Meaning & use
shareware
Last updated
Software that is distributed free on a trial basis, with the expectation that users will pay if they continue to use it.
See it in a sentence
In the 1990s, many computer games were distributed as shareware on floppy disks.
The developer released a shareware version limited to the first three levels.
A note on using this word
Distinct from "freeware," which is free with no expectation of payment; shareware relies on an honor system or trial limitations to encourage purchase.
Words with an opposite meaning
freeware
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