There are some applications out in the wild web that are worth paying for. And while you might argue till the cows come home that every web application should be free, it isn’t always a viable idea, especially when you are not Google. I want to share with you what I believe are the top five web applications worth paying for:
1. Clicky
Clicky is an analytics service that is currently used by Techgeist as our main provider for analytics. Clicky provides real-time analytics via Spy, which track users actions and pages they visit. Clicky’s business model is Freemium, with there lowest level paid subscription starting at $4.99 or $29.99 yearly.
2. Crazy Egg
Crazy Egg is an analytics service of a different sort. Instead of tracking hits, Crazy Egg tracks what people do. Crazy Egg lets webmasters set up specified pages to test out new/current webpage designs. There are multiple ways to view the data, the most popular of which is via the heat map. There are also an array of other options to view what your users do on your site with Crazy Egg. The lowest plan starts out at $9.00 a month.
3. WordPress.com
Wordpress is by far the best blogging platform out on the market and runs many of the blogs you visit everyday. Wordpress.com offers a multitude of options with all the essentials you need to get your blog up and running. Wordpress is also based off of the Freemium model and you can upgrade certain aspects to fit your needs. Visit the premium features page here to find out what.
4. MediaTemple
While MediaTemple isn’t an application, it is the foundation that powers many applications we use everyday. With excellent customer ticket support and a 24/7 customer service line, MediaTemple is serious about hosting your site. They power big blogs such as Techcrunch and Mashable as well as other properties such as ABC. The lowest plan on MediaTemple starts out at $20.00 a month.
5. CoTweet
CoTweet is a Twitter application made for businesses. With multiple features such as tracking, multiple accounts and colleague management, had lead to a million dollar round of funding. While CoTweet is currently free, they do plan to charge at some point in the near future. Many big name companies such as Ford, Microsoft and even Twitter use CoTweet as their primary Twitter client.
