There’s little difference between software I paid for and software I didn’t.
I use both Microsoft Office and Open Office, and the only reason I have both is because Open Office works better for me when I have to create structured documents (e.g. it doesn’t insist on default settings that reformat the whole document when I change formatting on one line, or ask that I dig out the setting that turns that off).
Same with file compares (I use the free ExamDiff). I’m not seeing a lot of difference here with the others here.
I’ll pay when it’s worth it. The TX Text control, for example, is so much better than Microsoft’s RichTextBox control that the money I paid for it was a no brainer. Years on, I have no regrets about it.