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Kim Komando helps us to discover the free alternatives to Microsoft Word, Photoshop and more.

For decades, Microsoft Office has dominated homes and businesses around the world.(Photo: Microsoft)

For years, people have grumbled about the price of software. Adobe products have always been expensive, and many customers were agitated when the company shifted to Creative Cloud, which meant a monthly or annual subscription. Meanwhile, Microsoft Office is a staple for computers everywhere, but the price tag often irritates people who just want a decent word processor.

Luckily, there are lots of free substitutes, and there are plenty of reasons people may turn to them. Some folks just cant afford mainstream software. Others are starting new businesses and dont want to invest in expensive programs that they can essentially get for free. Still, others are trying out new media for the first time, such as digital photography, digital audio or video, and they want to learn the basics before buying expensive packages.

Whatever your reasons, youll find a wide range of software alternatives. In years past, alternative programs usually meant lousy. Youd end up with something buggy, watered-down, and incompatible with other services. Nowadays, thats no longer the case. Many programs are nearly as sophisticated as their expensive inspirations, and some users might argue that these offerings surpass them.

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For decades, Microsoft Office has dominated homes and businesses around the world. The Office suite has everything you need: a word processor, spreadsheets, presentations, and email.

But many customers and college-bound students are surprised when their new Dell or HP doesnt have Office installed. Theyve already shelled out money for a new computer, and now they have to spend another $150 for the software to make it useful.

Thats where LibreOffice comes in. This free, open-source software has what Microsoft Office has, plus some perks, such as templates and extensions. The word processor, called Writer, can handle documents from Microsoft Word, and the rest of the LibreOffice suite can upload and modify files from their corresponding Office programs.Learn more about LibreOffice.

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If youre a professional designer, youve probably invested in heavy-hitting software like InDesign, because that has become the industry standard. But if youre good at making brochures or newsletters, and you dont want to subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, consider Scribus. The program gives you all kinds of easy-to-use design options, from business cards to magazines.Readmore about Scribus.

(Photo: Stephanie B. Taylor/USA TODAY)

Outlook is very handy for electronic communication, and entire organizations turn to this program to support their email servers. But Mozillas Thunderbird is a free, powerful, lightweight email service that easily rivals its Microsoft counterpart.Read more about Mozilla Thunderbird.

Business owners are going to want the best accounting software. For complex number crunching, youll want something powerful and intuitive, and Quicken and Quickbooks Pro are pretty much that.

Business owners use Quicken and Quickbooks for complex number crunching.(Photo: Intuit)

But for personal finances, you may enjoy AceMoney Lite, a free program that handles investment tracking, bill reminders, and general checkbook balancing. This program is designed for individual households, so you dont get bogged down in abstruse functions you dont need. Click here to get AceMoney Lite.

Theres also GnuCash, which is great for home budgets but can maintain serious bookkeeping as well. If you need a free program for invoicing, accounts receivable, payroll and shipping, GnuCash is equipped to tackle all of these as well.

Adobe Photoshop(Photo: Adobe)

Lets face it: Photoshop is an overwhelming program, and unless youre a graphics pro who is really particular about your photos, or you want to manipulate your images in clever ways, theres no reason to have all those powerful features.

A free alternative is GIMP, which enables you to heavily edit photos, create original artwork, and even help design websites. GIMP will never be as respected as Photoshop, but the software is very impressive and similarly complex.

If its too complex, thats not a problem. There are morefree photo editors that are beginner-friendly.

As more people record their own songs and podcasts, fledgling recording artists all want to know: How do they edit their work to make it presentable? Most people arent satisfied to post raw sound files to the internet, but Pro Tools and Audition are expensive.

The reigning champion, after all these years, is still Audacity. This free, open-source software has helped many people make the transition into digital audio. It doesnt have nearly the options of Pro Tools, but youll learn the basics of setting levels and mixing tracks. For simple projects with strict budgets, Audacity is a great option.

n this film publicity image released by The Weinstein Company, Colin Firth portrays King George VI in "The King's Speech."(Photo: AP Photo/The Weinstein Company, Laurie Sparham)

What do The Kings Speech, Bruce Almighty, and Road to Perdition have in common? They were pieced together with a video editing program called Lightworks. Many Hollywood editors swear by it, and although they used the professional edition, the basic version of Lightworks is available for free.

Considering how expensive video editing software can get, Lightworks is a shocking alternative to blockbuster programs like Avid or Premiere.Read more about Lightworks.

What are some other deals you can find on software necessities? Be sure to listen or download my podcasts, or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts.

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Free Alternatives to Microsoft Word, Photoshop, and More - USA TODAY