To achieve optimal adoption and growth for software built for developers, striking a balance between free and paid elements is crucial. However, this balance must be carefully considered to avoid user backlash and inhibit engagement. The key to success lies in aligning pricing with value received by users, often through consumption-based models. By adopting usage-based pricing, businesses can make their products more appealing to developers and encourage continued use. Ngrok's recent move to a pay-as-you-go plan is an example of this approach, where users only pay for what they use, making it easier to adopt and maintain the platform in production environments.