---
title: free
alignment: lawful
---

{% block examples -%}

"[Users](/user) want everything for free"

"Free as in ['freedom'](/fredom) not 'free beer'"

{%- endblock %}



{% block usage -%}

To indicate a given [work](/work) can be used without monetary compensation

To indicate a given work is licensed under a permissive, [libre license](http://freedomdefined.org/Definition)

{%- endblock %}



{% block recommendations -%}

Use "free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”; indicate this context very clearly to avoid confusion

Use "libre" along with "free" to further stress the [freedom-based](/freedom) meaning

Use "gratis" instead of "free (as in beer)" to clearly demarcate freedoms from monetary cost

{%- endblock %}