International Shareware Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Technology
Where:: International
Date change rule:: 2nd Saturday of December
Holiday emoji:: 💻

International Shareware Day celebrates the ‘try before you buy’ software model every second Saturday in December. It honors the ingenuity of programmers and the accessibility shareware offers, allowing users to test programs before committing. Discover new software, support independent developers, and explore the vast world of shareware today!

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History
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FAQs
Importance
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Expected International Shareware Day Deals

While International Shareware Day isn’t typically marked by traditional retail deals, it’s an excellent time for software developers and platforms to offer special promotions. Expect independent developers to highlight trial extensions or offer discounts on full licenses for their shareware products. Platforms like Steam or GOG.com might feature curated lists of indie games and utilities with extended demo periods or reduced prices. Educational platforms such as Coursera or Udemy could offer discounts on programming courses, encouraging new developers. Additionally, software marketplaces like Softonic or CNET Download may run special features on popular shareware, encouraging new downloads. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December approaches.

Platform Guide for International Shareware Day

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #SharewareDay. Highlight the innovation of shareware developers and its impact on the tech industry.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #SharewareDay. Share your favorite shareware programs from the past or present and discuss their influence.

YouTube

Subscribe to @NationalToday for holiday video content. Create a video showcasing classic shareware games or demonstrating how to use a popular shareware utility.

International Shareware Day Hero

Andrew Fluegelman

Andrew Fluegelman (1943–1985) is widely credited with coining the term 'shareware' in 1982 for his communications program, PC-Talk. He popularized the distribution model where users could copy and share software freely, paying a voluntary fee if they found it useful. His approach democratized software access and laid the groundwork for a thriving independent software community.

History of International Shareware Day

Andrew Fleugelman created the first piece of software called ‘freeware’, a PC-Talk telecommunications program. At that point, the term “freeware” was considered a misnomer and Fleugelman thought of it as “an experiment in economics more than altruism”. The term ‘shareware’ was first used for the program PC-Write, a word-processing tool, created by Bob Wallace in 1983. Prior to the widespread Internet access, shareware was often the only economical way for independent software authors to get their product onto users’ desktops.

Only a handful of shareware and freeware downloads are ever paid for. This makes it difficult for a programmer to rely on creating shareware for a sustainable income. It is a cause for concern since this mode of software production has created some of the most wonderful software tools that have been made available to users around the globe. This includes virus protection software, audio, and video file players, and many other applications. The lack of money in shareware, or, more precisely, the unwillingness of users to pay for shareware, means that a lot of this software isn’t updated regularly and becomes redundant with time.

Things as common as electric windows in your car, the blender for making healthy smoothies, and a smartphone taxi app are only some daily life examples of shareware and computer programs that we don’t think about paying for. The applications that help us save money and avoid paying for unnecessary expenses, often leave their creators underpaid! International Shareware Day is a day dedicated to the programmers who come up with innovative ways to make our lives easier, more efficient, and productive. This day was created to remind shareware users about the value they’ve gained through their use of these programs, most of them for free or low fees.

International Shareware Day timeline

1982

First Freeware

Andrew Fluegelman creates a program for the IBM PC called PC-Talk.

1983

First Shareware

Bob Wallace produces PC-Write, a word processor, and calls its programming shareware.

Late 1980s

Shareware Becomes Popular

Shareware is widely distributed over online services, bulletin board systems, and diskettes.

Early 1990s

Shareware For Games

Shareware distribution becomes a popular method of publishing games, especially for smaller developers.

International Shareware Day FAQs

When is International Shareware Day?

International Shareware Day 2026 falls on Saturday, December 12. It’s the perfect weekend opportunity to explore new software and support independent developers.

What is the origin of shareware?

The concept of shareware emerged in the early 1980s, with programmers like Andrew Fluegelman (PC-Talk) and Jim Knopf (PC-File) independently developing and distributing software with a voluntary payment model. Fluegelman is often credited with coining the term ‘shareware’ in 1982.

How many shareware programs exist?

While an exact count is impossible due to its decentralized nature, millions of shareware programs have been created over the decades, ranging from simple utilities to complex games. Major download sites historically hosted hundreds of thousands of titles.

Is shareware still relevant today?

Absolutely. While the term ‘shareware’ might be less common, its core principle of ‘try before you buy’ is alive and well. Many modern software applications, games, and mobile apps offer free trials, demos, or freemium versions, directly continuing the shareware legacy.

How To Celebrate International Shareware Day

Pay the programmer
Most shareware is available for free for a period of time. Celebrate International Shareware Day by sending off a few payments to the programmers of your favorite shareware apps and making regular use of them.
Purchase a license
If you are using shareware, be sure to tell your friends about it. You should also encourage them to purchase a license or make a donation to the programmer.
Post on social media
Spread the word by sharing #InternationalSharewareDay on social media. Thank a programmer friend by giving them a shout-out.

5 Facts About Computers That Will Blow Your Mind

Hard drives have come a long way
The first hard drive could only hold 5 MB of data, while modern smartphones have 500 MB of Random Access Memory.
Hard disks have slimmed down
The first hard drive cost $40,000 and weighed 550 lbs, while the average hard drive now weighs 1.6 pounds.
80% of emails sent daily are spam mail
Most of these emails are ads, newsletters, and other junk emails, and most often scam emails sent out in bulk.
The first computer mouse was made of wood
Douglas Englebart invented the first computer mouse in 1964, consisting of a wooden shell and two metal wheels.
Computer viruses are a fairly new phenomenon
Creeper, written by Bob Thomas in 1971, is the first computer virus, infecting one computer after another with a printer command.

Why We Love International Shareware Day

It celebrates unsung parts of our lives
International Shareware Day celebrates unsung software developers. They have made our lives easier by developing software that we use every day in virtually every appliance we own.
It defines modern existence
Modern existence would be unimaginable without shareware. The simplest tools at our disposal use some kind of shareware software. This day also looks at how shareware has become indispensable to modern life.
A day to say thanks
Even though we use shareware regularly, we don’t really say thanks to the developers. International Shareware Day is also about saying thanks to those who work so hard to develop shareware.