# Free software vs. open source: What's the difference?

DevFeed: [Free software vs. open source: What's the difference?](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/free-software-vs-open-source-what-s-the-difference-40691.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://radek.io/posts/fs-vs-os/>)

Published: 2015-07-06T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Radek Pazdera](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/radek-pazdera.md>)

Topics: [free software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/free-software.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software.md>), [GNU General Public License](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/gpl.md>)

Tags: [copyright](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/copyright.md>), [free-software](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/free-software.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [software](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains the distinction between free software and open source. It describes the user freedoms associated with free software, including running, studying, redistributing, and improving programs, and explains copyleft and how licenses such as the GNU General Public License preserve those freedoms.

## Source excerpt

Hairy hippies and evil corporations