Feature flags are essential tools for modern development workflows, allowing safe code deployment, production testing, and instant rollback capabilities. While open-source alternatives offer control and flexibility, they also come with hidden costs related to infrastructure management, security, and maintenance. LaunchDarkly provides a solution with its free forever tier, offering production-ready feature flags without operational burdens. This tier includes features like unlimited team members, built-in experimentation, enterprise-grade security, and integration with existing CI/CD pipelines, all managed by LaunchDarkly to eliminate the need for server maintenance and monitoring. Although open-source tools like Unleash, PostHog, and GrowthBook provide complete control and no vendor lock-in, they require significant operational effort and costs, such as managing servers and ensuring compliance. LaunchDarkly's offering stands out by minimizing these challenges, making it an attractive choice for most development teams who want to focus on building features rather than managing infrastructure.