Date First Published: 8th September 2023
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 6/10
Learn about what donationware is in this article.
Donationware, also known as donateware, is a type of software that is free to use, but encourages end users to support the creators or a third-party beneficiary by making a donation. The amount of the donation may be set by the creators or it may be left at the user's choice. Donations are optional, but if end users found the software useful, they can be sure that the developer will appreciate it.
Since users can freely use the software without having to pay any fees, it is also a type of freeware. However, it is not always open-source as the source code may not always be open or available. But, if the source is open and available, donationware can also be a type of open-source software.
Donationware offers an alternative method of developers making money from software. Instead of being funded by sales or ads, developers entirely rely on donations to make money from donationware. This ensures that the software is available to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances. Usually, only a small percentage of users donate, so donations themselves are often not enough to cover all the costs involved in the development of the software.
The donations are usually paid using PayPal or Bitcoin. Nearly all donationware has a donate button, usually in the top-left corner of the interface. Some donationware may occasionally display a popup, requesting for a donation, whilst others may nag users and request a donation every time the software is opened, which can irritate users. More annoying donationware can even display messages at random times while the program is open.
One example of donationware is VLC Media Player developed by VideoLAN. It is a free and open-source multimedia player that allows users to play audio and video content as well as DVDs, CDs, VCDs, and streaming protocols. It encourages users to contribute to VideoLAN by donating money. Donations can be made using a PayPal account or Bitcoin.
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