What is the difference between Open Source and Proprietary Software?

Open source is a type of software that is developed and tested through open collaboration, while proprietary software is a type of software that is owned by an individual or an organization that developed it.

Open source is ease to access, modify, inspect, and redistribute the source code as long as you have a knowledge of the software. Open market source provides flexibility, which allows more and better innovation. At the same time, proprietary has a limited scope that restricts innovation.

Proprietary software is managed by a closed group of individuals that developed it, while open source, as the name implies, is managed by an open community of developers and programmers.

Example of open source software includes Android, Firefox, FreeBSD, Drupal, GNOME, Ubuntu, and so on. Examples of proprietary software include Windows, macOS, iTunes, Google Earth, Abode Flash player, as so on.

Open-source is known to be a type of software wherein the code will be available to people who would need it. For example, if someone would like to modify an open-source software, this can be done easily.

A propriety software, on the other hand, is another type of software wherein this cannot be accessed, modified, or opened by people immediately. This can only be opened by the individual who has worked on creating and modifying it.

Take note that a lot of open-source software is also referred to as free software which means that it can also be accessed without worrying about certain fees. There are also minimal restrictions for open source software as compared to propriety software.