Shareware is a type of proprietary software which is provided to the user without payment or evaluation period to a certain extent. It usually is supplied on a trial basis that allows the user to evaluate its capabilities before purchasing a license to use the software for a longer period of time.
Shareware is traditionally distributed as a computer software package. These packages are often compressed into a .zip file, containing all necessary application and associated files. The shareware model is based on trust that the user will pay for the software if they decide to fully use it after the trial period.
Shareware differs from freeware, which is software that is released free of charge and usually contains no time limit. It is also distinct from open source software, which allows users unlimited access to the underlying source code.
Shareware is popular and commonly available in the personal computing field, particularly in the fields of operating system shells/launchers, suites, and utilities, which are generally much simpler or lighter than commercial counterparts, but also in some main-stream applications such as video players, photo manipulationpaint software, and business applications.
Shareware has been around as a method of software distribution since the 1980s, with the first software-sharing bulletin board system (BBS) being founded in 1983. As of the late 2000s, most of the shareware software is now distributed via the Internet, and is often monetized via a pay-per-download or pay-per-use system.
