Advice Request Types of Paid Software to Avoid - What's Yours?

[Ink]

Some examples below, add your own categories.

• Paid Driver Updaters
  • New hardware come with their own support tools to keep drivers up to date.
  • Older hardware will eventually stop getting updates - A driver updater won't help.
• Paid Cleanup Software
  • Browsers have built-in cleaning tools that do it for you
  • Learn to maintain your systems.
• Paid Registry Cleaners
  • Usually included with Paid Cleanup software
• Paid Advert Blockers
  • Most ad-blockers are based on the free and open source version content blocker
  • Exception to system-wide protection with VPN filtering and privacy options
• Paid Web Browsers
  • Come back in 10 years.
• Paid Chrome extensions
  • 99% fraudulent transactions
• Paid Free Antivirus
  • Look for the price tag.

 

[enaph]

Windows customization tools like WindowBlinds and ObjectDock

 

[Digmor Crusher]

I avoid them all, as per your list, only one I may consider, one black and gloomy day, would be the paid AV.

 

[Venustus]

Paid PDF readers!

 

[South Park]

Paid software that duplicates functionality of free/open source software, e.g., paid word processors that add little to no value over Libre Office.

 

[SumTingWong]

Ransomware software.

 

[FireHammer]

I know it is not the right category but: Free VPN-Services!

 

[WhiteMouse]

Any software that doesn't offer or offer bad customer support.

Ransomware software.

Yeah, I wouldn't. Especially when you can infect your friend for a free decryption key.

 

[Venustus]

I know it is not the right category but: Free VPN-Services!

Even some paid ones

 

[ForgottenSeer 85179]

Ransomware software.

Ransomware-as-a-Service?

 

[SumTingWong]

Yeah, I wouldn't. Especially when you can infect your friend for a free decryption key.

LOL that betrayal

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Paid PDF readers!

Well, I won’t call it a PDF reader. It is a PDF suite which offers you more than reading capability. It allows you to create, edit and protect PDF files. It also allows you to convert PDF to word, excel, powerpoint and vice versa. Electronic signatures and OCR are two great features. I know you cam get some of these features for free, but I purchased the Academic lifetime version of Wondershare PDFelement.

 

[Venustus]

Academic lifetime version of Wondershare PDFelement

That is worth it..But there are some dedicated paid readers,not editors that are absolutely ridiculous

 

[Divine_Barakah]

That is worth it..But there are some dedicated paid readers,not editors that are absolutely ridiculous

Since I mentioned Wondershare, I paid $65 for a lifetime version. That was version 7, and after a month or two, version 8 was released. They asked a price of $35 for the upgrade and here I exploded. I kept nagging them everywhere (on Trust Pilot and email) and they surrendered and they assured me to offer me every single future update for free . I just wanted to inform other users who might fall victim for their shady marketing practices.
Other than that, their app is great and its functionality is perfect and is worth every penny.