The EasyEDA project seems like an interesting project. They are developing a production quality EDA system, but with a different monitization model. The plan is to offer free, ad-supported, accounts, cheap, ad-free, accounts and premium accounts. The main revenue stream is not to come from these accounts, but from a prototyping service. So, if that service really flies, the tool might be free for everyone. One interesting part of the account plan is that one can upgrade the account not only by paying, but also by contributing howtos, schematic symbols, etc.
In addition to applying gamification and a different revenue model, they already have 75000+ schematic and 15000 spice libraries, so it looks as if the contents is growing.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this works out. It looks promising to me.
Via dangerousprototypes.