FastStone Screen Capture is now Shareware, here is free version

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Posted in » Screenshot Takers, Software - by Ades on June 13th, 2007

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Download FastStone v5.3 (freeware) here

Very popular freeware tool FastStone Capture is now a shareware, when it was still freeware I had blogged about it here recommending you to download. FastStone Capture is my favorite when it comes to capturing screen, cropping captured images, writing on them..etc. I use it extensively for this blog.

I have heard that it became paid before, but I thought people were referring to the commercial license. Previously it was free for personal use, but not for commercial use. Companies supposed to get a license for using FastStone Capture.

But let’s face it, when the program is available for free download, which company is going to pay for a freeware? Answer: Ethical one. Correct! But these days it’s difficult to find those ethical companies. So the solution for the developer was obviously to charge them all: $19.95 for lifetime license. Still not bad offer, considering you get a lifetime license, that is a free update for all future versions.

I was using version 5.3 and wanted to update it to 5.5 since it had better features. However after installing I got a trial pop-up window; try for 30 days or enter code. So I uninstalled and reverted back to my 5.3 version. Luckily I had the old installer.

Sites like OldVersion.com, OldApps.com and Old-Versions.net keep the old versions of the popular softwares. Unfortunately none of them had the later versions of FastStone Capture. Only OldApps had versions from 3.1 - 3.9. That’s too bad.

Lucky you, I had made further research on Google and found that you can download the latest free version 5.3 at this site. I strongly suggest you to get it.

What to learn from this

  • If you are a developer, don’t make a software that is free for one party and paid for another. If you want to charge them, give them more features, better support..etc give them something more.
  • If you have developed a freeware software, keep it free always. Don’t disappoint or worse misuse the public, making your software paid when it becomes popular.
  • If you will develop a software in the future, remember that donationware didn’t work for FastStone Capture. If you want to make money on freeware, maybe you should think again. On the other hand, if you want to just benefit public with your freeware, go ahead and do it!
  • And lastly, when you read AdesBlog suggest you something, just go and get it ;) Otherwise they turn into sharewares.

I hope this post has benefited you, and I hope you will make your own lessons from this case.

Important Link: Download version 5.3 (freeware) here | another source


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12 Responses to “FastStone Screen Capture is now Shareware, here is free version”

  1. By BlogsAndBucks on Jun 13, 2007

    I agree with you. Once a coder develop a program they should make future plan for the development too. It’s not right from a consumer prospective to charge a script/product/service when it was distributed for free before.

    I will stick with my SnagIt. :)

  2. By Steve's Tech Blog on Jun 13, 2007

    I went from shareware to freeware for MIS info Video(Front End/Player) while still adding new features. You are right, donations(at least for me) is not working but putting Adsense, Simtel help just a little and a few do click on them but not enough. :(

    I’m using HyperSnap(not free) but do a lot of things.

  3. By Joel on Jul 1, 2007

    Thanks for the link to the old free portable version of this great program. I may eventually update to the new 5.5 version, but the old one just works so well that I don’t see any need to upgrade anytime soon.

  4. By Matt on Jul 2, 2007

    Thanks for posting this info! I reformatted my computer a couple of days ago and met with an unpleasant surprise when trying to re-install FastStone Capture. SnagIt costs $39.95 and that’s much more feature rich than FastStone. If they want to enter the commercial space they have a lot of competition.

    Keep up the great work!

    -Matt, http://metaviper.com

  5. By me on Jul 21, 2007

    You can also find the free version hosted at PC World’s website. here is the link.
    http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download/fid,64857-page,1-c,downloads/download.html#

  6. By K-IntheHouse on Aug 2, 2007

    Great info. I found this app in Portable Freeware Collection and just love it. I guess the developer needs to put food on his table and for such a quality work, I don’t blame him.

    As Matt said though, there is quite a bit of competition in this area.

  7. By NSpeaks on Sep 5, 2007

    Found another site offering free version: http://www.aplusfreeware.com/categories/mmedia/FastStoneCapture.html

  8. By sarnold on Oct 24, 2007

    Just downloaded free version 5.7 from brothersoft.com

    http://www.brothersoft.com/graphics_design/screen_capture/faststone_capture_63798.html

  9. By jeketb on Oct 24, 2007

    i’m using farstone too..i always use this tool because it is easy to capture and crop my picture..hehe

  10. By Phil Wiffen on Oct 29, 2007

    Cheers for this. I use FastStone Capture for my personal website and was disappointed to find it had been turned into Shareware!

  11. By justsomeguy on Nov 5, 2007

    @ sarnold: This version is already shareware.

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