Free as in Beer
Phrase · Open Source
Definitions
A phrase used to clarify that 'free' refers to price rather than freedom, as in software that costs nothing but may still restrict modification or redistribution. It is commonly paired with 'free as in speech' to distinguish cost from liberty.
In plain English: Free in the sense of costing no money, not in the sense of giving you full rights.
Example: "The binary is free as in beer, but the source and redistribution terms are still tightly controlled."