Differences between Free Software and Freeware
Free Software vs. Freeware
The terms "free software" and "freeware" are often confused, but they describe fundamentally different concepts related to software distribution and licensing. The distinction centers on the meaning of "free": free software refers to freedom and user rights, not necessarily the price, while freeware specifically means the software is available at no monetary cost.[1][2] Freeware is often proprietary software, meaning the user's rights to modify or share it are restricted by the developer.[3]
Free software, as defined by the Free Software Foundation, is based on a philosophy of user liberty.[2][4] For a program to be considered free software, its license must grant users four essential freedoms: the freedom to run the program for any purpose; the freedom to study how it works and change it; the freedom to redistribute copies; and the freedom to distribute copies of modified versions.[5] Access to the source code is a necessary precondition for the freedoms to study and modify the software.[5]
Freeware, in contrast, has no agreed-upon definition or single licensing model.[3] It refers to software that is distributed to the end-user without charge for an unlimited time.[3] However, the author typically retains copyright, and the source code is not made available.[3] This means users are generally not permitted to modify, reverse-engineer, or redistribute the software.[3] The developer dictates the rules, which can range from allowing redistribution to restricting use to non-commercial purposes only.[3]
Comparison Table
| Category | Free Software | Freeware |
|---|---|---|
| Primary meaning of "Free" | Refers to freedom ("free speech"), not price.[2] | Refers to price ("free beer"), available at no cost. |
| Cost | May be distributed for a fee or at no cost.[2] | Distributed at no monetary cost.[3] |
| Source Code | Source code is always available to the user.[5] | Source code is typically not available.[3] |
| User Freedoms | Grants users the four essential freedoms (run, study, share, modify).[5] | Does not grant these freedoms; rights are restricted by the developer.[3] |
| Modification Rights | Users are permitted and encouraged to modify the software.[5] | Modification is generally prohibited by the license. |
| Redistribution | Users can redistribute original and modified versions.[5] | Redistribution may be permitted, but is controlled by the developer's license.[3] |
| Licensing | Distributed under specific free software licenses (e.g., GPL). | No standard license; rules are defined by each publisher and are often proprietary.[3] |
| Examples | Linux kernel, GIMP, LibreOffice | Adobe Acrobat Reader, Skype, Google Chrome |
References
- ↑ "thelaw.institute". Retrieved February 03, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "gnu.org". Retrieved February 03, 2026.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved February 03, 2026.
- ↑ "wikipedia.org". Retrieved February 03, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "edtechbooks.org". Retrieved February 03, 2026.
