Freeware (from "free" and"software")'s computer software that's available for use at no cost or for an optional fee. Freeware's generally proprietary software available at zero price, and isn't free software. The author usually restricts one or more rights to copy, distribute, and make derivative works of the software. History The term freeware was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to sell a communications program named PC-Talk that he'd created but for which he didn't wish to use tradi… (More on Freeware)