It has been my experience....
that the free version of almost all the products I've tested are better than the paid versions. The only exception to this rule is Emisoft's Mamutu, but then I might say the free version of their anti-malware suite is better also, as I couldn't get reliable performance from their full paid suite. Mamutu doesn't have a free version anyway - so it is fully an exception here.
I have paid for full versions occasionally to see if they work, so I have supported many of the best tools many times; and many of my clients have too. I also encourage donations to the companies that take them, most of my clients can afford a few dollars toward the cause, and they are surprised when I recommend such small amounts - but then - if I didn't they wouldn't be able to support them anyway, as most of them are indigent.
