Nagware

Nagware is another type of shareware that reminds or should we say nags the user to register it by paying a fee. WinZip is a very popular application deployed as nagware. The startup screen comes up with 3 option buttons to start the application. Just when you thought you could load the application with your eyes closed, the button you selected last time is in a different spot, thus nagging the user into registering it. Other methods used to remind the user they haven ‚ t paid for the software is to pop up registration reminder messages intermittently while the user is using the application. Sometimes these messages obscure part of the screen or are message boxes that can quickly be closed. Really obnoxious nagware keeps the message up for a certain amount of time, forcing the user to wait before continuing to use the program. All of this is done in hopes of annoying the user so much the user will register the software just to get rid of them.

Pros: Reminds the user every time they use the application they are using unpaid or unregistered software. Users want to get rid of the nag and register and pay for the application, allowing you to generate income.

Cons: Users can become immune to the nag message, continue to use the application, and you never get paid. The nag method could be too annoying, thus turning users off from your product totally.

Why distribute as nagware? To remind the user they need to pay for or register the software they are using. It is a method used to generate some income from the software others are using and can ‚ t live without.