as seen on the Download Statusbar extension:
(Credit:
CNET)
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