How Profitable is Open Source?

Web Design | on Jul. 17, 2011 | by 0 Comments

FOSS or Open source software has always been used along with web development from the beginnings of the expansion of the Internet. Open sources include scripting languages and frameworks for web development such as Rails and PHP, with which renowned platforms have been created including Drupal and WordPress.

These open sources have considerably reduced expenses when developing web services and software have contributed in the modernization and development of the Internet. Hosting solutions as we can find with virtual private servers have developed services and products that contribute to the application of open source software and offer incredibly cheap infrastructures to help with website development.


Services and programs range from premium themes that can be used on open source platforms including WordPress and Joomla or on open source web development frameworks such as Rails or Ruby.

These commercial open sources that now are free to all are helping services and software products to find a place on the market and become known to users. Open source has now made this possible and has increased commercial extensions, which has in turn developed the adaptability of open source products contributing to an economy that is self-sufficient.

Other content management systems are available and offer feasible alternatives to the more renowned open source CMS platforms built on PHP. Drupal and WordPress both offer free packages for open source for general web use; however, they do provide premium products and services for more specific professional use. These sources offer free use and sell their premium products and services under a commercial license.


Some example of how these work is the well-known database management system, MySQl that provides a free community edition as well as various different options for enterprises using commercial license that offer enhanced options. Other similar open source platforms are Alfresco and Magento, which offer similar options for enterprises and e-commerce interfaces.

There are also smaller scaled open sources that offer a free commercial exchange by providing the possibility to create commercial modules and plug-ins for other better known platforms amongst which you can count Joomla, WordPress and Drupal. These platforms provide different functions in addition to the premiere plan for consumers. These enhanced functionalities guarantee more powerful and interchangeable systems and allow professional web designers and developers to create projects that offer more sophisticated options for their clients and website users.


If you want to make money by open source web development, you should be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages. Web designers can make their work available to millions of readers just by releasing extensions using existing platforms. This is a clear advantage, but you need a strong team to market and distributing channel if you want your services to reach the crowds. So, although open source is a great way to expand the functionalities for web creations with very little expense, you should consider the work that comes after the production. There are many software market portals to put your business upfront and expand your working possibilities, so take advantage of these to keep your products and services up-to-date.

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