Download: FreeOffice Free. Whether you want to try your hand at basic image manipulation, need a way to blur sensitive info in screenshots, or want to retouch old photos, everyone should have an image editing program installed. Photoshop is the gold standard for this, but there are plenty of free tools that are more accessible.
NET is a must-have Windows app for your image editing needs. It's far more powerful than Microsoft Paint, but doesn't overwhelm you with loads of confusing tools. You can easily blur out parts of an image, auto-level photos to make them look better, and add text and shapes to your pictures in just a few clicks. Plenty of plugins allow you to expand its functionality, too.
If you find Paint. Download: Paint. NET Free. Windows 10 includes Windows Defender, which is a good enough antivirus for most users. However, it's wise to keep a secondary security program installed. For this, you can't beat Malwarebytes. The free version lets you scan your system for malware that your antivirus might not catch. And for a powerful blended security solution, upgrading to Malwarebytes Premium is worth the cost.
Download: Malwarebytes Free, subscription available. Thanks to YouTube's ubiquity, you probably don't watch local videos too often. However, everyone should still keep a solid video player around on your desktop for when you need to play media files locally. Even if it's not one of the things you think to download on a new computer right away, it will come in handy someday.
For this task, nothing beats VLC Media Player, which packs a ton of features and is capable of playing nearly every video and audio format imaginable. You'll save yourself the hassle of messing with video codecs or using QuickTime, which isn't supported for Windows any longer. Download: VLC Free. Taking a screenshot on Windows is useful for everything from capturing funny moments to having a record of important information.
You won't find a more powerful free screenshot tool than ShareX. With tons of capture methods, a solid built-in editor, the ability to run automated steps after you take a screenshot, and extra tools like a color grabber and ruler, ShareX has an impressive feature set for no cost.
If ShareX overwhelms you, give PicPick a try instead. It's a bit simpler, but doesn't compromise on features. Download: ShareX Free. Download: PicPick Free. Windows includes native support for simple zipped files, but anything beyond the basics requires a more powerful tool. While this isn't the most exciting software category, a file extractor is still a must-have PC app so you can work with any kind of archived files you might encounter. It's small and installs in seconds, is easy to use, and stays out of your way when you're not using it.
Those who needs advanced features will still find them in 7-Zip, though. Then we're going to list a few more of our go-to apps. Don't let your new system live long without them and, if you need it, here's our guide to the best antivirus for gaming PCs.
Ninite builds a custom installer for you of the applications you want, then installs all of them in one go. It's mercifully free of the annoying toolbars and free offers and other adware most installers try to sneak onto your PC. It's simple, and it works perfectly.
It also offers a lot of software you probably don't need, so we picked out what we'd recommend for a new gaming rig. Avira - Windows' built-in tools do the job well these days, but if you want added security, this is what we consider the best free antivirus available.
Discord - The de facto gaming messaging client, and one we use every day. It also has a great mobile app. Join the PC Gamer Club and come chat with us! Zoom - You're probably going to get roped into a Zoom call sooner or later. Might as well be prepared. Free and lightweight and it'll never bug you to pay for it. VLC - VLC can play anything and is a reliable all-around media player, with no need for outside codecs.
We have another media player recommendation below, too. Audacity - Optional If you do any sort of audio recording or editing, Audacity is a great, free, powerful tool. Net - Sooner or later you'll probably need these. Might as well load them up now, or you'll end up groaning when some program asks for one.
Maybe none? IrfanView - Optional You probably already know how to take screenshots on your PC or otherwise deal with images in bulk, but IrfanView can run automatically in the background taking shots at different intervals.
Also keep in mind that there are alternatives to all of these programs. Most of the programs listed are free. A personal computer is just that; personal. If you want even more freeware recommendations, check out our 99 best freeware programs article. Guy has been published online and in print newspapers, nominated for writing awards, and cited in scholarly papers due to his ability to speak tech to anyone, but still prefers analog watches. Read Guy's Full Bio. We hate spam too, unsubscribe at any time.
Table of Contents. Subscribe on YouTube! Did you enjoy this tip? We cover Windows, Mac, software and apps, and have a bunch of troubleshooting tips and how-to videos. While it's lost out to Chrome in the battle for desktop dominance, its free, open-source approach and active community of users and add-on developers makes Firefox an excellent alternative for your PC's web browser.
LastPass takes the pain out of password management, providing users with an excellent cross-platform password management tool that allows users to easily keep track of logins, passwords, and other online credentials through the use of an encrypted password vault that only you know the password to.
The service provides free cross-platform syncing, a password generator, and an auto-form fill tool for a variety of browsers, with premium subscriptions unlocking more features such as premium two factor authentication, account sharing, and LastPass for Applications. Why blow your budget on expensive subscriptions for office applications like spreadsheet or document editors, or be dependent on the vagaries of the cloud with browser-based tools when you can get an excellent productivity suite for your desktop free, open-source, and offline?
That's the idea behind The Document Foundation's LibreOffice , a free suite of office tools that provide users with a complete set of productivity tools for handling everything from documents, spreadsheets, slideshow presentations, and more.
LibreOffice is that wonderful combination of free and polished, making it a great alternative to expensive professional office tools. Need to keep in touch with friends and family from across the world?
Tell them to download and install Skype on their computer, and do the same with yours. Skype remains popular because it makes free video calls over the internet possible, even with contacts that are literally halfway around the world.
The only problem: you need a good internet connection to maximize it. Need to play that video or audio clip stored in an obscure file format? Chances are VLC get the job done. Even if you can play almost any kind of music or video on your computer, what about your smartphone or tablet? Free Video Converter can take your media and make it compatible for mobile consumption.
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