Free
Calibre
Organize, convert, and read e-books.
PARADISE TECHNOLOGIES · USEFUL SOFTWARE
Free Apps That We Enjoy
Explore a growing collection of helpful software for work, creativity, privacy, and everyday computing. Each app link goes to its official website.
Watch the source videoThis starting list follows the apps named in Explainer Chris’s “Every Free App You Actually Need Explained (Part 1–4)”. Some apps have optional paid features. The two trial/shareware entries are labeled so you can check their terms before installing.
Office, notes & reading
5 apps
Free tier
Joplin
Take notes and organize to-do lists; optional paid cloud services exist.
Free
LibreOffice
Write documents, build spreadsheets, and make presentations.
Free tier
Obsidian
Connect notes and ideas in a local Markdown vault.
Free
Thunderbird
Manage email, calendars, and contacts in a desktop app.
Design & images
7 apps
Free tier
Affinity
Combine photo, vector, and page-design tools; a free Canva account is required.
Free
GIMP
Edit and retouch raster images.
Free
Inkscape
Create scalable vector graphics and illustrations.
Free
Krita
Paint and illustrate with digital brushes and layers.
Free tier
Penpot
Design interfaces and collaborate in an open-source design tool.
Free tier
Photopea
Edit graphics and layered image files in a browser; paid options remove ads.
Free
Scribus
Lay out brochures, magazines, and print-ready pages.
Video & media
7 apps
Free tier
DaVinci Resolve
Edit video, color grade, and mix audio; a paid Studio edition adds features.
Free
HandBrake
Convert and compress video into common formats.
Free
Kdenlive
Edit multitrack video with open-source tools.
Free
mpv
Play video with a lightweight, configurable media player.
Free
OBS Studio
Record your screen and stream live video.
Free
Shotcut
Edit video with an open-source, cross-platform editor.
Free
VLC Media Player
Play video and audio in a wide range of formats.
Audio & music
3 apps
Free source code
Ardour
Record and mix music with open-source software; ready-to-run builds may require payment.
Free
Audacity
Record, clean up, and edit audio.
Free
LMMS
Compose electronic music with instruments and effects.
Security & privacy
4 apps
Free tier
Bitwarden
Store and sync passwords using its free plan; premium options exist.
Free
KeePassXC
Keep passwords in an encrypted local vault.
Free tier
Proton Pass
Store passwords and secure notes with a free plan.
Free tier
Proton VPN
Connect through a VPN with a free plan and optional paid features.
Development & 3D
7 apps
Free
Blender
Create 3D models, animations, and rendered scenes.
Free
FreeCAD
Design parametric 3D models for engineering and making.
Free
Godot
Build 2D and 3D games with an open-source engine.
Free
Notepad++
Edit plain text and code with a fast Windows editor.
Free
Scratch
Learn programming by building interactive stories and games.
Free
VirtualBox
Run a second operating system in a virtual machine; check extension-pack terms.
Free
VSCodium
Edit code in community-built, open-source Visual Studio Code binaries.
Files & utilities
12 apps
Free
7-Zip
Compress and extract archives, including 7z and ZIP.
Free
Everything
Find Windows files quickly by filename.
Free
Free Download Manager
Organize and resume file downloads.
Free
KDE Connect
Connect a phone and computer for file sharing and notifications.
Free
LocalSend
Transfer files between nearby devices on your local network.
Free for personal use
Parsec
Access a computer remotely; its free plan is for personal, noncommercial use.
Free
PDF24 Creator
Merge, split, convert, and work with PDFs on Windows.
Free
qBittorrent
Download and manage torrent files; use only for content you may legally share.
Free
ShareX
Capture screenshots and record or share your screen.
Free
Syncthing
Synchronize folders directly between your devices.
Trial / shareware
Total Commander
Manage files with a dual-pane Windows interface; this is shareware.
Trial / shareware
WinRAR
Create and unpack archives. Its trial is limited to 40 days; continued use requires a license.
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