Freeware is copyrighted computer software which is made available free of charge, as opposed to shareware where the user is required to pay.

Freeware contrasts with "free software", because of the different meanings of the word "free". Freeware is described as "gratis", as in "free beer" and refers to free price, versus "free software" (described as "libre"), as in "free speech", which refers to the license freedom.

The only criterion for being classified as "freeware" is that the software must be made available at no cost. The software license may impose other restrictions that limit the user's freedom. Freeware and "free software" are not the same thing. The former rules out payment for transmission of a copy, while the latter explicitly grants the freedom to sell copies of the software. The GPL v 2.0 states, "You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy," and stipulates that you are not allowed to withdraw this right from anyone who receives a copy: "you must give the recipients all the rights that you have". However, "free software" is often confused with freeware. "Free software" is a term often used in reference to software released under the GPL or other open source licenses promoted by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

The term freeware was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to sell 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.

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. 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. 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.

• 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".

• Freeware at Wikibooks.
• List of freeware games
• List of open source games
• Pricelessware

• 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
• A Collection of well-known Freeware Alternative's to Commercial Software's by Deepesh Agarwal

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