5 Surprising Truths About “Free Software” You Probably Didn’t Know

When we hear the word “free” attached to software, our minds almost instinctively jump to one thing: price. We think of “freeware” or apps we can download without paying a dime. But what if “free” meant something else entirely? What if it wasn’t about the cost, but about your fundamental rights as a user?The “free software” movement, spearheaded by the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation, is built on this very idea. It’s not a business model; it’s a deep philosophical stance on liberty in our increasingly digital world. This post will break down the five most surprising and essential truths from this philosophy—ideas that might just change how you look at the code running on your devices.

Takeaway 1: “Free” Is About Liberty, Not Price

The most fundamental concept to grasp is that “free software” is about freedom, not cost. The GNU Project’s philosophy page puts it bluntly: “(The issue is not about price.)” The entire movement is founded on the belief that software users should have control over the programs they use, not the other way around.This philosophy is codified in what are called the “four essential freedoms”:

• The freedom to run the program.  You should be able to use the software for any purpose you see fit.
• The freedom to study and change the program.  This requires access to the source code, allowing you to understand how it works and modify it to suit your needs.
• The freedom to redistribute exact copies.  You are free to share the software with others.
• The freedom to distribute modified versions.  You can share your improvements with the community, so everyone can benefit.These aren’t abstract ideals; they are the mechanisms of user control. The freedom to study and change the code is the bedrock—without it, you can never truly know what a program is doing or fix it when it breaks. The freedom to redistribute ensures that valuable software can’t be made to disappear and that communities can form around improving it for everyone.

Takeaway 2: Yes, You Can Absolutely Sell Free Software

This might sound like a complete contradiction, but it flows directly from the first point. If “free” is about liberty, then charging money for your work is perfectly compatible with the philosophy. After all, developers need to eat, and businesses can be built around providing value to users.The GNU Project signals its stance with an article titled “Selling Free Software is OK!”. This philosophical approval allows for business models built around the software, such as charging for distribution services, expert support, or custom development. This is a crucial distinction that separates the ethical stance of “free software” from the simple zero-cost model of “freeware,” which often offers neither freedom nor a sustainable path for developers.

Takeaway 3: “Open Source” Misses the Entire Point

The terms “Free Software” and “Open Source” are often used interchangeably, but from a philosophical perspective, they represent two different schools of thought. While the practical outcomes can be similar (access to source code), the underlying motivations are worlds apart.A title on their philosophy page, “Why “Open Source” Misses the Point of Free Software,” points directly to a philosophical schism. The title implies that the term “open source” was developed as a more business-friendly alternative, focusing on the practical benefits of a shared development model. The free software movement, however, seems to argue that this approach deliberately sidesteps the core issue: the ethical and moral imperative of user freedom. For them, it’s not just a better way to make software; it’s a social movement for digital rights.

Takeaway 4: Freedom Is More Important Than Innovation

In the tech world, innovation is king. The prevailing mantra is to create the newest, fastest, and most disruptive product possible. The free software movement, however, offers a radical counter-narrative, best summed up by the title of one of its essays: “Innovation Is Secondary When Freedom Is at Stake.”From this perspective, a slick, technologically advanced program that strips users of their fundamental freedoms is a step backward, not forward. This is a profound departure from the “move fast and break things” mindset of Silicon Valley, prioritizing enduring principles of liberty over the fleeting allure of the next big feature. This view argues that true, lasting progress in computing comes from empowering users, not from creating “innovative” but restrictive digital prisons, no matter how beautifully designed they are.

Takeaway 5: Some Proprietary Software Is Considered Malware

Here we arrive at the most provocative and challenging idea from the GNU philosophy. An article title on their list makes a stark claim: “Proprietary Software Is Often Malware.” How can this be?From the perspective of the free software movement, if a program is designed to operate against the user’s best interests, it functions as a form of malware. Think of smart devices that listen when they shouldn’t, or apps that harvest and sell your location data without clear consent. From the GNU perspective, these aren’t just poor features; they are actively malicious acts against the user’s sovereignty. This isn’t a technical definition but a strong ethical stance, reframing the debate around proprietary software (that is, non-free, closed-source software) in terms of user rights, control, and digital self-defense.

Conclusion: What Does Freedom Mean for Your Digital Life?

As we’ve seen, the philosophy of free software is not a casual preference but a deep-seated ethical framework for our relationship with technology. It challenges us to look beyond price tags and feature lists and ask more profound questions about who is truly in control of our digital lives.The mission of the Free Software Foundation is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake:“The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom. We defend the rights of all software users.”Now that you understand the focus on freedom, how does it change the way you think about the apps and programs you use every day?