Over the past few years software makers and independent developers have begun to offer a wide variety of business applications for free (e.g., Google Apps and Adobe Photoshop Express). For budget-conscious businesses these may be appealing options, but there are a few important factors to keep in mind when selecting free software.

Support is a major issue, of course, and so is usability. Many of the free software options have limited functions or are only available online, making offline work impossible. There are some great applications that you can get for free, such as antivirus software and instant messaging programs, but there’s also software that’s worth paying for.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether you should go free or pay the fee.

Is the Software Mission Critical?

If an application is critical to the day-to-day running of your business it may be best to spring for the cost of licensing the software. Take Photoshop, for instance. If you run a small design firm where you are working with the program every day to fill client orders, it’s probably worth paying for the desktop version with full functionality and support services. Photoshop Express may be great for occasional users and students but may not be the best option for heavy users.