Because the paying users subsidize the free product, they pay the free lunch. Meanwhile google, like most big platforms, is (almost, see comment) entirely without payment, instead subsidized by ads (and of course the sold data); with gmail you’re not paying with money, but with your attention (and your data).
this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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Do I really need the paid tier? Not necessarily. Proton provides me with a viable privacy-first service. Like they say; vote with your wallet.
I’ve successfully de-googled myself after ~20 years. It feels good to be free of a corporation doing its best to spy on every aspect my life. If my subscription subsidizes the OP’s free lunch I say cheers mate 🍻, have some free privacy on me.
subsidized freemium is a standard practice. it cuts into their profits maybe slightly, but turnover into paying customers is worth it.