Why I Use PWYW Instead of Free

When I released The Simple Approach on DriveThruRPG, I set it as pay-what-you-want (PWYW) rather than free. That decision was based on nearly a decade of tracking downloads, payment trends, and audience behavior. People often ask why I don’t simply list my work for free, like I do here on the site. Here’s why.

First, perception matters. In many digital marketplaces, free products are often perceived as lower quality. Setting a price, even with a PWYW option, signals that the work has value.

Second, most people will put 0.00 anyway. PWYW functions as free for most while allowing those who see value in the work to contribute.

Third, DriveThruRPG’s bestseller lists and medallions are based on paid sales, so free books don’t qualify for those rankings. DriveThruRPG only tracks paid sales for bestseller lists and medallions. Even if only a fraction of readers pay, it keeps the book visible. Even if a book reaches high download numbers, its ranking depends on how many people pay something.

Here’s the breakdown of The Simple Approach’s first six days:

• Total Downloads: 157

• Paid More Than the Asking Price: 1 (0.63%)

• Paid the Asking Price: 7 (4.45%)

• Paid Below the Asking Price: 15 (9.55%)

• Paid Nothing: 134 (85.35%)

These numbers show PWYW works. The majority pay nothing, but enough do to justify using this model over a completely free release. PWYW keeps options open—people can get the book for free, but those who value it can support it. That’s why I made this choice, and why I no longer release free products on that platform. If you’re considering your own pricing strategy, this might give you something to think about.