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Freeware is a term applied to computer software which is made available from the vendor without a fee. It is distinct from the following categories of software:
- Free software, which grants freedoms to its users and is not defined by cost. Freeware is usually only available in executable form (i.e. without source code), whereas free software has its source code freely available by definition.
- Shareware, which is made available without a fee but use of which is restricted in some way (usually an expiration time, or limited features) and a fee must be paid to have the restriction lifted. Freeware is feature-complete, although it may depend on other products or services that are not zero-cost.
- Public domain software, where no copyright exists in the software (either through expiration of copyright term, or explicit release by the author) and copyright restrictions do not apply. Freeware is a copyrighted work, and is usually not available in a form that allows wholesale modification and reuse of the work in the manner allowed by a public domain work.
- Postcardware: where the user sends the author a postcard depicting their locality.
- Careware: where the author asks the user to send a donation to a charity.
- Thank-youware: where the author merely asks the user to send them an email saying "thanks" for the software.
Vendors often release freeware programs to attract users to other services or products available, at a fee, from the vendor; such a strategy is often referred to as the loss leader model.