Donationware is a fully functional computer software given away with a suggestion that anyone using the software makes a donation to offset the costs of creating this software. Because the donation is optional, donationware may also be viewed as freeware.

If the payment goes towards a making the software open source, the software may be considered ransomware.

See also

• Gift economy
• Participatory organization

References

Jesse Reichler (2006) Donationware experience An article describing experiments with Donationware: Ethical Software, Work Equalization, Temporary Licenses, Collective Bargaining, and Microdonations at Donationcoder.

Software distribution

Donationware | Donationware | ドネーションウェア