How can I sell my Google Chrome extension? [closed]

Question

I have developed an extension for Google Chrome, but if I host the app on the Chrome Web Store there are no options to monetize the extension. This, to me, is a complete missed segment of the market, as I am sure developers would love to come up with creative applications and generate revenue for them!

I can't seem to find any alternative site/marketplace that would allow me to sell this extension though. I know that Firefox is building an app store to compete with Google and other HTML5 based app stores, but that doesn't help me too much either.

Is there any way I can.

1. Host my extension on either my own server or another app marketplace?

2. Provide some type of payment gateway with licensing that prevents users from downloading a copy of the .crx and illegally distributing it?

I have a great little app that I don't want to give it away for free. Any Ideas?

Answer 1

Google says that the ability to sell extensions is "coming soon". Untill then, you can always self-host or turn your extension into a packaged app (see Google's notes for selling packaged apps, which are fundamentally identical to extesnions, but add an icon to the home screen.)

EDIT

"New" packaged apps (since the advent of manifest_version: 2) are quite different from extensions and have access to a completely separate set of APIs. Extensions are meant for browser interaction (manipulating tabs, cookies, history, etc.), whereas apps are meant to be closer to standalone programs.

Answer 2

As far as I know, there is no alternative marketplace for paid extensions.

Anyway, you can always host the extension on your own server: http://code.google.com/chrome/extensions/hosting.html