Freeware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freeware is computer software which is made available free of charge, as opposed to payware where the user is required to pay.
Freeware contrasts with "free software", due to the different meanings of the word "free". Freeware is described as "Gratis", "free as in beer" and refers to free price, versus "Free Software" referred to as libre software, "free as in speech", which refers to the licence freedom.
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Freeware licencing
The only critera for being classed as "Freeware" is no cost, thus Freeware can be covered by any type of licence. Freeware and "free software" are not mutually exclusive, as the former refers to cost, the latter to licencing. However, "free software" which is also freeware is usually simply referred just as "free software", thus the term Freeware commonly refers to the sub-set of freeware with a proprietary licence.
History of use of the term
The term freeware was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to distribute 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.
Types
There are many variations on the freeware model. Freeware is an umbrella term which includes:
- Loss leader. Commercial vendors often release freeware as a loss leader to attract customers to other services or products available for a fee.
- Adware. Adware is distributed as freeware, but it requires the user to view advertisements to use the software. Many cases of spyware have been adware.
- Donationware or Beggarware or Nagware. The authors of donationware ask that anyone using their software make a donation to the authors or to some third party such as a charity. Because the donation is optional, donationware may also be freeware or fall into some other category.
- Abandonware. Abandonware is commercial software that has not been sold for a long time or whose copyright holder is defunct; it has been "abandoned". The licenses of most such software forbid redistribution or require payment, so distributing it violates the author's copyright (even if the author does not or cannot enforce it). "Legal abandonware" is a misnomer for commercial software that has been re-released by the copyright holder as freeware.
- Postcardware. The software is essentially freeware, however the author requests that you send a post card expressing thanks and providing feedback.
- Baitware. Very limited or defective freeware software, released to deceptively attract users and drive them to commercial products.
Related software types
- Shareware is distributed similarly to freeware, except that it requires payment after some trial period.
- One type of shareware is crippleware, for which the user can pay to unlock more features or get a "full version".
See also
External links
Sources
- The History of Shareware by Michael E. Callahan
- GNU's declaration that "freeware" is not the same as "free software"
- Making Sense of Freeware, Open Source, and Shareware
- Andrew Fluegleman: In Memoriam by Kevin Strehlo
- Paul Lutus: CareWare concept
- "13 of the Great Freeware Writers" by Rey Barry, the Freeware Hall of Fame
Freeware
| This article is part of the series: forms of software distribution |
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Abandonware | Adware | Baitware | Beerware | Careware | Crippleware | Demoware | Donateware | Free software | Freeware | Greenware | Guiltware | Hostageware | Loyaltyware | Malware | Nagware | Open source | Postcardware | Ransomware | Shareware | Shovelware | Spyware | Vaporware |
