Differences between Free Software and Freeware
Free Software vs. Freeware[edit]
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[edit]
| 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[edit]
- ↑ "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.
