Why do you use freewares over sharewares?

[George.J]

I am using freewares over sharewares because.....

[Peralot]

I use freeware over shareware because, in many cases, the freeware product meets my needs as well as (or, in some cases) better than shareware.

Also, it depends on if it's a single-developer-created freeware or an open-source project. A perfect example of freeware versus commercial software is file archiving. Many people pay for WinZip, but 7-zip is, in my opinion, superior to WinZip.

[jason]

There is a lot of sub-standard (and expensive) shareware being pushed around the internet that is rubbish. Sadly the intended market appears to be users who simply aren't aware of the superior freeware alternatives.

When freeware does everything I need (and more) I have no need to look elsewhere. I believe that shareware has to at least offer something beyond the freeware quality, features or performance - to be considered seriously.

[Corsair]

Originally Posted by Peralot

I use freeware over shareware because, in many cases, the freeware product meets my needs as well as (or, in some cases) better than shareware.

Also, it depends on if it's a single-developer-created freeware or an open-source project. A perfect example of freeware versus commercial software is file archiving. Many people pay for WinZip, but 7-zip is, in my opinion, superior to WinZip.

+1

I use 7-zip as well. It is definitely better than WinZip.

[1002richards]

Originally Posted by jason

There is a lot of sub-standard (and expensive) shareware being pushed around the internet that is rubbish. Sadly the intended market appears to be users who simply aren't aware of the superior freeware alternatives.

When freeware does everything I need (and more) I have no need to look elsewhere. I believe that shareware has to at least offer something beyond the freeware quality, features or performance - to be considered seriously.

+ 2 to that

[Remah]

+3

I'm also a 7Zip user.

I don't like shareware because when I install software to try it out I don't want to create any sort of legal obligation to pay.

Freeware doesn't have that issue but I still have a moral obligation to contribute to further development if the developer provides the means to donate. So when I make use of good software I make a donation and, if I'm still using it after a few years, I have made further donations. Usually, the amounts are small, 5-15USD but occasionally 20-30USD.

[Omneitic]

Originally Posted by jason

There is a lot of sub-standard (and expensive) shareware being pushed around the internet that is rubbish. Sadly the intended market appears to be users who simply aren't aware of the superior freeware alternatives.

When freeware does everything I need (and more) I have no need to look elsewhere. I believe that shareware has to at least offer something beyond the freeware quality, features or performance - to be considered seriously.

I agree wholeheartedly. There have been very few times since I first started using the Internet where a Shareware program was better or performed more features than a Freeware one did. 90% of the time the issue is where to look for the Freeware programs. That's why I joined this site. A great location for virtually all of your Freeware needs with actual reviews to save the end user the time and frustration of downloading and installing the "crapware/bloatware."

I think the 7-zip, Winzip is a great example that supports this theory. I feel like another one would be Linux to Windows.

[J_L]

Don't have enough bucks, and seriously dislikes the limitations of unpaid shareware. Only exception are giveaways. Cr@cks are too risky for little if any rewards.

[Hoppy]

Like many people i didn't know about Freeware when i first turned on my pc which was only 5 yrs ago.
I thought all software came with a 1 yr licence and when someone mentioned Linux to me a thought they were talking about a new body spray, lol.
Microsoft's ruthless marketing has most people brainwashed and made them believe that decent software comes at a premium.

When i got my first virus that good old Norton missed i simply Googled for a free removal tool and stumbled across my first Freeware site.
I didn't have the money to buy more software and at first i wondered what the catch was with Freeware.

After spending days looking at Freeware, i felt like i was a kid in a candy store.
My computer came loaded with Nero and frankly it confused the hell out of me.
I found CD Burner XP Pro and DVD Filck and i removed Nero which left a pile of crap behind and all sorts of DLL error messages.
Norton was replaced with Avast and Spybot and before i knew it, all my paid programs were being replaced by Freeware.
Now i was using Freeware because it was better and not because it was free.

I liked the fact that i could use all features of a program and when i had spare cash, i donated whatever i could.
It made using my pc a lot more fun and it felt good knowing that some of my programs were written by people who were trying to give you the best program possible, not saving up new features for the next paid version.

I am now dual booting with Windows 7 and Linux Ubuntu and as i begin learning a new operating system my only regret is i never started with the right one in the first place.
So far my Linux experience has been painless and it was the easiest install i have ever done.
I found the community to be very helpful and polite with any questions i posted.
This industry is the exception where free doesn't mean inferior but people are brainwashed in thinking there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[MidnightCowboy]

Nice take Hoppy

How would you fancy expanding a bit on the points you've listed here and letting us publish it (with credit to you of course) as an article "Why I use Freeware"?

If you're interested please send me a PM.

MC