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Types of Software Licenses: Freeware, Open Source, GPL, and More

Tap a license type to see its traits.

Freeware

Software that can be used for free, but whose source code is not made publicly available.

Shareware

Software that can be tried for free for a limited time or with limited features, requiring payment to continue using it fully.

Open Source

Software whose source code is publicly available, so that anyone can freely view, modify, and redistribute it.

Proprietary Software

Standard commercial software whose source code is not made public, with the copyright holder selling or restricting usage rights.

GPL License

One of the best-known open-source licenses, requiring that if software using this license is modified and redistributed, its source code must also be made public.

MIT License

A very permissive open-source license that allows nearly unrestricted use β€” including commercial use β€” as long as the original copyright notice is included.

Trial

A version that provides full access to all features of the official release for a limited period, free of charge, so users can try it out.

Not All "Free" Software Means the Same Thing

Even among free software, there's a major difference: freeware can only be used as-is, while open source lets you directly modify the code and even redistribute it. This distinction matters especially when using software for work or commercial purposes, where checking the license terms in advance is important.

License Terms Can Carry Real Legal Weight

Using software in ways that violate its license β€” for example, redistributing GPL-licensed code without releasing your own source β€” can carry real legal consequences, which is why checking the license before commercial use is more than just a formality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can open-source software be used commercially?

It depends on the specific license β€” MIT and Apache licenses generally allow free commercial use, but GPL-family licenses can come with conditions (such as a requirement to release your source code), so it's important to always check.

Are shareware and a trial version the same thing?

They're similar concepts, but shareware generally refers to a free trial model intended for open redistribution, while "trial" more often refers to a time-limited preview of an official commercial software release.