Freeware is copyrighted computer software which is made available for use free of charge, for an unlimited time, as opposed to shareware where the user is required to pay after some trial period.

Freeware contrasts with free software, because of the different meanings of the word "free". Freeware is described as gratis, as in "free beer", and refers to zero price, versus free software, described as "libre", as in "free speech", which refers to the license freedom. However, many programs are both freeware and free software since they can be downloaded for zero price, provide the source code and are distributed with free software permissions.

There are many variations on the freeware model. Freeware is an umbrella term which includes Loss leaders (in the form of crippleware,) adware, or donationware.

Freeware licensing

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The only criterion for being classified as "freeware" is that the software must be made available for use for an unlimited time at no cost. The software license may impose other restrictions, e.g. free for personal use; individual use; non-profit use; non-commercial use; academic use; commercial use; or a combination of these, e.g. "Free for personal, non-commercial use."

Freeware is often considered a sort of middle ground between public domain (where the programmer gives up all his rights to the software) or free software, and proprietary or shareware publishing with its more restrictive for-cost licensing. Programmers who release freeware often want to "give something to the community" but also want credit for their software and to retain control of its future development. Often, when a programmer decides to stop developing a freeware product, he or she will give the source code to another programmer or release the product's source code to the public.

History of use of the term

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The term freeware was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to sell a communications program named PC-Talk that he had created but for which he did not wish to use traditional methods of distribution because of their cost. Previously, he held a trademark on the term "freeware" but this trademark has since been abandoned. Fluegelman actually distributed PC-Talk via a process now referred to as shareware.

See also

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• Abandonware
• Freeware games
• Otherware
• Postcardware
• Pricelessware

External links

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