Difference Wiki

Application Software vs. Utility Programs

Various kinds of packages are present within a computing system that has the purpose of helping people to feel comfortable within the environment. An application software and utility software are two such programs that have their uses and benefits. These two programs are discussed here in the article and have their distinctive definitions. The first one is a computer-based program that is designed to perform some tasks that are grouped together and helps people in completing their work at faster speeds. The latter one helps in making the device work better and keeping the environment safe.

Key Differences

An application software is mostly downloaded from the internet whereas a utility program is either already installed in the computer of becomes downloadable from the web.
An application usually has bigger size takes more space on the computer whereas a utility is smaller in size and takes less space and power in comparison.
Aimie Carlson
Mar 17, 2017
An application software is a computer based program that is designed to perform some tasks that are grouped together and helps people in completing their work at faster speeds. Whereas a utility program is a program that is designed to perform specific tasks that contribute to making the device work better and keeping the environment safe.
An application becomes an accessory that may or may not show any benefit whereas a utility always shows some benefit towards the device.
Janet White
Mar 17, 2017
A utility is always free if installed in the computer, whereas an application mostly paid if downloaded from the web.
Aimie Carlson
Mar 17, 2017
The best example of an application software is that of a video player that is used to play various files on the computer. While the best example of a utility program is the anti-virus program installed on the computer that keeps the computer safe.
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Comparison Chart

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A computer-based program that is designed to perform some tasks grouped together.
A program that aims to perform specific tasks that help in making the device work better.

Access

Always downloaded from the internet.
Either comes pre-installed or downloaded from the web.

Example

VLC Media Player
AVAST Antivirus

Usage

An accessory that may or may not shows any benefit
Always shows some kind of interest towards the device
Janet White
Mar 17, 2017

Size

Big
Small

Price

Free or Paid
Mostly free
Janet White
Mar 17, 2017
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Definition of Application Software

An application software known by many names and the most common ones for this are an application program, application or app. It is a computer-based program that is designed to perform some tasks that are grouped together and helps people in completing their work at faster speeds. It benefits the use and shows a group of functions that are coordinated together, or fulfill tasks and activities that help the user. Many examples of software exist, for instance, whenever we have to watch a video, we need a video player. Several of them are present both within the computer or on the internet. The best ones for this purposes are a VLC player or Windows Media Player. Similarly, whenever we have to access the internet, we require a browser that helps to connect us to the web and open several websites. For this requirement, people download packages such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera. Two ways are present to make sure these are accessible for the user. First one is that they come with the computer program and provided by the developer of the Windows. The second one is the way people develop programs on their own to help make some of the files work. The simplest of definition for an application program is a software that is designed to help people with information technology. It can manipulate data such as text, graphics, numbers or a collection of any one of them. Most of the apps focus on performing one task at a time while many others have their concentration on providing several facilities.

Definition of Utility Programs

Utility programs have many other names and get known as either a service, utility software or just as system software. It is a program that is designed to perform specific tasks that help in making the device work better and keeping the environment safe. It is different from a package that comes with benefits of using something new and provides essential tools that help in maintaining the safe suits. An operating system comes with several utilities for managing their hard disks, printers and other devices. Another property of these is that they do not have larger sizes, most services will come with smaller sizes. But that is no guarantee, many of them have bigger sizes. This property though is the basis of the distinction between an application and utility. Most of the times they are installed within the system and come along with the whole package, but some of them become available on the internet, Main example of such utilities are as follows. Antivirus, which is the primary utility required by the users, mostly comes pre-installed with the operating system but people have the facility to download another one of their choices but is larger in size. Archives also exist within the system and output the file that is either a stream or a single entity. Similarly, backup facilities also get known as a utility since they have the option of making copies of all the information on the disk, and whenever something goes wrong, people access it and use it to solve several issues.

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