freeware and shareware

[ClaraStephen]

i am very new to forum. I want to ask what is freeware and shareware?
Can anybody help me?

[ovidiucucu]

• freeware - software that is provided without charge
• shareware - software that makes use of the try before you buy marketing method

[marsh_pottaye]

See also: careware, addware, spyware, hijackware, beerware, etc...

[Ejaz]

Just to elaborate ovidiucucu points,

Freeware
Freeware is computer software which is made available free of charge. Typically freeware is distributed without source code. Freeware usually carries a license that permits redistribution but may have other restrictions, such as limitations on its commercial use. Sometimes the license can be as simple as saying the program may be freely copied, but never sold. Another common stipulation forbids use by governments or armed forces.

The term 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. He actually distributed PC-Talk via what is now referred to as shareware.

Commercial vendors often release freeware as a loss leader to attract customers to other services or products available for a fee. Others release freeware because other methods of distribution are unlikely to make a profit or because the software is outdated and is no longer worth selling.

Shareware
Shareware is software that is distributed without payment ahead of time as is common for proprietary software. Typically shareware software is obtained free of charge by downloading, thus allowing one to try out the program ahead of time. A shareware program is accompanied by a request for payment, and often payment is required per the terms of the license past a set period of time (although some consider this requirement to cause the software to be not shareware but a demo). The term shareware was coined by Bob Wallace to describe his word processor PC-Write in the mid-1980s.