Freeware is a combination of the words free and software, which means 'free software'. The term therefore refers to software programs that are 100% free. However, it is not exactly the same as 'free software'.
CYBERMinute – What is freeware?
Freeware means that no paid licenses are required to use the application, no fees or donations are required, there are no restrictions on how many times you can download or open the program, and there is no expiration date.
However, it can still be restrictive in some ways. Free software, on the other hand, is completely and totally free of restrictions and allows the user to do absolutely whatever they want with the program.
Freeware is free software and free software is copyright-free software. In other words, freeware is copyrighted software but available for free; free software is software without limitations or restrictions, but may not be free in the sense that there is no price attached to it.
