GitHub Teams Up with Polar for Easier Open-Source Funding

GitHub has teamed up with Polar, a funding platform, to let developers make money from their projects on GitHub.This helps solve a big problem: getting consistent money for open-source projects. Polar lets developers sell extra features and subscriptions, offering a steady flow of cash. 

Polar, started in Sweden by Birk Jernström, lets maintainers set up their own subscription services and benefits, such as access to private repos, Discord invites, premium content, and promotions. This means developers have a lot of freedom to make money while supporting open-source work.

“Donations & sponsorship are great when they happen. Problem is they rarely do. In order to drive meaningful (full-time work) capital to OSS initiatives, I believe it has to charge for add-on value and that such services and subscriptions are mutually beneficial. See mkdocs-material as a prime example,” Jernström said in a HackerNews discussion a few months back. 

This partnership makes it easier for developers to get funded and improves GitHub too. With Polar, developers can create and share posts and newsletters, both free and paid. They can sell subscriptions linked to their GitHub projects. Polar's tools can be used to add these services to their websites or docs. The company takes a 5% fee plus Stripe's fees, but they're covering Stripe fees until March 31, 2024.

Polar is open-source, encouraging open collaboration and feedback on its development.

This step helps open-source developers financially, benefiting both the creators and the open-source community. It connects GitHub's network with Polar's funding options, aiming to change how open-source projects are funded so developers can focus on creating software.