What is the difference between a "freeware" & "shareware" software?

Answer 1

Freeware is copyrighted computer software which is made available for use free of charge, for an unlimited time, as opposed to shareware where the user is required to pay after some trial period.

Shareware is a marketing method for software, whereby a trial version is distributed in advance and without payment, as is common for proprietary software. Shareware software is typically obtained free of charge, either by downloading from the internet or on magazine cover-disks

Answer 2

Freeware means you can use the software for free, but you're restricted for modifying it's source and reselling it!
Shareware means you can use the software wither for a short period, or only a number of times, and after that either buy it or uninstall it...
Software released under the GNU public license are free to use,modify and distribute (www.sourceforge.net)

Answer 3

Freeware is free and shareware you have to pay after the trial period for the complete program.

Answer 4

freeware > a software which is free, that is you don't have to pay for it even legaly some examples are linux,winamp basic version etc. it is often released by programmers to test their programming skills.

shareware > a software which is released to public by programmer( company?) to test the functionality of softwares and if you like it, then purchase it to get full version. functions are often limited like time limited( most often), save disabled, in case of image editors some soft of distortion or watermark, etc..

for example winamp PRO, musicmatch, photoshop etc

Answer 5

Freeware software is the full version of a program which is free.

Shareware is basically a demo version of a program, and sometimes you have to pay for it. Sometimes you don't.