![[A GNU head]](/web/20141222035833im_/http://www.gnu.org/graphics/heckert_gnu.small.png)
GNU Operating SystemThanks to your support, 2015 marks 30 years of the FSF! In the next 30 years, we want to do even more to defend computer user rights. To kick off in that direction, we're setting our highest-ever fundraising goal of $525,000 by January 31st. Read more.
English [en] Česky [cs] Deutsch [de] español [es] français [fr] hrvatski [hr] italiano [it] polski [pl] português do Brasil [pt-br] русский [ru] 简体中文 [zh-cn]
The advantages of free software
by Richard Stallman
People outside the free software movement frequently ask about the practical advantages of free software. It is a curious question.
Nonfree software is bad because it denies your freedom. Thus, asking about the practical advantages of free software is like asking about the practical advantages of not being handcuffed. Indeed, it has advantages:
- You can wear an ordinary shirt.
- You can get through metal detectors without triggering them.
- You can keep a hand on the steering wheel while you shift gears.
- You can pitch a baseball.
- You can carry a backpack.
We could find more, but do you need these advantages to convince you to reject handcuffs? Probably not, because you understand that your freedom is what's at stake.
Once you realize that that's what's at stake with nonfree software, you won't need to ask what practical advantages free software has.
“Our mission is to preserve, protect and promote the freedom to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer software, and to defend the rights of Free Software users.”
The Free Software Foundation is the principal organizational sponsor of the GNU Operating System. Support GNU and the FSF by buying manuals and gear, joining the FSF as an associate member, or making a donation, either directly to the FSF or via Flattr.