47 best free software

Open source software is any kind of program where the developer behind it chooses to release the source code for free. Whenever software has an open source license, it means anyone in the world can download, modify and distribute it without paying fees to its original creator. By contrast, successful open source initiatives are built on the hard work of potentially thousands of collaborators who have voluntarily given up their time to create something awesome.

Such an accessible development system has some serious advantages. Open source software is often more secure because people from around the world scrutinize new releases and bugs get reported and addressed fast.

Also, people are motivated to add cool new features to open source platforms which means open source software is often just as good, if not better, than competing pay-to-use programs. While open source software is used in everything from networks to web servers, here we'll focus on the best open source software for you to download and run on your desktop or laptop. We've also featured the best laptop for programming. Some would actually argue that LibreOffice is the more fully-featured of the two, thanks to its dedicated developer community which is adding new tools and tricks all the time.

For example, in the latest update, LibreOffice added a QR code generator tool so you can quickly create mobile-friendly links. An alternative well-known open source office tool is Open Office, which offers many similar features to LibreOffice.

The reason that LibreOffice has taken the top spot today is that it is much better at preserving Microsoft file formats. The only downside to this awesome free office software is that editing documents collaboratively online is a bit tricky. Recently, an online editing option has been added but it still requires some technical know-how to implement. Read our full LibreOffice review.

You can use VLC media player to open audio and video files in just about any format without having to hunt down extra codecs. VLC also works for streaming media such as podcasts and online radio stations.

But perhaps the greatest VLC media player feature is playback control. You can change almost everything about how your media is displayed from hardware optimization to adding subtitle files from third-party sources. Like some of the other amazing open source offerings mentioned here, VLC is constantly being upgraded with new goodies and features to explore. The latest updates to the free video player have included the ability to stream to other devices like Chromecasts and degree video support for VR headsets.

Beloved by Linux users since its original release in , GIMP is one of the most famous and best-maintained open source software tools out there. GIMP has built-in support for layers, filters, and automatic photo enhancement. It also makes it easy to create new graphic design elements and you can really take things to the next level by downloading plug-ins created by the broader GIMP open source community.

Just like Photoshop, GIMP has a fairly steep learning curve but anyone who puts in a bit of time is sure to appreciate its customizable interface and GPU hardware acceleration. NET instead. Read our full GIMP review. NET , or Fotor! If you prefer an online photo editor, checkout Pixlr and BeFunky. Looking for detailed information about the hardware on your computer.

It can also analyze and monitor your system too. You can share large files up to 2GB for free with friends and family using a program called WeTransfer. Other programs include DropSend and pCloud. The popular notes app we all know is Evernote, but there are other great options like SimpleNote , Google Keep , and Notebook.

Other good options include FileZilla and CyberDuck. Are you a web developer or coder? Looking for a good HTML editor? Want to learn more about the WiFi networks around you? Ever wanted to create a family tree? Legacy is a free genealogy that you can use to keep track of family and relatives. Another good app is ScionPC.

If you constantly use the same programs over and over, it might be a good idea to download a quick program launcher. One of my favorites is Find and Run Robot.

Ever wanted to automate a certain task in Windows? Maybe you want to have your computer turn off every day at 10pm? Or certain keystrokes you want to record and repeat over and over again? Whatever the case, AutoHotKey is an awesome program for automating many tasks in Windows.

Looking to secure your browsing traffic with a VPN? In 14, I mentioned two professional and free movie editing programs, but they are quite complex. Got kids? Need some parental control software? The best options are Qustodio and Kidlogger. Free versions are limited obviously. Also, read my post on the different ways to childproof a computer. If you have a lot of music, you might want to consider a music management program like Media Monkey.

Another good program is MusicBee. I talked about a VPN for secure browsing in 39, but you can also use a different browser like Tor to hide your identify. Revo Uninstaller will get rid of any program whether it wants to or not. They have a whole free games section. If you have sensitive data on your computer that you want to permanently and securely delete from your hard drive, I would suggest using a program called dBan.

Do a lot of reading? A great app for reading in Windows is the Kindle app. It will also sync down to your phone or tablet too. Love using Instagram? Want to download a photo, video or story from Instagram? Check out 4K Stogram. Looking for good screen capture software?

A really good one is Screenshot Captor. Of course, Windows has a lot of built-in ways to capture screenshots too. Ever wanted your computer to speak out what you have written? Do you have a lot of programs that load when Windows starts? Does it take several minutes for your computer to become useable? If so, check out Startup Delayer , a program that delays the startup of programs so that your computer loads faster.

In addition to the Office suites we mentioned in 35, you can also use Canva and Prezi. Follow a lot of blogs online and still miss Google Reader? RSSOwl is a good alternative. Are you someone who prefers a supercharged Explorer interface? If so, check out Total Commander , which has been around for decades and works with Windows If you think you might have bad memory installed in your computer, you can check for bad memory using memtest Want to record your screen and live stream it too?

OBS Studio is a free app that does just that. TinyTake is another decent one, though the free version is limited. Darktable is an open-source photography workflow application. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

FreeOffice Libre Office. OnlyOffice Desktop Editors. Office Online.