The Shareware Concept Shareware was invented as novel way to distribute and market computer software. Computer programmers would make their programs freely available over the internet and invite anyone to download, use and distribute them amongst their friends. There is usually a proviso that they may not be altered in any way and must be distributed in their entirety.
Users have the benefit of trying out the product without having to buy it.
If they like it and use it a lot, then they are expected to pay a price which is usually lower than commercially distributed software. Shareware is essentially based on the honor system. Not everyone pays but enough do to make it worthwhile for the author because his programs are much more widely distributed than if it were sold in stores. Some of the best software available today is shareware. Some examples of software that was originally shareware are Netscape navigator and Doom.