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Contents

Windows and macOS don't get the attention they used to in today's mobile world. But we have not fully abandoned the desktop. The real work (and a lot of the play) of computing requires a full personal computer system. To get the most out of that, you need software.

Software can be expensive if you're not smart about it. Free programs have been a mainstay of the desktop experience for decades, and the offerings only get more powerful and fascinating each year. As PCs compete with smartphones, it gets even better. Software developers can adopt an ad-based model, donation-ware to keep things afloat, or a shareware/freemium model that charges for extra features.

Something to always watch for: crapware installers. To make ends meet, many creators of otherwise great free software, or the services that offer the programs for download, bundle in things you don't want. Worse, the installation routine obfuscates the steps, so you provide the unwanted program tacit permission to be installed. For more about how to spot and avoid this problem, see How to Clean Crapware From a New PC, and check out the Uninstaller section of this very free software collection.

One tip that helps prevent the extra crapware onslaught: only download desktop software from the maker of the software directly. It's not foolproof—after all, developers want to eat, too—but it helps. That's why one of the criteria for inclusion here is that the program has to be available directly from the maker.

Other criteria:

• The software has to typically have a Windows-based download; we mark it if it has a version for other platforms, even mobile or cloud-based (see the Legend below). In some cases, we've included Web-app versions that are as good, or better, than some downloadable programs.
• If it's on a tiered sales model, the free version cannot be trial-ware that doesn't work after a time.
• The program should have little or no advertising to support it. Some freemium software depends on showing ads to exist, however.
• Software for productivity is what this list is about; there's plenty of other places to find free games.

So take a look at the list of 178 programs. Tell us in the comments if we missed your absolute favorite piece of free software.

LEGEND for compatibility:
—Windows
—macOS
—Linux
—iOS
—Android
—Amazon FireOS
—ChromeOS
—Portable (runs on USB flash drives you can take with you)
—Web app (runs in a web browser)
Lesser used smartphones and devices are listed individually.

For more free software, check out The 100 Best iPhone Apps of 2017 and The 100 Best Android Apps of 2017.

Anti-Malware

Avast Free Antivirus 2016

Avast scours more than just your PC. It'll go out on the network and check your router for security holes. Its built-in phishing protection is better than ever; there's even a basic password manager this year. Every third-party testing lab rates the free version of Avast very well (albeit not as good as a paid service gets).
Read our review of Avast Free Antivirus 2016.

AVG AntiVirus Free (2017)

When an antivirus tool like AVG gets a new look, it's worth noting. Better yet, AVG has built in new technology to make its free version all the more effective. Labs tests show it really works.
Read our review of AVG AntiVirus Free (2017).

Panda Free Antivirus (2016)

It's not going to outpace the paid anti-malware tools for effectiveness, but the easy-to-use Panda is more than capable of keeping up with the freebies. It will even automatically check USB drives you insert and launch a 'vaccination' against launched processes on the USB drive. Just watch out during Panda installation as it tries to reset some of your defaults—the price you pay for 'free.'
Read our review of Panda Free Antivirus (2016).

Want more options? Read The Best Free Antivirus Protection of 2017.

Audio

LMMS

Don't have the cash for Pro Tools or even Garageband? This freebie works on all desktop OSes and could have you PC cranking out melodious multi-track recordings in no time.

Audacity

Open-source Audacity can record and edit audio files on more tracks than you can imagine. It then outputs exactly what you need, even to MP3 if you use a plug-in. It is perfect for noobs and pros alike, on any desktop OS.

Back-Up & Synchronization

Dropbox
Windows Phone
One of the most popular synchronization services ever: simply put files in your Dropbox folder on the desktop, they get uploaded to the cloud, and are instantly synchronized with any other PC on the account. Files are also accessible via apps or the Web. If you delete a file by accident, you can use the site to get it back. You get 2GB of free online storage, which you can bolster by sharing on social media and downloading the mobile apps.
Read our review of Dropbox, plus Tips to Turbocharge Dropbox.

Microsoft OneDrive
Windows Phone, Xbox
Consider OneDrive the most flexible and all-encompassing sync and back-up tool going. It's the official cloud storage for users of Microsoft Office and Windows 10 (it's built right into the OS). OneDrive throws in 5GB of free online storage; you earn extra by referring friends or backing up smartphone cameras. If you subscribe to Office 365 Home, that storage jumps up to 1TB.
Read our review of Microsoft OneDrive, plus Tips to Help You Master Microsoft OneDrive.

Box (Personal)
Windows Phone, BlackBerry
With 10GB of free online storage, Box's Personal service now is one of the more robust free offerings. Box also limits file sizes to 250MB each. It does more than sync and have online access; it also offers tools for commenting on or editing documents (it won't replace an office suite like Google Drive, which you'll find below in Office Suites, though it could just as easily go in this category).
Read our review of Box (Personal).

IDrive
Windows Phone, NAS devices
You get 5GB free from IDrive to back up files from all your devices. That's not a lot, but if it's enough, you'll find this service more than up to your needs. It'll even back up your photos and videos from Facebook.
Read our review of IDrive.

EaseUS Todo Backup Free

Backup wasn't always about sending stuff to the cloud. EaseUS Todo is more old-school, providing methods to clone your entire hard drive, back up just a partition of a hard drive to another drive, provide instant recovery, and even check backups for damaged files. It'll also back up your Outlook emails.

Browsers

Mozilla Firefox

A new design for a venerable old browser brought Firefox back to the top—it's now our Editors' Choice. That's because it's highly customizable, strong on security and privacy and performance, and supports a slew of new standards. It's even on iPhone now.
Read our review of Firefox, plus Hidden Firefox Functions for Browsing Like a Boss.

Google Chrome

It's been a leading browser since its debut in 2008, especially when it comes to speed and minimalism. Chrome still ranks high as a browser to keep in your arsenal. Especially if you're a devotee to Google products—and it's built right into the ChromeOS on Chromebooks so much that it practically is the OS. However, it's probably not the browser you want if you're a privacy advocate.
Read our review of Google Chrome, plus Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier.

Opera

The Opera browser has been keeping up with the big boys for years, and it does so now by incorporating features no other browser has, in particular a built-in VPN service to keep your browsing secure, as well as ad blockers, a turbo mode, and even a battery saver that lets your laptop run longer than other browsers accessing the same content. It also comes in multiple versions for mobile, including Opera Mini, which compresses pages before you even load them.
Read our review of Opera.

Clean-Up / Maintenance Utilities

CCleaner

The first of a few Piriform programs on this list, CCleaner—the first C is for Crap!—is one of the best, and pretty much essential for keeping a system going. What it does is simple: it cleans up extraneous files to keep a system running better. Get it and run it, regularly. It'll even delete some apps you didn't think you could get rid of—like those provided in Windows 10, whether you wanted them or not.
Read our review of CCleaner for Mac.

Defraggler

Another gem from Piriform. Defragmenting a hard disk has become a little passé in the age of terabyte drives, but it's still a smart thing to do to eke out a little more>

Glary Utilities 5

Say there's a bunch of individual utilities you'd like to run for Windows tune-ups. An easier solution is to get the full Glary Utilities suite—inside are 20 tools for boosting speeds and stopping errors.

Autoruns

A lot of things happen at the startup of a Windows session, including the booting up of a lot of software and processes in the background. Autoruns makes it easy to make a little more sense of what's happening, and helps you shut down the auto-start applications you don't need. Works with Windows Vista on up to 10.

Conferencing

Microsoft Skype
Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Xbox One, Apple Watch, Android Wear,
Skype is synonymous with video conferencing. Now run by Microsoft, there's a reason our Editors' Choice review says it's 'a highly polished, hugely functional service that runs on every platform you can think of and offers more communication options than any of its competitors.' (Skype did, however, kill support for apps on smart TVs.) For free, you can make unlimited video calls between Skype users, even with groups of users. Plus, the translation ability is straight out of science fiction.
Read our review of Skype for Windows.

Google Hangouts

Google built Hangouts into its services as a replacement for the Google Talk messaging service, but Hangouts adds voice and video calls. It's unique for this roundup in that it doesn't require an installer, it just works in your browser (though getting the Chrome Extension is recommended). It's perfect for talking to other people on Google—you can get up to nine people in a video chat, all for free.
Read our review of Google Hangouts for Android, then try 8 Cool Tricks for Google Hangouts You (Probably) Didn't Know Existed.

GoToMeeting Free

Up to three people on their PCs can use the browser to video chat and even share screens, all without fees or any setup other than sharing a URL. Sign up for an account or sign in with your Google or Facebook accounts, and you can claim a regular-to-use meeting 'room' online. Because it's Web based, it works for Linux, Mac, or Windows, even on a Chromebook.

appear.in

At first glance, appear.in looks a lot like GoToMeeting. That's because both of them use the fledgling open-source standard called WebRTC (real time communication) to set up and connect users for video conferencing in modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, specifically). There are a whole slew of companies trying it, with names like Talky, imo, and Gruveo—there's even a Web RTC feature built into the Firefox browser. Appear.in outdoes them all. It has mobile apps, allows up to eight conference attendees, screen sharing, claims on customizable 'rooms,' and even just simple chat tools. You can even stick an appear.in room on your website.

Ebooks and Digital Comics

Comics

Amazon-owned comiXology is well known as the store for purchasing digital comics from just about all the major funny-book publishers; its free apps, going by the simple name 'Comics,' are how you read them. The app is a wonder, making page-by-page or panel-by-panel reading a delight, especially on a comic-book-page-sized tablet. The synced view means you stop on one device and pick up at the next one in the same spot. Pair it with comiXology's unlimited reading subscription option, or buy new comics the same day they appear in stores. For comic book nerds, it's a must. (Windows users will have to stick with the Web interface, as the Windows Store app has been scuttled.)
Read our review of Comixology.com, plus Everything You Need to Know about Digital Comics.

Kindle
BlackBerry
Practically the de facto reader for ebooks these days, the Kindle brand is more than just hardware—it extends to these apps and programs for reading ebooks (which you have to buy from Amazon, of course). Start the book on any device, continue it elsewhere—the Kindle WhisperSync feature knows where you stopped reading. X-Ray gives you insight into the book; GoodReads integration gives you a social aspect. The new PageFlip lets you keep your page while scouring the rest of the book.
Read our review of Kindle Cloud Reader.

Nook Reading App

Nook from Barnes & Noble is the book chain's gateway to reading the ebooks it sells you. Not only does it support written prose, but also BN-sold audiobooks.

Calibre

If you've got a lot of ebook files, Calibre is the open-source tool you need to organize them. It converts files into different formats, so you can use ebooks on many different devices, with which it will also sync.

ComicRack

Got a slew of CBR and CBZ files laying around on your hard drive unread? These compressed files full of scanned-in comic book page images are easy to read with the right software. The right software is ComicRack, because it does a lot more than just display the images—it'll even share the files across your network, and provides full database organization of the comics. Use the Windows version to sync comics to the mobile apps.

Email

Outlook.com
Windows Phone
If you've got a Microsoft account, you have access to Outlook.com, the successor to Hotmail and Live mail and our Editors' Choice for Web-based email. There's still the Outlook program itself for Windows and Mac—it comes with Microsoft Office—but this free option is a perfect, minimalist, consumer-based webmail, complete with OneDrive integration. Interesting features include Sweeps, so you can, for example, delete all messages from one sender at once, and built-in chat—including Skype video chat. The version for iOS is particularly great.
Read our review of Outlook.com and Outlook for iPhone.

Gmail

An ultra-popular option for individuals and businesses alike, Gmail sports a clean interface and many innovations that come out of the Gmail Labs. It's integrated with Google Contacts, and works with a lot, if not all, third-party email apps you can imagine. And it probably has the best spam filter you'll ever use.
Read our review of Gmail and Gmail for iPhone.

Thunderbird

Mozilla's email client extraordinaire has jumped to version 45, but it still has all the features that made it great: account setup wizards, multiple languages, hundreds of add-ons, a tabbed interface, great search, junk mail and phishing tools, and the option for a personalized email address with your own choice of a domain name. Migration from previous versions is a breeze and worth it if you're on the desktop.

eM Client

The free home version of this client software works with only two email accounts and lacks VIP support; otherwise, it's feature-laden software that works with any kind of email, including services like Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, Exchange, and Outlook.com, complete with contact imports, calendar, task lists, and chat.

Inky

Inky has changed focus since we reviewed it a few years ago, moving to become a client of choice for enterprise-sized businesses. However, a free version is still available to allow users at home access to Gmail, iCloud, and Outlook.com accounts. It offers smart sorting in a unified inbox, so you see the important stuff up top.
Read our review of Inky.

Nylas Mail

Set up a Nylas ID and this clean, clear desktop software will become the central manager for your Gmail, Office 365, iCloud, and IMAP mail accounts. It offers a unified inbox, emoji support, themes to change the look, search, an undo send option (always a must), and even plug-ins.

Opera Mail

Think Opera is just for browsers? It also has a lightweight email desktop client with a built-in RSS feed reader.

SPAMfighter

If you use a desktop email client like Outlook, Thunderbird, or even Windows Mail, you're probably not getting as much spam-fighting power—especially with POP3 email accounts. Stick SPAMfigher on the system—it works directly with Microsoft to make it as tough against spam as possible. (The Windows version is totally free for home use; the Mac version is only free for 10 days.)

Firewalls

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall by Check Point

This easy-to-install firewall has been around the block a time or two, but still protects. It's great at stopping attacks from the outside, leaks from inside (it monitors all your running programs), and even manages some anti-phishing tools for your email.
Read our review of Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Firewall, then check out Do You Need a Firewall?

Comodo Firewall

Comodo does much more than the built-in option in Windows. As it should, it blocks attacks from outside, and it has a malware detector that's better than some antivirus systems. It also installs the Comodo Dragon hardened security web browser. (Be careful during install, though; nice as it is, it may try to change your browser home page and search engine defaults.)
Read our review of Comodo Firewall.

TinyWall

Designed as an enhancement, not a replacement, for your existing Windows built-in firewall, the small TinyWall does everything it needs to harden your PC against attacks. In fact, it'll block almost all communication until you whitelist the programs you need.
Read our review of TinyWall.

PrivateFirewall

This firewall provides no bells nor whistles. It provides tabs of info you go through to specify programs getting permission to talk to the outside, with plenty of explanation for end users about what's happening.

File Recovery and Deletion

Recuva

Piriform's Recuva (say it out loud) is a must on the tool belt of any techie, as it'll be key to helping some wayward soul get back a lost file. It's easy to understand, though should really be installed before you lose a file for utmost effectiveness. It's portable, so you have the option to run it from a USB thumb drive (thus not overwriting that lost file on your drive by installing Recuva at the last minute.)
Read our review of Recuva.

TestDisk

TestDisk does a lot more than just find some lost files. It can recover an entire lost hard drive partition, and makes what was once a non-bootable disk drive bootable again. It's open source so it might not have as fancy a user interface as you're used to—but it's powerful. Companion tool PhotoRec specializes in recovering lost images.
For more, read How to Recover Deleted Files.

Eraser

The opposite of file recovery is utter destruction—the kind of thing you do to keep a file out of someone else's hands. Eraser does just that, writing over the spot where the file(s) lived until it's scrubbed clean, with no chance of coming back to haunt you. You can even use it to schedule a wipe of the free space on the disk, or just to purge your recycle bin. During setup you get the option to install an extension for Windows Explorer so you can wipe files or free space instantly.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free

Ready for Windows 7, 8, and 10 (plus Windows Server), this free tool has multiple options for recovery, from simple deleted files to recovering a whole partition, even getting back CDs lost on a CD or DVD. There is a specialized mode for recovering media like photos or music or video. The free version can only recover 1GB of data.

File Transfer

Filezilla

The former computer-science project is now one of the best standalone file transfer protocol (FTP) clients around. It's a must-have for website owner who need to transfer a lot of files to a server, fast. It comes in a client and server option.

Teracopy

Windows copies files between folders and drives just fine. TeraCopy takes over that job and makes it sing—it's faster, better looking, provides more information/feedback, and can recover from transfer errors.

µTorrent

Still one of the biggest clients for downloading and uploading torrent files, you can use it on its own or pair it with Web or mobile accounts to start downloads remotely. It's ad-supported, but you can kill ads for $5/year.

Vuze

Vuze, which integrates torrent uploads/downloads with a media server option, comes in two flavors now. The free Leap is lightweight, has no ads, but lacks a Linux version. The regular free Vuze is ad-supported, but has lots more features like remote control via the web or mobile apps. It's nice software but watch the installations—even the Web page will itself will try to get you to install a new search engine. Twice.

Resilio Sync
Windows Phone, NAS devices
At first glance, this looks like Dropbox or OneDrive, but Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync) skips one aspect—it syncs file between computers without the files ever hitting a server on the Internet for online storage. This is purely peer-to-peer syncing, and works great with large files. For free, you get syncing between two devices but with unlimited data.

Copy Handler

Integrate Copy Handler right into Windows Explorer and you'll be using it to get super-granular control over your moved files in no time. It promises faster speeds than Windows built-in copy function (especially on older versions of Windows) and no useless cached files. The coolest feature of all: you can pause a transfer, reboot the computer, and resume it after.

File Management

Multi Commander

There are many, many attempts out there to replace Windows Explorer (a file manager marinating in weak sauce). Multi Commander stands out, providing multiple tabs, a file viewer, and dual panels to efficiently show you everything. Maybe too much! It's got more features than can be covered here.

FreeCommander

Another manager with the rank of Commander, this time with 'free' right in the name: FreeCommander (which is actually donation-ware) also throws up dual panels and tabs with an optional tree view to get the most out of viewing files within Windows.

7-Zip

Eventually in this life, you're going to run into an archive file—a single file with multiple files stored (and compressed) inside it. They have different extensions, from RAR to ZIP to 7z and many more, and sometimes the program to open them costs you. Not 7-Zip. It opens all of those and more, and allows creation of new archives. It'll even encrypt the contents for safety. It's entirely open source.

Virtual CloneDrive

Got image files of entire disks you would like to read, but don't want to over-write your existing drives or go buy a bunch of blank DVDs just to read the files? This software lets you mount the image (ISO, BIN, or CCD format) with a double click, as if it was a readable drive all by itself. In fact, you can load up to eight virtual drives simultaneously.

ImgBurn

Burning a few (or a lot of) CDs or DVDs from image files? Grab the free ImgBurn tool. It makes it a breeze to not only read an image file, but also create an image or write the image to a disc or drive.

CDBurnerXP

Don't let the XP in the name fool you, this is a frequently updated tool for burning ISO images and much more to CDs and DVDs. It comes in multiple languages and lists all the drives with which it's compatible. It works on all versions of Windows.

File Viewers and Converters

IrfanView

IrfanView (pronounced ear-fan-view) has been the leader in file viewing for over two decades. Not only does it view multiple file types, it can convert them, batch process changes, even play media. Plug-ins and add-ons give it even more power.

XnView MP

With an enhanced version that works across platforms, XnView MP actually has multiple uses: batch file conversion, support for 500 image formats (it can export 70 of them). It's only free for private or educational use.

FastStone Image Viewer

View, manage, and compare your images with this fast and intuitive freebie. It supports a typical slew of image formats, plus a ton of RAW image formats from specific digital camera manufacturers. It has companion apps for screenshots and photo resizing.

Finance

Mint.com

This Web- and mobile-only tool from Intuit is a must have. It's not only the spiritual replacement for the Quicken and Microsoft Money of yore, it's a modern equivalent that takes the work out of finance. By linking up securely with your various online money sources, Mint.com provides a one-stop look at all your finances. You can ignore all the offers to make you more financially solvent with new accounts and credit cards, but who knows, one day you may see a deal that works.
Read our 5-star review of Mint.com.

Graphics and Imaging

GIMP

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) remains our Editors' Choice for free image editing for good reason. It has all the high-end tools you could want for playing with graphics, and naturally costs a lot less than Photoshop; 100 percent less, in fact.
Read our review of GIMP.

Paint.net

Is Paint.net a perfect replacement for Photoshop? Nothing is as powerful, but at this price—utterly free—it is pretty close. For any minor (and some major) picture manipulation, it's fast, comprehensive, and easy to use. It requires that Windows .NET be installed to work but that's done automatically if you don't already have it.
Read our review of Paint.net.

Inkscape

Vector graphics illustration tools typically cost a lot but not Inkscape. You'll be designing, drawing, and shaping gorgeous SVG formatted files in no time with this tool. Check the online gallery for excellent examples of its capabilities.

Icecream Image Resizer

Icecream Apps has a lot of nice programs, but the most useful for designers with a batch of graphics that need a quick resize is the aptly named Image Resizer. Drag images to it, pick a size and a destination folder, and they'll be converted in an eye-blink.

RenderMan

This could be the most high-end free software ever: it's the very tool used to render the images you see in Pixar's movies. That's because RenderMan was developed by Pixar in-house for that purpose, but became free for non-commercial use. It's not going to do you much good without other software such as Autodesk's Maya for creating 3D models. But budding artists and filmmakers will want to take note. You'll need a 64-bit system to run it.

Pixlr

Autodesk's Pixlr Editor does a great job of mimicking Photoshop—entirely in the web browser. Pixlr is a full ecosystem of apps, with different versions (like Editor and Express) suited to different needs. Or try the Pixlr-o-Matic Web- and mobile apps for simple, quick changes when you're in a hurry.
Read our review of Pixlr-o-matic (for iPad).

Adobe Photoshop Express
Windows Phone
When you don't need the full strength of Photoshop, but still want Adobe in your arsenal, the low-end, consumer-oriented Express is there to help you with basics of image editing. It'll auto-fix a lot in your images, plus has photo filters and, of course, in-app purchases to extend functions. For Windows, you'll find it in the Microsoft Store.
Read our review of Photoshop Express for Windows and iPhone.

SketchUP Make

Once owned by Google, SketchUp is now independent, but still offers a free version called Make. It's for the casual 3D model drawer in the audience. If you want to stick to the browser, they offer a beta of the Web app version called my.SketchUp.

Languages

Duolingo
Windows Phone
Hands down, the best way to learn a new language from scratch (if you're not already in school taking one) or strengthen your use with one that's slipping is to use Duolingo. It's all online and utterly free, bolstered by mobile apps.
Read our review of Duolingo.

Maps

Google Earth Pro

As if high-end software that lets you fly across the globe isn't cool enough (especially with all the same online features of its sibling, Google Maps), Google Earth Pro—with its advanced features, like high-res printing—went totally free in 2015. If you prefer to keep the maps in the browser or on mobile devices, stick to Google Maps.

Bing Maps/Windows Maps
Windows Phone, Xbox
The desktop's only real competition for Google Maps and Google Earth these days is Microsoft's offering, complete with search, integrated ratings from Yelp and TripAdvisor, and more. Windows Maps in the Microsoft Store is the desktop equivalent; if you have Windows 10, it's probably pre-installed for you.

Waze

You probably think of Waze as a mobile app only for helping you skirt traffic with the help of a vast online community. True, but there is a live Waze map for desktop browsers as well. Log in with your account to get the latest even on the big screen.
Read our review of Waze (for iPhone).

Media Players/Centers

Spotify
Windows Phone, PlayStation
If all you need in life is a constant shuffle play of your music (with the occasional advertisement), then Spotify is for you. It offers 30+ million song possibilities no matter where you are.
Read our review of Spotify.

MediaMonkey

Sick of iTunes? We are. MediaMonkey provides almost all the same media management, playlists, and tagging capabilities as Apple's bloatware—and even syncs media with your iOS-based devices. The Android app version means other phones are also covered. It'll even sync over Wi-Fi (Android only).

Foobar2000
Windows Phone
Remember WinAmp? Foobar2000 is the modern equivalent, a desktop audio player with a concentration on quality. It's unique in a world of online-radio services in that way. It's also worth it if you're an audiophile with big sound files (or just use CDs). And now you can get (gapless!) playback on your mobile devices, as well. .

VLC media player
Windows Phone, Apple TV
After a big cross-platform upgrade, the much-loved VLC got even more awesome. Already a premier way to watch just about any video, ever, no matter what the weird codec, the latest has features like auto-rotating smartphone videos taken at the wrong orientation, and resuming playback from where you stopped. Seriously, it plays back anything, and guarantees it comes with now ads, tracking, or spyware.

Kodi
Raspberry Pi
Once called XBMC (from its origins on the original Xbox), Kodi has emerged as an open-source yet serious media center. Run the software in one place and stream all your media (you bring the content) to your other devices. You can sideload it on an Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. Kodi also is sold inside its own Raspberry Pi case.

Plex
PlayStation, Xbox, Nvidia Sheild, Chromecast, TiVo, Apple TV, Sonos, Roku, Smart TVs, NAS Devices
If you don't know or care what a media server is—you just want to stream your videos and music collection around the house—Plex is probably for you. Install it on all your devices, point it at some media, and the media is available on all of them—even remotely over the internet. Plex plans to implement a cloud-based server option on Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, so you can stream from the Web.
Read our review of Plex.

MusicBee

A highly customizable music player and organizer, MusicBee gives iTunes a run for its money, especially when it comes to finding and organizing podcasts on the desktop. It's also great at syncing music with your Android-based phones or tablets via a cable.

Song Director

Have a vast collection of music files and now desire to sort them? Song Director will search your PC for all the sound files you have and create a database, which you can then use for playback, sorting, and more.

Messaging

Telegram
Windows Phone
One of the new class of messaging services with an ecosystems of apps, Telegram delivers not only easy communications, but also encryption security end-to-end. It's a stand-out on iPhone, and has native apps on just about every platform available. Send messages, files, photos, animated GIFs (the search is built in), and create channels of up to 5,000 people to broadcast to.
Read our review of Telegram Messenger (for iPhone).

Signal

Our favorite messaging service takes security seriously—it's Snowden-approved!—using its own open-source protocol to do end-to-end encryption, even on voice calls. It's not as much fun as some of the others, but still supports sending photos and video, plus group messaging. On Android, Signal can completely replace the SMS texting app; on iPhone you need to get other users to download Signal or you can't talk to them.
Read our review of Signal (for iPhone).

WhatsApp
Windows Phone, Nokia, BlackBerry
It's not super popular in the US and not even our favorite messaging app, but you can't ignore the 800-pound messaging gorilla that is WhatsApp—since it was purchased by Facebook for almost $20 billion and it has over a billion users worldwide. It offers end-to-end encryption, has animated GIF support, group chat for up to 256 people, document sharing, voice and video calls, one-tap voice messages, and a Web-based interface you access by scanning a QR code with the app on your mobile device. It recently added macOS and Windows desktop versions.
Read our review of WhatApp Messenger (for iPhone) and then check out Essential WhatsApp Tips for Chat Fans.

Facebook Messenger
Windows Phone
Facebook Messenger is built right into the interface on Facebook on the Web, so you can use it without doing anything special. But downloading the mobile clients or using the dedicated Web interface at Messenger.com opens up lots of other options, from voice and video calls, to SMS texting support, to use of stickers, to, perhaps the best part, chatbots that will talk to you and provide info. Like its brother, WhatsApp, it also has a billion users.
Read our review of Facebook Messenger (for iPhone) or Android, then check out 22 Cool Tricks and Secret Gems Inside Facebook Messenger.

Trillian

Trillian is one of the ultimate old-school IM aggregators, letting you chat with users on multiple IM networks, including AIM, Google, Yahoo, and Facebook—plus many other obscure networks you maybe have never heard of. The free version is ad-supported.
Read our previous review of Trillian.

Franz

Described as a 'messaging app / former Emperor of Austria,' you can tell from the Web page that Franz is gonna be fun—and useful. The sheer number of services it supports is huge: Slack, Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, Google Hangouts, Twitter, Gmail, Outlook.com, and HipChat are just the start. You can add a service multiple times if you have multiple accounts.

Pidgin

The open-source world's IM aggregator, Pidgin talks to AIM, Google, Yahoo, ICQ, and more; the Mac version is called Adium.

Networking

SpiceWorks Network Monitor

SpiceWorks Network Monitor software keeps an eye on things, even mobile devices, without having to install agent software on each node of the network. There is no limit on the number of devices. (You'll have to upgrade to premium to do much more than monitor; until then, you have to watch some advertisements.)
Read our review of SpiceWorks.

Axence NetTools

Totally free of charge, this set of 10 Windows tools will keep an eye on the network. It includes network/port scanner, traceroute, bandwidth test, and a lot more.

Virtual Router

A simple download to turn any Windows 7 or 8 system into an instant hotspot, sharing its Wi-Fi signal with others who need to go online.

Wireshark

Network pros who need a protocol analyzer and packet sniffer should add Wireshark to their tool box. It captures data that can tell you plenty about your network.

Baidu WiFi Hotspot

There are difficult ways to turn your Windows system into a hotspot, sharing your Wi-Fi with others. There are also expensive ways. But this software is simple and free. You can be up and running in seconds.

Notes

Evernote
Windows Phone
Evernote has one use: be your online repository for everything. Scan it, shoot it, type it, whatever, just put it in Evernote to find later. Most text, even in pictures, is OCRed (optical character recognition) so it's searchable later. Organize the notes into Notebooks, then access it anywhere. Despite some ups and downs in its business model, it remains our Editors' Choice for note-taking on multiple platforms—even if for free you can only use two devices (plus the Web interface).
Read our review of Evernote for Web, Mac, and iPhone. Then read Tips Every Evernote Users Must Know.

Microsoft OneNote
Windows Phone
Once just a part of Microsoft Office, the sublime OneNote has become a free, standalone powerhouse download for note-taking across all the major OSes. Of course it still works with Office, syncs data across all platforms, and has full online access via Office.com with 7GB of free storage.
Read our review of OneNote for Mac and Web, then check out The Best Note-Taking Apps of 2017.

Google Keep

The most basic of online note-taking tools, Google's attempt is like advanced, customizable, high-end sticky notes you keep online.
Read our review of Google Keep and 7 Reasons You Might Actually Want to Use Google Keep.

Workflowy

The self-described 'notebook for lists,' Workflowy is a Web-only tool that essentially gives you unlimited online outlining for your notes. It's super limited in that way—which also makes its possible uses infinite.
Read our review of Workflowy.

Notepad++

This is the now-classic ultimate replacement for the anemic Notepad included in all versions of Windows. Its multiple tabs, color-coded nest text, macro support, and WYSIWYG printing make it a must for anyone who hand-codes their text for programming, or just wants to write with a minimalist interface.

Simplenote

Notes created in this simple but powerful app are automatically stored online (you need a Simplenote account to use it). Multiple versions of notes are saved when changes are made, in case you need an old copy. It supports markdown for formatting text a little better, but best of all works with a lot of top-flight downloadable desktop note-taking tools like ResophNotes for Windows and Notational Velocity for the Mac.

Office Suites and Presentations

Google Drive

Google Drive has morphed over the years to become the official place where you store your cloud files for use with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (Drive's online and mobile equivalents to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). But it also doubles as a sync service on the desktop, a la Dropbox or OneDrive, storing any kind of file, with apps for access to those same files on mobile devices. Throw in the office suite aspects and the 15GB of free space online (shared with other Google services), and you've got a real winner, worthy of a 5-star rating.
Read our review of Google Drive (Web), plus for iPhone and Android.

Microsoft Office Online

If you want to use Microsoft Office on Windows and Mac desktops, it'll still cost you at least $69.99 a year for Office 365 Personal—and it's probably worth it for the power those programs wield. But it's not 100 percent necessary: the Web versions of Word, Outlook, OneNote, PowerPoint, Excel, Sway, and others all live for free at Office.com. You'll have to sign up for a Microsoft account to store files online using OneDrive (5GB are free). But there's no lack of free options if you can live without the full-test versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

LibreOffice

The obvious choice of Office tools if you are a firm believer in open source, LibreOffice was a fork from the original OpenOffice years ago (itself an offshoot of StarOffice). Inside are word processor, spreadsheet, and presentations programs, a vector graphics editor, a math formula editor, and a database. It's a little more awkward to use than the desktop version of Microsoft Office, but you can't beat the price. Grab the LibreOffice Viewer app for Android to look at files.
Read our review of LibreOffice.

WPS Office

With names like Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentations, you might not think that Kingsoft's WPS Office has a lot of imagination. Who cares? They work great and are all part of one program, not three separate pieces of software. The free version seems to do it all, mimicking the look of Microsoft products, even with a ribbon interface. It also comes with 1GB of cloud storage and has mobile versions for phone- or tablet-based edits. You'll have to view some ads to use it for free. It also offers a PDF to Word Converter Tool for Windows and Android.

Scribus

Scribus is the open-source equivalent of Adobe InDesign for desktop publishing, or as close as you can get. It even has built-in color separation and management and a lot more.

Prezi

Does Prezi's unique, single-canvas animated-zooming make you pay more attention to the technology being used, rather than the content of a presentation? Maybe, but it's so damn cool. Put all the elements of your presentation in one space, set up the jumps you want from item to item, and Prezi animates them for you to share or embed. You can view but not edit in the mobile apps. A free account means your presentations, up to 500MB worth, are publicly shared by default. You have to pay $10 a month ($59.04 per year) to go private.
Read our review of Prezi.