When you start building a WordPress website, you quickly become aware of the wide array of tools and options available. The WordPress.org repository, premium tool developers, and other add-ons are everywhere. It’s easy to rack up quite a few fees for licensing and purchases, especially if you drift into heavier topics like eCommerce and Membership.
Early on in my own building journey, I discovered websites that promoted cheap and discounted tools, also known as nulled plugins and theme shops, at a fraction of the price the developers wanted. At first, it seemed like a great opportunity to save some cash, but I quickly learned otherwise.
This article will cover how these “cheap plugin” websites are able to exist, how they function, and why you should completely avoid them.
Free vs. Paid
WordPress is open-source software governed by the GPL license. That means, generally, that the core code is free to copy, modify, and redistribute. This is one of the reasons it is so attractive to website managers and builders. It’s easy to obtain and rich in extensions, and your imagination is the limit to what can be created with it if you learn to code.
Any tools created for WordPress (“derivative works”) inherit this GPL license. They are also free to copy, modify, and redistribute. You can see plenty of examples of this in the WordPress repository. You have thousands of plugins and themes available at the click of a button for no cost. What happens, however, when the tools you need are more complex than what you can get for free? When you’re ready to set up a store or membership website or need a specific third-party integration, you may find the free options lacking.
Why do some plugins cost money?
In short, because not all of the code in the plugins falls under GPL, or what you’re paying for isn’t the code itself. Many developers charge for API access and support plans. But this is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s better to pay someone for solid code and updates than to grab free versions of complex tools that require a lot of attention and skill to create and maintain. If my business relies on a tool that needs a head better than mine to keep things running, I want the leverage of being a paying client to get the best version of it. I will gladly pay the creator for software updates that keep my site functioning and safe; thank you. Because I can’t do it myself, it’s more than worth the cost.
The GPL rules have many nuances, which are covered in many great posts and discussions on the web. We won’t go into the whole backstory here. If you’re interested in learning more about the details and ongoing discussions surrounding charging for software, you can read this article. It’s long but written in digestible language.
Nulled plugins and theme shops take advantage of the grey areas of the GPL license.
But why should I care where it comes from if it’s cheaper?
The answer is listed in the same GPL freedoms that give you free code: copy, modify, and redistribute.
That cheaper null plugin and theme shop has the same freedom as you to MODIFY the code before giving it to you. Even if it came from the initial creator clean and pristine, they have all the rights to inject code that opens a back door to your website. They could be collecting data, hijacking information, or any number of things, and you’d never know.
While the original creator has a huge incentive to run a clean and secure code business, nulled plugin shops do not have this same incentive. Their only goal is to make as much money as possible off the backs of other creators without actually doing any of the work themselves.
This brings us to the next concern: redistribution. Null plugin shops are giving out copies as the middleman. The bulk of their work is setting up a website to reel you in at a cheap price and then setting up an automated system to send you the code they took from someone else. Not a dime goes to the creator. This deprives the developers of well-earned dollars that they are using to support their businesses and families.
These plugin shops directly discourage innovation and growth in the WordPress plugin economy. If WordPress developers are no longer incentivized by loyal customers because they are flocking to discount sites, they will find other places to use their skills.
What is the real cost you’re willing to pay by saving a few dollars? If you’re cool with malware, risking the stability of your website, data security breaches, and undermining the hard-working developers in WordPress, then you have your answer.
How do I buy plugins and themes securely and ethically?
Nulled shops are easy to identify by their pricing and positioning. Avoid these at all times. Look for terms like:
- Download Cheap Plugins and Themes
- Buy Premium Plugins and Themes at Discount Prices
- All Legal through GPL
- Subscription access to over 3000 plugins
Typically, the plugin creator will be the same as the vendor selling the plugin’s premium version. i.e., You will buy Premium Yoast SEO on yoast.com/
By making a conscious effort to purchase plugins and themes from original creators rather than discounted plugin shops, you are making the best choice for the stability of WordPress development and your website.
