Date First Published: 27th September 2023
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 5/10
Learn about what freeware is in this article.
Freeware is a type of software that is made available to other users free of charge. It allows users to use it for as long as they want to without having to pay and unlike trialware, it does not expire after a certain period of time. Quite a lot of software programs are offered for free, including productivity applications, software utilities, video players, and games. Freeware is the opposite of commercial software, which requires payment before it can be used and doesn't usually contain any ads.
Although freeware is given away for free by the owner, it is often proprietary. This means that the creator retains ownership of the software and the source code may not be open, available, or modifiable. This means that it often lacks flexibility as it cannot be modified to adapt to the user's needs, like adding or changing a feature. This can become an issue if users cannot complete all of the necessary tasks they want. Freeware is often created as a way for the creator to generate exposure for their paid product and may be a form of freemium software.
Most freeware is a type of donationware, which encourages end users to support the creators or a third-party beneficiary by making a donation. The developers may also make money from ads within the program, by offering other programs during the installation process, and by providing a 'lite' version of the program that may lead to users upgrading to the full paid version.
Freeware is not the same thing as open-source software. Freeware is a type of software that is free to use, but the source code is not always open. For example, Google Chrome is free to use but the source code is closed and unavailable, meaning that the software cannot be modified. But, if the source code of the freeware software is open, then it is also open-source software.
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