The free software movement advocates users’ freedom to control, study, share, and improve the software they use. “Free” means liberty, not necessarily zero cost: a program qualifies under the movement’s definition only when it gives users all four essential freedoms.
What does “free software” mean?
The GNU Project and Free Software Foundation (FSF) describe free software as a matter of liberty, not price. The idea is similar to “free speech,” rather than “free beer”: a program can cost money and still be free software if users retain the freedoms to run it, study and change it, and share it.
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The definition focuses on what users are permitted to do with a program—not whether its developer charges for it or labels it “free.” The four freedoms provide the program-level test. The movement’s broader purpose is to protect user autonomy and make cooperation possible.
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What are the four freedoms?
According to the GNU Project and FSF, users must have all four freedoms for a program to meet the definition:
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- Run the program for any purpose. Freedom 0 means users are not restricted to uses approved by the developer.
- Study how the program works and change it. Freedom 1 requires access to the source code, so users can examine and adapt the program.
- Redistribute copies. Freedom 2 lets users share the program with others.
- Distribute modified versions. Freedom 3 lets users share their improvements. Access to source code is necessary for this freedom to be meaningful.
These freedoms work as a set: if users lack any one of them, the program does not meet this definition. Source code is essential to studying and changing software and to sharing modified versions; a label or price alone cannot establish that users have these rights.
What is the free software movement trying to achieve?
The GNU Project describes the movement as advocating that computer users deserve the freedom to form a community. Its account connects the freedoms to three kinds of participation:
- Help yourself: study and change the program to suit your needs.
- Help others: share copies so other people can use the program.
- Build community: publish improved versions for others to benefit from.
In this view, the issue is not only whether software is convenient or technically good. It is also whether users have control and can cooperate with one another.
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No. Free software may be sold, and the movement’s definition allows commercial use, development, and distribution. Someone can pay for a copy while retaining the freedoms to use it, study and modify it, and redistribute copies under the program’s applicable terms.
So price and freedom are separate questions: a no-cost download is not necessarily free software, and a paid program can qualify if it grants all four freedoms.
Is free software the same as open source?
The GNU Project says the two terms cover nearly the same range of programs, but they emphasize different values. In GNU/FSF’s account, the free software movement foregrounds freedom and justice as ethical concerns, while the open source idea emphasizes practical advantages. This is GNU/FSF’s explanation of the distinction, not a claim that every advocate of either term would describe it the same way.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can you tell whether a program fits the definition?
Look beyond whether the program costs money or is marketed as “free.” Check its applicable license terms and whether users can actually exercise each freedom, including access to source code where needed.
- Can users run it for any purpose?
- Can they access the source code, study the program, and change it?
- Can they redistribute copies?
- Can they share modified versions?
If a program withholds one of these freedoms, it does not meet the GNU/FSF definition, regardless of its price.
Further reading
For a deeper exploration of the movement’s ideas, GNU publishes Free Software, Free Society, a collection of essays about free software. The GNU Project also provides the definition of free software and its explanation of the difference between free software and open source.
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