For other uses of term, see Bait

Baitware refers to very limited or defective computer software which is made available gratis/free of charge, similar to freeware. The term is composed by bait and -ware and refers to a buggy freeware software, released to deceptively attract users and drive them to commercial products.

Sometimes offering baitware through popular download portals is a way for a software developer to market his other products as those portals normally provide a link to the developer's site. Often the offered products are also reviewed on such portals by either the users downloading and using them or the editors.

Download portals

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• Download.com
• Tucows.com
• Shareware.com

Software distribution