Price levels
The pricing models of the programs listed in the tool guide are very diverse, sometimes involve many options, and often undergo frequent changes. If you are interested in a particular product, please check the latest pricing information published by its manufacturer on their website.
The information in this guide is only intended to give you an initial sense of the level of pricing so that you can quickly decide whether or not to evaluate the product any further.
Level |
Meaning |
|---|---|
● free |
There are no direct license fees. Some companies may offer optional paid consulting, implementation, customization, or hosting services. If these services are truly optional, the product is still listed as “free”. Sometimes, presumably “free” products heavily rely on paid add-ins. These products are not listed as free but in the category that best reflects their true costs. Products that offer both free and paid versions or plans are also only listed as free if the free version is fully usable and the paid version can be seen as a purely optional plus. |
● low |
The license fee is typically less than about $250 for the first user and 3 years, or for a perpetual license if available. |
● medium |
The license fee is typically less than about $2500 for the first user and 3 years, or for a perpetual license if available. |
● high |
The license fee is typically more than about $2500 for the first user and 3 years, or for a perpetual license if available. |
● diverse |
License fees start with a free or very inexpensive basic version but if you want a fully usable version prices are significantly higher. |
● not published |
Some companies do not publish any prices. This may be because the price depends on various factors, because the price is negotiable, because the company doesn’t want their competitors to know the exact price, or because the price may seem very high at first glance. Also, the company obtains your contact information as a result of your necessary request. |
IMPORTANT: Note that the absolute price does not necessarily tell anything about the return on investment. Even very expensive tools can be more than well worth their money. On the other end, some “free” tools can eventually become very costly if they don’t work properly, if they are less efficient than others, or if they need time-consuming customization or maintenance.