One of the greatest advantages of having a PC is the wide array of apps available to you. Whether you’re a gamer,graphic designer, video editor, or need to manage a business, there are hundreds – or even thousands, depending on what you do – of apps to choose from to help you get your job done or simply have some fun.
Fortunately, among the myriad of options, you can easily find a free alternative to almost any app. What’s even better, being free does not mean they are worse. On the contrary, sometimes they do their job just as well, if not better.
So, without further ado, here are the best free PC apps you absolutely need to use.
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1Note-taking app: Obsidian
Power up your notes
Obsidian is a note-taking app that helps store open, non-proprietary files for you to use both online and offline. It stores files on device, so they are only accessible by the user.
Obsidian is an excellent choice if you’re looking for powerful note-taking software that’s easy to access and provides an advanced feature set for anyone willing to master it.
It allows you to take notes and create a network of interconnected snippets of information, with the ability to interlink and cross-reference them. It makes the process of taking notes easier and helps you quickly reference older entries.
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2Photoshop alternative: Gimp
Open-source Photoshop magic
GIMP, which stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open-source photo-editing program for Windows, macOS, and Linux-based operating systems.
GIMP is probably one of the most well-known open-source projects. It’s an image editing software that allows you to do most of the things that Photoshop does, with one huge difference. It’s completely free to use. You might not get the newest AI features, but the standard feature set is all here, making it much more affordable to start your journey with graphic design.
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3Video editing software: DaVinci Resolve
Cut, color, and export your clips
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing program that works across Windows, macOS, and iPadOS. The main consumer-facing version is entirely free to download and install.
DaVinci Resolve is a wonder for all amateur and professional video editors. It’s a powerful, fully-featured video editing software that is completely free to use. There are some limitations, such as a maximum clip resolution of 4K at 60FPS, but if you’re just trying to get your YouTube uploads ready, it’s the best free choice available. Additionally, DaVinci includes arguably the best color correction tools in the industry, so you may fully utilize your camera’s RAW recording capabilities.
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4Gaming software: Steam
One-stop app for gamers
If you like playing video games, especially on PC, Steam is probably the first thing you install. However, if you’re just getting into PC gaming, you’re in for a treat. Steam is an online store for all your video games, but it’s also much more. It manages your save files in the cloud, lets you connect with friends, and tracks your achievements. It’s the ultimate gaming platform you need on your PC. Plus, there are many free games on Steam, so you can use this free software to install even more free, fun apps.
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5Office suite: LibreOffice
Become a productivity powerhouse
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free and open-source suite of office productivity programs, including a word processor, a spreadsheet manager, and a slideshow presentation creator.
A few short years ago, getting a pricey license for Microsoft Office was the only way to get a proper, fully functional office suite on your PC. However, times have changed. If you like working online, you’re able to use Google Docs or even free online versions of Office Suite directly from Microsoft. But if you need a powerful set of productivity tools, there is LibreOffice. It may look a bit retro, but it contains all the necessary tools to fill in spreadsheets, type up word documents, and create presentations easily and efficiently.
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6Writing utility: Grammarly
No more problems with grammar
Even though your operating system and various word processors have built-in spell check, these are often not enough for correcting grammar. That’s where Grammarly comes in with its desktop app. It highlights any grammatical errors you make in whatever app you have open, making writing emails, dissertations, and even Facebook messages easy and stress-free. Its basic functionality is completely free.
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7Media center software: Plex TV
Your own streaming service
Streaming services are great because of their convenience and the vast libraries of movies and TV shows they offer. However, what if you could stream all the movies you love and have in your media library and have them available everywhere, anytime? That’s what Plex is for. It’s your own personal media center that lets you stream your media from your PC or server to any compatible device. It’s excellent for movie geeks, music lovers, and anyone who has a large library of files they want to access anywhere in the world.
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8Messaging and communications software: Discord
A hub for all your friends
Whether PC gaming, chatting with friends, or organizing important events, Discord is an extremely handy messenger to have. It allows you to create voice chats, video calls, and text chats, and manage all that with handy groups and channels. It’s also relatively light on resources, so it doesn’t slow down your PC while working in the background. This is a great benefit for gamers who need all the FPS they can get out of their machine.
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9Audio editing software: Audacity
Master the music
Whether you’re recording music, voiceovers, or doing video work with audio included, you’ll likely need a tool to work on the audio tracks. Audacity is an impressive free piece of software that lets you do just that. Along with straightforward features like cutting and adjusting levels, it offers an impressive, professional-grade array of tools you can use both when just learning the ropes and when you’re already experienced.
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10Video player: VLC
Real kino on your PC
One of the big advantages of having an awesome desktop or a great laptop is having a superb screen to watch your favorite movies on. However, if you want the experience of playing movie files to go as smoothly as possible, you need a reliable video player, and VLC is just that. It’s an established app that is easy to use but offers an impressive feature set. Plus, it handles a wide variety of video formats, so you can be sure that your totally legitimate files will play just fine.
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