Software on the "honor system." The concept is that users try a product, and if they like it, they voluntarily pay a set registration fee or make a donation to the program's creator. There are tens of thousands of shareware programs; some fantastic, some awful.
Typically written part time by individuals, shareware had its heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although some applications were successful, the bulk were not, and most shareware evolved into trial versions that work for a limited time or lite versions that have limited functionality (see trialware and lite version).
The Shareware Heydays
Prior to the Web, "shareware vendors" copied hundreds of shareware programs onto floppy disks and CD-ROMs and sold them by mail order or at computer flea markets. They collected a small fee for the distribution service, although novices often thought it was the software registration fee. In the late 1990s, advertiser-supported shareware Web sites sprang up to provide distribution. See crippleware, freeware, public domain software, ASP and ad-supported software.
Typically written part time by individuals, shareware had its heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although some applications were successful, the bulk were not, and most shareware evolved into trial versions that work for a limited time or lite versions that have limited functionality (see trialware and lite version).
The Shareware Heydays
Prior to the Web, "shareware vendors" copied hundreds of shareware programs onto floppy disks and CD-ROMs and sold them by mail order or at computer flea markets. They collected a small fee for the distribution service, although novices often thought it was the software registration fee. In the late 1990s, advertiser-supported shareware Web sites sprang up to provide distribution. See crippleware, freeware, public domain software, ASP and ad-supported software.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Navicat for MySQL 8.1.6 (Mac)
- Navicat is an ideal solution for MySQL administration and development. This is an all-inclusive mysql front end provides a powerful graphical interface for databases management, development and maintenance. Easy installation and intuitive interface make it an irreplaceable tool for mysql on the web or your local desktop. Navicat supports all...
- Software downloads 2009-11-22
- Hugin 2009.2 (Mac)
- Hugin is an open-source panorama photo creation tool. It can put multiple photos together very easily and the end result is smooth and stunning! Hugin uses the same open source library used by many other software including shareware like PTMac from Kekus Digital. Hugin is, however, free and you...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- MyAccounts 5.01 (Mac)
- A simple home accounting application written in REALbasic. This Shareware application is fully functional except for a limitation on the number of transactions it will allow and only one MyAccount file open at one time . It allows multiple accounts and income/expense categories. All data is displayed in a single...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- PC Vault 1.6.0 (Windows)
- PC Vault is a shareware program that acts as a bank vault, or safe, where you can keep you private information or files hidden and secure. Everything in the vault is protected with an advanced encryption, and requires a password your password to open the vault to access the information....
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- Software and Order Administration 3.8.0.3 (Windows)
- Software and Order Administration provide a toolkit for shareware authors, software companies, software resellers to administrate software and orders, with Software and Order Administration you can administrate your development and your orders easily, keep in touch with your customers in time. With Software and Order Administration you can record the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-17
- Homeopathy 5.0 (Windows)
- Homeopathy Software provides a wealth of information in 3 databanks: Afflictions displays homeopathic remedy charts by affliction and related symptoms, Materia Medica lists information on specific homeopathic products, and Cell Salts tissue salts. The shareware version includes an introduction to homeopathy, homeopathic remedy charts for 50 selected Afflictions, and full...
- Software downloads 2009-11-17
- CrossGL Reminder Clock 1.11 (Windows)
- High quality Desktop Clock Shareware. Provides alarms, on-date events, timers, daily, weekly, monthly and annual reminders with various assignable actions and sticky notes. Reminder functionality works even when computer is in sleep mode or hibernated. May be used as personal organizer or personal information manager software or simply as event...
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- GSA Auto SoftSubmit 6.45 (Windows)
- The GSA Auto SoftSubmit is a program designed to submit your software to hundreds of Web sites. It will save you a lot of time and money since its fully automated. Load a PAD file and let the program do the rest. The program gets updated several times a month...
- Software downloads 2009-11-12
- Remote Mouse 1.0.1 (Mac)
- Remote Mouse was developed to let users use the little white remote which may have been delivered with your computer to move and click the mouse. Click the "previous" button to move the mouse 5 pixels to the left. Click the "next" button to move the mouse 5 pixels to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-10
- Obsidium Software Protection System 1.4.0.5 (Windows)
- Obsidium is a software protection system that was designed as an affordable and easy to implement, yet reliable and robust way to protect your software applications from unauthorized modifications and provide a secure licensing/registration system. It is mainly aimed at shareware programmers and companies who would like to provide evaluation...
- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 9.10 - Strengths and weaknesses
- Nice articleIts nice to see a balanced article like this. I consider myself an OS agnostic user as I used Windows for years and tried a Linux Desktop OS like Ubuntu a few times and only recently (last 2 years) has Ubuntu taken over as my primary OS.One of the...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-30
- The chief value of open source
- Custom code solutions...It's great you can see the code, but for companies I disagree that is a "value".What SMB has the resources to comb through thousands of lines of code to assure reliability and security? Even if they do manage to find a bug, are they going to fork...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-26
- Selection Criteria for Remote Support Tools
- Though basic remote support technology is available from many sources, including some freeware and shareware options, companies interested in improving both the economics of support and the customer experience should understand the risks involved with lower-end tools, and learn how leveraging a "best-of-breed" product will accelerate operational improvements and customer...
- White papers 2009-10-23
- Maze Creator STD 3.64 (Windows)
- Quickly and easily create random customized mazes with solutions to be printed or exported as EMF, BMP, TIF, and GIF formats. Also simply referred to as Maze Creator, this is the original application and still shareware. The Standard version allows the greatest flexibility. With its ability to export mazes onto...
- Software downloads 2009-10-22
- Home Screen refreshed 3.0. (Mobile)
- If you''re tired or upset of this Home Screen:...or even this Home Screen:It''s time to start using something like Home Screen refreshed: Home Screen refreshed is a replacement of Windows Mobile, or Windows Phones default Home Screen.It gives you 3 screens: clock, calendar, and weather forecast.With very easy navigation: press...
- Software downloads 2009-10-20
- Audiomaton 2.4 (Mac)
- Audiomaton is a multi-purpose shareware application program which automates many common digital audio processing tasks. For example, it enables you to quickly and easily amplify the volume of thousands of AIFF files, to convert any number of MP3s or MP4s to Windoze .wav files, or to trim hundreds of music...
- Software downloads 2009-10-14
- Ace Pro Screensaver Creator 3.80 (Windows)
- Create animated screensavers or image slide shows with this easy-to-use tool. With Ace Pro Screensaver Creator, you can create a free or shareware screensaver with a registration code feature in just a few steps. It comes with Nature Illusion Studio to make animated water pictures and Skin designer to design...
- Software downloads 2009-10-12
- Screensaver Factory Enterprise 5.2 (Windows)
- Screensaver Factory is a screensaver development software, allowing users to create professional screensavers quickly. With Screensaver Factory you can create screensavers for yourself, for promotion or unlimited royalty-free commercial distribution. You can make screensavers from any set of images, video and flash animation, adding background music and over 100 smooth...
- Software downloads 2009-10-11
- Screensaver Factory Pro 5.2 (Windows)
- Create amazing screensavers for yourself, for promotion or unlimited royalty-free commercial distribution. Make screensavers from images, video and flash animation, add background music and smooth picture display and transition effects. You can even create clock, calendar and RSS screensavers. Screensaver Factory is very easy to use, and it enables you...
- Software downloads 2009-10-11
- Gest-L 2.1.9 (Mac)
- Gest-L is a simple invoice software ideal for Italian users. Here follow the Italian description... Gest-L e' un semplice software di fatturazione. Non e' e non vuole essere un programma avanzato di contabilita' aziendale, bensi' uno strumento per amministrare in modo semplice l'archivio dei vostri clienti, dei vostri fornitori e...
- Software downloads 2009-10-08
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- The more you simplify, the more you save
-
When you transition from your existing Red Hat environment to SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell, you can recognize dramatic cost savings, perhaps as much 50%
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
Enterprise Applications
- Check out some of the easiest and most powerful ways to boost productivity while saving money on your application infrastructure. See ZDNet's comprehensive Enterprise Application resource center, now!
- New Online Dashboard
-
- Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost effective solutions to real life IT problems. Oracle Topline
-
