Looking For Info About Freeware Bookkeeping Software?If you are looking into "free" bookkeeping software, you need to know that there is also freeware and that there is a difference between them. Freeware is addressing the cost; free software is not. Freeware is available at no cost or for an optional fee. It is sometimes available in binary-only, proprietary form. This is what distinguishes it from free software. Proprietary software has restrictions on use and private modification that are imposed by one of its proprietors. Synonyms for proprietary software are closed-source software and non-free software. Wikipedia states, "Proprietary freeware allows authors to contribute something for the benefit of the community, while at the same time allowing them to retain control of the source code and preserve its business potential. Freeware is different from shareware, where the user is obliged to pay (e.g. after some trial period or for additional functionality)." Also according to Wikipedia, in order to be classified as freeware bookkeeping software, the software must 'be fully functional for an unlimited time with no monetary cost." However, the software license may have restrictions on the type of use allowed. That is to say that it may be free only for personal or non-commercial use only. In contrast, "free software" can be, as described by Wikipedia, "used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with minimal restrictions." What this is saying is that the source code is basically released into the public domain. That being the case, it can be modified by the public. Free is not referring to the cost; it is referring to your freedom to share, study and modify the software. Users of freeware do not have this freedom. Therefore, freeware and free software are not the same. When using Google to search the exact phrase freeware bookkeeping software, only 42 English results were received. When doing the same search in any language, only 41 results were received. However, if you search the exact phrase free bookkeeping software in English you receive 'about 47,200'; and in any language, you receive 'about 31,600' results. It would seem that there is more free bookkeeping software available that freeware bookkeeping software. Since free software is not necessarily free or is available only as a free trial and after a certain number of days you must either quit using it or purchase it, freeware is the better 'deal', if you can find it. |