Ask HN: Open-Source vs. Proprietary Software

Hi, I am in a bit of tech choice. we're in the middle of a crucial project, and we need some tools. Now, here's the issue - we can go with free open source tools, but they might lack some support and customization. Or, we can pay for proprietary tools, but they might be expensive and less flexible.

How do you handle this? Any advice or experiences to share on choosing between open source and paid tools for projects? My team's depending on this decision!