The Best Web Browser
When it comes to web browsers, Chrome may have the largest market share, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. There are plenty of other browsers to choose from based on your needs. For those concerned about privacy, the Brave browser is a solid choice. If you’re looking for a browser with a ton of productivity features, Vivaldi is a great option. And if you prefer open source software, Firefox is a privacy-focused browser that stands out. However, lately, Microsoft Edge has taken the lead as the best web browser. It offers a wide range of features for productivity and accessibility, including a screen capture tool, vertical tabs, and an immersive reader that removes distractions while reading. While it may not be as privacy-focused as some others, it offers Chrome extensions to enhance privacy. What sets Edge apart is its AI-powered copilot for Bing, which allows you to create images based on text, refine your search with chat-based search, and get summarized answers with citations. Microsoft Edge is available for Windows, Mac OS, select Linux distros, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android.
The Best Media Player
When it comes to media players, VLC is the absolute best. It’s open source, free of ads and spyware, and doesn’t track your viewing habits. VLC can play almost any audio or video file without the need for additional codec packs, and it’s lightweight on system resources, ensuring quick loading times. VLC media player is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
The Best VPN
Protecting your data is crucial, especially when using public Wi-Fi. If you can’t afford to pay for a VPN, consider getting the open source ProtonVPN Free. ProtonVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning they don’t store information about the sites you visit. There are no ads, and being based in Switzerland, they won’t share your data with other countries. The free plan offers unlimited data, although you’re restricted to 100 servers in three countries. ProtonVPN is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chromebook.
The Best Office Suite
If you’re looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office, the open source LibreOffice is all you need. It includes alternatives to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher, which are regularly updated by a team of developers. You can also add templates and extensions to enhance your experience. LibreOffice is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
The Best Image Editor
If you can’t afford expensive programs like Photoshop, GIMP is a fantastic free and open source alternative. GIMP allows you to easily touch up photos and create new images, just like Photoshop. It includes advanced filters, transformations, color adjustments, and layer support. GIMP is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
The Best Video Editor
For editing high-quality videos, DaVinci Resolve is the go-to program. It offers a wide range of professional features not commonly found in other paid programs. DaVinci Resolve allows you to edit using multiple tracks, trim videos, apply transitions and effects, and create film-quality visual effects and motion graphics with Fusion. It’s available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, with a free version that offers more features than most people would ever need, and a paid version for advanced professionals.
The Best Screen Recording and Streaming Software
For live streaming and recording your screen, OBS Studio is a great choice. It allows you to capture what’s on your screen and stream live content to platforms like Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube. OBS Studio includes a built-in audio mixer and supports unlimited scenes, with no time limits or watermarks. It’s available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
The Best Screenshot Tool
When it comes to capturing screenshots, ShareX is a fantastic free and open source tool for Windows. It offers more advanced features than the built-in Snip & Sketch, allowing for scrolling captures of web pages, built-in screen recording, and various annotation tools to mark up your images.
The Best Password Manager
To secure all your passwords and sensitive information, a password manager is essential. Bitwarden is a great choice. It’s open source, free for personal use, and allows unlimited passwords on all your devices. Your data is fully encrypted, ensuring only you can access it. Bitwarden offers cloud syncing and is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, as well as browser extensions and mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Antivirus Protection
If you’re using Windows 10 or 11 and practice safe online behavior, the built-in antivirus protection should be sufficient. However, for additional security, it’s a good idea to have Malwarebytes installed. The free version of Malwarebytes can be used to run scans and detect any potential threats that may have been missed by your primary antivirus. Malwarebytes is also available for Mac OS, with mobile apps for Apple devices and Android.
Bonus Programs in Various Categories
Here are eight free programs in different categories that you might find useful:
- Foxit PDF Reader: More than just a PDF reader, Foxit offers annotation tools for collaboration and form-filling capabilities.
- VirtualBox: Allows you to install and run other operating systems in a virtual machine on your computer, great for trying out Linux distros without dual booting.
- Blender: An amazing open source 3D computer graphics toolset used in the creation of animated films and video games.
- IrfanView: An image viewer, editor, organizer, and converter, with additional capabilities like playing video and audio files.
- qBittorrent: An open source torrent client with a built-in search engine and media player, useful for legitimate file sharing.
- Audacity: A multi-track audio editor and recording program, suitable for beginners and professionals alike.
- Inkscape: An open source vector graphics editor, a great alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
- Visual Studio Code: A powerful source code editor, debugger, and compiler.
These free programs offer great alternatives to their paid counterparts, providing you with a wide range of choices for different needs. Make sure to check them out and see which ones work best for you.
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