Free Services Debate

Discussions revolve around the economics of free products and services, including whether users are freeloaders, the true costs involved (like data), and expectations or complaints about free offerings.

📉 Falling 0.4x Startups & Business
5,645
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#7771
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
8
2008
45
2009
101
2010
151
2011
192
2012
236
2013
274
2014
231
2015
224
2016
256
2017
291
2018
327
2019
382
2020
421
2021
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2022
532
2023
588
2024
418
2025
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2026
38

Keywords

OP free away free paying free free service free service lunch pay money pile

Sample Comments

adgasf Mar 13, 2019 View on HN

"if it's free then you're not the customer you're the product" this ignores non-profit ventures like Wikipedia.

itishappy May 9, 2024 View on HN

They're offering an expensive service for free. Could it go any other way?

appplication Oct 24, 2024 View on HN

This is a common and acceptable tradeoff for free products.

vegai Nov 12, 2011 View on HN

Why do you insist on paying for a free thing?

goblin89 Aug 2, 2020 View on HN

The fact that something is free to you does not mean no one is paying.

nonethewiser Jan 14, 2026 View on HN

It's crazy to expect someone to pay for something that you're giving them for free.

Eerie Jul 8, 2017 View on HN

You are complaining about free stuff.Stop complaining about free stuff.

jodrellblank Mar 26, 2009 View on HN

On what grounds is using a free service without paying for it something to be looked down upon?

Retr0id Oct 24, 2025 View on HN

It's ok for a free thing to not meet someone's needs.

rightbyte Aug 27, 2023 View on HN

How is utilizing free services ever not freeloading?