Difference between Free Software and Open Source Software

Last Updated : 23 May, 2024

Free Software and Open Source Software are two philosophies in software engineering. Free Software and Open Source Software both have common goals of collaboration and innovation but they are distinct in terms of why they are doing it and prioritize different aspects of software development and distribution.

What is Free Software?

“Free software” means software that respects users' freedom and community. Roughly, it means that the users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve the software. The term “free software” is sometimes misunderstood—it has nothing to do with price. It is about freedom.

Advantages of Free Software

Cost: Free software is typically free to use, modify, and distribute.
Freedom: Free software is often accompanied by a set of ethical principles that promote users' freedom to use, study, modify, and share the software.
Collaboration: Free software often encourages collaboration among developers and users, leading to faster development and better quality software.
Transparency: Free software is often developed in a transparent way, with the source code and development process available for public scrutiny.
Flexibility: Free software can be used on a wide range of platforms and devices.

Disadvantages of Free Software

Support: While free software does have a community of developers and users, it may not always have the same level of professional support as commercial software.
Compatibility: Free software may not always be compatible with other software applications and hardware devices.
Security: Because free software is available for everyone to use and modify, it may be easier for malicious actors to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
Complexity: Free software can be more complex and difficult to use than commercial software, especially for non-technical users.
Documentation: Free software may not always have the same level of documentation and user guides as commercial software.

What is Open Source Software?

Open Source Software is something that you can modify as per your needs, and share with others without any licensing violation burden. When we say Open Source, the source code of the software is available publicly with Open Source licenses like GNU (GPL) which allows you to edit the source code and distribute it. Read these licenses and you will realize that these licenses are created to help us.

Coined by the development environments around software produced by open collaboration of software developers on the internet.
Later specified by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).
It does not explicitly state ethical values, besides those directly associated with software development.

Advantages of Open Source Software

Cost: Open source software is typically free to use, modify and distribute.
Customization: The source code of open source software is available to everyone, allowing users to modify and customize it to suit their needs.
Community support: Open source software often has a large community of developers and users who contribute to its development and provide support.
Transparency: The source code of open source software is open for everyone to see, making it easier to identify and fix bugs and vulnerabilities.
Flexibility: Open source software can be used on a wide range of platforms and devices.

Disadvantages of Source Software

Support: While open source software does have a large community of developers and users, it may not always have the same level of professional support as commercial software.
Compatibility: Open source software may not always be compatible with other software applications and hardware devices.
Security: Because the source code of open source software is available to everyone, it may be easier for malicious actors to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
Complexity: Open source software can be more complex and difficult to use than commercial software, especially for non-technical users.
Documentation: Open source software may not always have the same level of documentation and user guides as commercial software.

Similarities between Free Software and Open Software

Both free software and open source software have access to the source code, allowing users to modify and improve the software.
Both types of software often rely on a community of users and developers to provide support and contribute to the development of the software.
Both free software and open source software are often distributed under open licenses, allowing users to use, modify, and distribute the software without restrictions.