Freeware is free software that may show ads, but differs from shareware which requires payment after a trial. Freeware has a license with common restrictions and limited support. Some freeware is only for personal use and reading the license is important. It has been helpful to users and some programs have become popular staples.
Freeware is software offered free of charge, downloadable from the Internet. If the software prompts the user to see ads while using the program, then technically it is adware. Freeware is also different from shareware in that shareware requires payment if the software is to be used beyond a trial date.
Although freeware does not demand financial compensation, it has a user license or EULA (End User License Agreement). Each license is specific to the software it is bundled with, but some restrictions are common to most programs. For example, most freeware prohibits the user from modifying the program, repackaging it, or selling it. It may allow redistribution, however, as long as the program remains unchanged and the license agreement intact.
Understandably, freeware doesn’t often come with technical support, and some programs don’t have an extensive help menu. Many operators write programs in their spare time and don’t have the resources to offer technical support. That said, other programs not only have extensive built-in manuals, but also have their own websites with FAQs and user-dedicated USENET newsgroups that help users. Some authors respond personally to end-user emails, although this cannot be counted.
Often, a program is only available for free if it is for personal use, while commercial or business use requires a paid license. It is important to read any licenses that come with the program. The license will appear during the initial stages of the installation process. As with most software, the freeware is provided “as is” and you assume all responsibility for its use.
Freeware has proven to be an incredible boon for computer users since online services became popular in the late 1980s. Many talented programmers report that writing useful programs is an addictive hob. Others use it as a stepping stone to garner sales for more robust editions offered at a cost. And still other programs drive traffic to sites that rely on a suite of related shareware programs to make money.
While there are countless freeware programs, some have become staples in the online community. Others have changed status over the years to shareware or adware. There are several sites dedicated only to freeware. Most of the popular download sites, including TuCows, ZDNet, and SnapFiles, also distribute shareware. Free programs will be marked as such.
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