While on some software download sites, news sites you must have heard about Open Source, Freeware and Shareware Software and many of us actually don’t know the actual meaning and difference between them.
To explain what is the actual difference between Free Source, Freeware and Shareware Software we have writing this article in easy language so keep reading this post till the end.
What is Open Source Software
Open Source is also known as Free Software that is available to us with its source code, which we can use to modify, inspect, improve that software. We can also add specific codes to modify it.
Various open-source software costs some time but most of them are free to use.
Widely used Examples:
PHP, Database system, Mozilla Firefox, Linux OS, etc.
What is a Freeware Software?
Freeware Software is the working software available to users free of cost with no expiry date. Unlike Open source software, Freeware software doesn’t come with any liberty of modifying, studying actual source code.
Widely used Examples:
Yahoo messenger, Skype, Telegram, AVG antivirus, Opera, etc.
What is Shareware Software?
Shareware is the software available free to use for a limited period like 1 month or 6 months.
To use that specific software after a limited time you have to pay money.
Widely used Exmples:
kalkulator, Adobe Photoshop, Fireball, Winzip, Adobe Acrobat professional, etc.
Difference between Open Source, Freeware and Shareware
| Open Source | Freeware | Shareware |
| The software which are available to us with its source code. | The software which are available to download free of cost. | The software which are available to us, free of cost for a specific period. |
| Available in both paid and free software | Software is free to download | Software free of cost but after a specific time we have to get paid subscription |
| Modification to source code allowed | Modification to source code not allowed | Modification to source code not allowed |
| Software is fully functional | Software is fully functional | Software is not fully functional some features locked to try them you have to pay first. |
| Have lifetime access to the software. | Have lifetime access to the software. | Have limited time access to the software. |
| Mozilla Firefox, Linux OS |
Skype, Telegram
|
Adobe Photoshop, Winzip |