Writing a shareware

In the world of online selling, it is often the case that potential buyers are often provided a ‘trial version’ of the software, which, through various methods, encourage users to purchase the ‘full version’.  The ‘trail version’ of the software is popularly known as a Shareware.  Compared to buying software off store selves, Shareware distribution has obvious advantages for both developers and sellers.  The difficulty for you as the seller is to decided exactly how you want to encourage you potential customers to impart their cash.  The question is, how should your ‘trial version’ differ from the ‘full version’.

Before we look into this, let us first define the term Shareware.

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. The aim of shareware is to give buyers the opportunity to use the program and judge its usefulness before purchasing a licence for the full version of the software. - Wikipedia.

Further, Wikipedia says.

Shareware is usually offered as a trial version with certain features only available after the licence is purchased, or as a full version, but for a trial period.

So what exactly does this mean for you?

You need to decide how to limit your ‘trial version’

1. Disable one or more features of the trial version.  Once the user pays, they will get full functionality in the full version.  Or…
2. Set a time limit so that your ‘trial version’ can only be used for so many hours or days.  Or…
3. Something else - e.g. ‘nag screens’ or adverts

Below, I provide some examples of each of the above.

1. Disable features.

1. Prevent users from saving files created by your software
2. Prevent access to some useful feature of your software - we have done this in the Color Crazy demo application.  You should think carefully what you limit access to… this is because the user may be unable to check out something which, for the user, is a major selling point of your software.
3. Block documentation and do not provide online support.

2. Time limits.

1. Software has to be bought after so many hours/days - SmartFTP
2. Software has to be bought after so many runs - e.g. WinZip

3. Some thing else.

1. A ‘nag screen’.  This is basically a window that pops up at the start or the application or just before its closed or at timed interval.  The window tells the user that the current software is in fact a trial software that has to be bought.  This system is also used in WinZip before it will process any files.
2. File created by your software is stamped with something annoying, e.g. a picture may be stamped with your company logo.
3. Display adverts on your software - Eudora e-mail client.  The software now becomes known as Adware (and not shareware)
4. Users have to donate to obtain full features - The MagicBook.

All methods above have their own advantages and disadvantages - but is there one which is far superior than all others?  The simple answer to this question is ‘no one knows’.  I can however provide some logical advise which should see you go far.

1. Don’t use the time out method - you are better off if the user keeps using it without paying anyway - they may eventually pay.
2. Don’t disable features - if you do this, the user is unlikely to realise the full potential of your software.  Rather than completely disabling features…
3. Do set limitations on a particular feature - e.g. if your software is used to make music and the full version allows users to add up to 2 voice tracks, 10 sound effects and 2 music tracks, rather than blocking the voice tracks completely on the trial version, why not limit the user to only 1 voice track?  This way,  the user sees exactly how the feature works.
4. Do consider watermarking files that have been created by your file - this method is especially useful for sound files and picture files.  Doing this allows the user to experience the software in its eternity.
5. Don’t use nag screens with the purpose of annoying users into buying the software - i.e. nag screens that pop up at random times, that stay on the screen for so many seconds and screens that pop up on closing the software.  Nag screen should only be used to let users know when they are trying to access a function that is only available on the full version.
6. Don’t display adverts on your software - people are unlikely to even download your software.  Software with any form of advertising gets a negative press.  People often fear that their computer will be overtake with adverts that collects and sends personal information.  Avoid ads!
7. Do provide a help file - this allows the user to learn exactly how to use the features on the software.  Through this, they may even become dependent on your software! can’t be a bad thing.

As a summary, I recommend that your trial software allows the user to see all features that your software has, however, its use is limited, e.g. in the number of files it process per time or the number of saves it can do or ever watermarking a file.  With this method, the user can fully test your product with minimal annoyance.  Never put adverts on your product.  Don’t use nag screens.  Don’t use the time out method.

Finally, decide early how your trial differs from the paid version - this decision is needed in order to produce help files and the license agreement.