Because of the freedoms associated with it, this software is called free software . The low price of free software leads some English speakers to think that the word free in the phrase free software means they can obtain it without cost. This is not the definition, which is about freedom, but it is an easy misunderstanding. The English word free has several meanings. Spanish, on the other hand, distinguishes between gratis and libre .
Free software is libre software.
Since free software comes with the freedom to copy, manufacture, and redistribute, media containing free software are sold in a competitive, free market. This leads to low prices and even gratis distributions. Incidentally, the phrase open source was invented a few years ago as a synonym for free software . It does not offend people who dislike the word free . Software freedom comes from your right to copy, study, modify, and redistribute the software, and from your duty to redistribute changes you have made.