| Basis | Open source Software | Free Software | Commercial Software |
| Definition | It refers to the software that is developed & tested through open collaboration | It refers to the software that is solely owned by the individual or organization that developed it. | It refers to the software that is solely owned by the individual or organization that developed it. |
| Ownership | Anyone with academic knowledge can access, inspect, modify & redistribute the source code. | Only the owner or publisher who holds legal right of the source code can access it. | Only the owner or publisher who holds legal right of the source code can access it. |
| Target Users | They are not aimed at unskilled users outside of the programming community | They are focused on limited market of both skilled and unskilled end users. | They are focused on limited market of both skilled and unskilled end users. |
| Managed by | Managed by an open source community of developers & Programmers | Managed by closed group of group or individual or team that developed it. | Managed by closed group of group or individual or team that developed it. |
| Source Code | Public | Protected | Protected |
| Price | Free / donation accepted | Free | Pay |
