Application software

Free ware
. Freeware is computer software that is available for use with no cost or for an optional fee.
Freeware is often made available in a binary-only, proprietary form, thus making it distinct from free software.
Freeware allows authors to contribute something for the benefit of the community, while at the same time allowing them to retain control of the source code, future direction of development and preserve its business potential.
Freeware is different from shareware, where the user is obliged to pay (e.g. after some trial period or for additional functionality).


Example:
.can get at down load.com
Trial version

Share ware
. The term shareware, popularized by Bob Wallace, refers to copyrighted commercial software that is distributed without payment on a trial basis and is limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience.
Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a periodical such as a newspaper or magazine.

Packaged software
Ready-made application software.
In the early days of computing, any software that manufacturers didn't provide as part of the computer had to be custom-built to order.
In the 1980s, a new class of independent software vendors started to pre-build integrated software designed to fulfil a whole range of business functions, and these offerings became known as packaged software.
The term today typically refers to upscale enterprise software suites, such as ERP or CRM, rather than the shrinkwrap packages sold through retail outlets.
Packaged software, although ready-made, rarely comes ready-to-run.
It typically requires weeks or months of configuration work to set it up for the specific needs of each individual business.
This was an improvement on the previous generation of custom-built software, but today it is seen as inflexible, and an obstacle to integration between multiple applications.

Custom software
Custom software (also known as Bespoke software) is a type of software that is developed either for a specific organization or function that differs from or is opposite of other already available software (also called off-the-shelf or COTSsoftware).
It is generally not targeted to the mass market, but usually created for companies, business entities, and organizations.
Custom software is also when companies or governments pay for customized software for budget or project managing.
Examples of bespoke software include commercial products such as commercial websites, business databases and software for governments.
Non-commercial custom software development is common in academic and open source circles.
Complex custom software can be developed on an increasingly small scale through the rise of rapid application development frameworks.
This means that smaller companies, charities or even individuals are able to benefit from complex software based on pre-built building blocks which are then customised to suit.

Public domain software
Refers to any program that is not copyrighted.
Public-domain software is free and can be used without restrictions.
The term public-domain software is often used incorrectly to include freeware, free software that is nevertheless copyrighted.

Programs that are uncopyrighted because their authors intended to share them with everyone else are in the public domain.
The UNIX community has developed a number of such programs over the years.
Programs in the public domain can be used without restriction as components of other programs.
When reusing such code, it is good to understand its history so that you can be sure it really is in the public domain.
Also see shareware , which is programming that is "free" but more or less on a trial basis, and freeware .