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The best free PC software programs arent about the cost (or lack thereof), theyre about a fresh opportunitycollections of code that put the dumb hardware in your computer to smart use, tools that can accomplish anything from balancing your household budget to helping cure cancer.

Stocking your PC is an intensely personal task. But some programs are so helpful that we heartily recommend them to everybody. These free PC programsa mix of must-haves and delightful auxiliary appsdeserve a place on almost any computer (unlike, say, this more niche roundup of 5 free Windows power user tools we cant live without).There are times when a paid alternative makes sense, however. Weve pointed out the circumstances where an upgrade over the free offering is warranted, along with our recommendation for the category.

And if youre selecting these programs as part of breaking in an all-new PC, be sure to check out our guide to how to set up new computer up the right way. Lets dig in!

Microsoft

Before you roll up your sleeves and start slinging software around, make sure to snag your web browser of choice. Using Windows 10 and 11s default Edge browser when youre accustomed to something else feels like wearing somebody elses shoes. (Blech.)

That said, our moneys actually on Edge, which earned top honors in PCWorldsextensive best browser showdown, barely nudging out Googles just-as-superb Chrome browser. But hey, theyre all free! Try before you buyweve published some extensive looks at compelling features youll only find on Edge, Firefox, and Vivaldi (a.k.a. the enthusiasts browser).

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Maybe. Browsers are largely free, and mostly fantastic already. For Windows users there isGhost Browser, which lets you sandbox separate online identities while viewing them all in a single window. At $120 per year, however, youve got to really need what Ghost Browsers offering.

Ninitemakes loading up a new computer a breeze. Simply head to the Ninite website, select which free software youd like to install on your PCit offers dozens of options, including many of the programs named hereand clickGet Installerto receive a single, custom .exe file containing the installers for those programs. Run the executable, and Ninite installs all of them in turn,andit automatically declines the offers for bundled bloatware so many free apps try to sneak in. No muss, no fuss, no hassle.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. For most users there really isnt a worthy alternative, and even if there was it wouldnt justify the cost. That said, there is a paid complementary utility calledNinite Updater that costs $10 per yearthat makes it easy to keep all your desktop programs up-to-date.

Accidentally installing unwanted bloatware is one of the greatest dangers of free software, the sanctity of Ninite aside. For everything else, useUnchecky. Unchecky automatically unchecks all of the checkboxes when youre trying to install a program, and warns you if shady software is trying to sneak something ugly onto your machine.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. Again Unchecky is in a league unto itself, and while you might find similar capabilities bundled in an antivirus program, theres little reason to look elsewhere.

Jared Newman / Foundry

If you want to fine-tune your Windows experience, be sure to check out Microsofts killer PowerToys suite. Ostensibly for enthusiasts, PowerToys is absolutely loaded with tools designed to streamline all sorts of PC hassles. It offers utilities to batch resize images, quickly find your mouse cursor, always keep a chosen window on top of your others, remap your keyboard keys, show file previews in File Explorer, and a whole lot more. And you should definitely be using FancyZones, Microsofts killer multitasking app.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Nopeno premium alternative exists for Microsofts awesome collection of tools.

TheWindows Security softwareenabled by default in Windows 10 provides solid protection for most users, but no single antivirus utility offers bulletproof protection, especially against the latest and most clever threats.MalwareBytes Anti-Malware Freewas designed specifically to find and eliminate those cutting-edge zero-day vulnerabilities. You cant schedule scans or even use it as a regular antivirus program, but its invaluable when you think that something nasty has slipped by your primary antivirus utility.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. As the saying goes, a few megabytes of prevention is worth a terabyte of cure, or something like that. Malwarebytes is great at saving infected computers, butMalwarebytes Premium at $40 per yearis on guard to stop the malware from getting in its hooks in the first place.

Beyond that, premium antivirus options offer a combination of excellent protection, a worthwhile selection of features, and minimal impact on your PCs performance. PCWorlds guide tothe best antivirus for Windows PCscan walk you through your options.

On the surface,Launchyis a simple app launcher, and thats swell all on its own! App launchers let you activate software far faster than navigating Windows, even if you use the Windows key and search for an app by name. But Launchy can do much, much more: Open any file or folder in mere seconds, shut down your PC, or even kill processes and perform math calculations with the rightplug-ins. ReadLifehackerssuperb tutorial and forget about your Start menu.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. Launchy is another Windows utility that is unto itself; however, the developers do accept donations, andwe highly recommend tossing the developers a few dollars for this excellent program.

Windows can create and extract ZIP files natively, but if you find yourself staring at another compressed archive youll need a dedicated program to handle it. A lot of them cost money.7-Zipis open-source and completely free, ready to perform all your archiving needs from Windows right-click context menu. You can even encrypt 7-Zip archives with a password to send them securely.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. 7-Zip is great, and paid parallels such as WinZip really dont offer enough to justify the fee. If you spend all day unzipping massive archive files then maybe a faster utility likeWinZipis worth it. For most of us, however, 7-zip is just great.

Windows 10 and 11 have a prickly problem: Unlike Windows 7, theyreincapable of playing DVDs out of the box. Your PC might have a DVD-playing program installed if you bought a boxed system, but if not, thesimply wonderful VLC media playercan play your flicks (and music, and podcasts, and) for free. It can even play (some) Blu-ray discswith a little fiddling.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. VLC is just fantastic, and you wont find a paid option that justifies its worth compared to this free workhorse. You can, however, send the VideoLAN organization a donation as a thank you for its hard work.

Dont letPaint.nets freebie status fool you: This image editor may not have all the bells and whistles of Photoshop, but it packs everything that most people need (even layer-based editing) and costs hundreds of dollars less.Weve got Paint.net tips to help you get startedwith this killer no-cost software.

If youre a graphics professional, and you cant afford Photoshop but require more than Paint.net offers, check outGIMP. It has a challenging learning curve, but its capabilities are damned impressive once you wrap your head around it. Those arent your only options though. Check out our roundup of the best free Photoshop alternatives for more no-cost programs for everything from quick and dirty tweaks to nitty-gritty image edits.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. Free image editors are generally great and GIMP is looking better than ever. But Adobes hobbyist levelPhotoshop Elements at $100has advanced features that you wont find in the free programs.

If you need to record or mix audio without spending big bucks on pro software,Audacityis hands-down the best option around. This powerful open-source audio editor offers excellent production capabilitiesand a dizzying array of buttons and options. Snag it, then read PCWorldsAudacity primerto wrap your head around the basics.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Maybe. For most users Audacity is a powerful tool, but if youre rising to the level of semi-pro and need a deeper level of audio editing thenAdobes Audition CCfor $21 per month might be worth it. Keep in mind, however, that Adobe Audition is a pro tool and not a starter option.

When you delete software using Windows default uninstallation utility, it can leave a lot of remnants behind in weird places, sucking up precious storage space.Revo Uninstallerwipes outeverything. Its great.

(Pro tip: If you encounter a program that says it cant be deleted because its currently in use by your system, IOBits freeUnlockercan loosen its grasp.)

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. Revo uninstaller only takes care of the basics. If you need features like getting rid of remnants from previously uninstalled programs or mass uninstalls then spending $20 onRevo Uninstaller Proor a $20 yearly subscription toIobit Uninstaller Prois worth it.

Michael Crider/IDG

Managing your computers storage space is kind of an all-or-nothing experience. Windows will tell you how much space is left on your drive, and thats it; its up to you to dive into a million different directories and clear out the gunk when youre running low on space.SpaceSniffer(try not to giggle) from Uderzo Software solves this by scanning an entire drive and presenting your files and folders in a visual grid, which makes it easy to find lost programs eating up huge chunks of your hard drive space. Its one of the five Windows power tools we cant live without.

WinDirStat is another free program that behaves similarly to SpaceSniffer. If youre looking to free up some space for the latest massive game install, youll want one of these installed on your PC.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Nope. Enough said.

But what if you want to bring a deleted file back to the realm of the living?Recuvais a clean, simple undelete program from Piriform, the makers of CCleaner.

Be warned: Recuva wont be able to recover all deleted files, and the odds are even lower if you erased a program with a secure delete tool likeEraser(another top-notch free program). Still, Recuva has saved my bacon on more than one occasion.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Maybe. Recuva helps you recover files, but if you want power user features like virtual hard drive support and automatic updates then the $20 forRecuva Promight be worth it.

Adobe Reader may be the go-to PDF reader for many people, but itsclunky, constantly updating, and frequently targetedby malware peddlers. If you need only basic functionality, go withSumatra PDFinstead. Sumatra lacks the fancy extras found in many full-featured PDF readers, but when it comes to straight-up reading Portable Document Format files, Sumatra PDF is blazing-fast and completely accurate. Oh, and since its less ubiquitous than Adobes offering, hackers tend to stay away from Sumatra PDF.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. There are paid PDF readers such asAdobes Acrobator WondersharesPDFelement. But they offer features that few people need such as the ability to edit PDFs, watermark, and annotate them.

If you must have these advanced features check out PCWorlds guide tothe best PDF editors.

Sometimes, blasting tunes is the only thing that makes slogging through a spreadsheet or a stuffed inbox even remotely tolerable. The exact music client youll want will depend on whether youve already bought into a service, naturally. For musical neophytes I recommend two programs:iTunesandSpotify.

The iTunes Windows client notoriously sucks, but it gets the job doneand that job includes giving you access to a vast universe of premium music downloads and keeping your iPhones music library synced with your PC. Spotify, meanwhile, is an all-you-can-eat streaming service with millions of top-tier tunes available, all for free if you dont mind listening to a few ads.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. In fact, if my editors let me use Hell Yes as an option, Id say, Hell Yes! You dont need to be an audiophile to recognize the sound difference in the higher-quality versionsSpotifyandApple Musicpremium subscribers get, plus no ads and the freedom to listen to your music anywhere? Sold.

Thehigh-profile hack attacksof the past few yearshave driven home the point: Youneedstrong passwords, and you need a different password for each site you visit. Rather than juggling dozens of alphanumeric codes in your noggin, download a password manager.

There are several options available, but our favorite freebie is Bitwarden, a no-cost password manager with few restrictions (unlike the free offerings from premium favorites like LastPass and Dashlane). PCWorlds guide tothe best password managersand the best free password managers can help walk you through all the available options.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. Password managers are important tools, but you need them on all your devices to be effective and that means paying for the service.LastPass Premiumis the cheapest subscription at $24 per year, but theres also1PasswordandDashlane Premium.

PCs excel at helping you Get Things Donebut few of them ship with a productivity suite installed. Fix that, stat!Even if you dont plan to use a productivity suite regularly, its smart to have basic editing capabilities available on your computer.

Legions of people swear by Microsofts legendary Office; I do, too. But you dont have to drop big dollars on Office if you dont need its myriad bells and whistles.Freeand goodalternatives abound, withLibreOffice(pictured) being the flagship free-and-open-source option. The online-onlyGoogle Docsalso rocks. PCWorlds guide tothe best free Microsoft Office alternativesexplains your various options.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Maybe. You can get a lot done with LibreOffice or Open Office, or even Google Docs. But theres a lot to be said for Microsofts subscription service,Office 365, with its added 1TB of OneDrive storage and monthly Skype minutes.

Macros sure are great in Microsoft Word and Excel, arent they?AutoHotKeylets you create customized keyboard shortcuts for any program or action on your PC. Its not exactly beginner-friendly, as configuring AutoHotKey requires someverybasic scripting, which most people will be able to pick up quickly enough. Its downright magic once you wrap your brain around it though.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

No. Even if you could pay for a pro version, why would you? But if you like keyboard shortcuts,Vimiumis another great free option for adding keyboard controls to your browser.

Browsing websites and sending private data over open Wi-Fi hotspots is justbeggingfor hackers to capture the details. Virtual private networks secure your connection. If you need to log in to your work website or email at Starbucks, useTunnelBearto keep your data safe. Its fast, easy to use, and has a straightforward privacy policy, unlike many VPNs.

The free version is limited to just 500MB of data per month, though.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. This is another one where Hell Yes! would be appropriate. TunnelBear is great, and we think its a trustworthy product, but the 500MB monthly limit is so tiny. There are numerous VPNs to choose from. Check out ourroundup of the Best VPNsto find the one that suits you. Our current top pick is ExpressVPN.

All work and no play makesHomer something something! Valves outstanding PC game marketplace,Steam, makes it easy to shrug off the stress of the workday and blow off some well, you know. Youll find tons of free games available on Steam, and games are frequently given away free for a limited time. If you want a steady stream of freebies, the rivalEpic Games Storegives way a free game or two every single week.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Probably. Free games can only take you so far before youre left wanting more.Steam,GOG, EAsOrigin, theEpic Games Store, andBlizzardcan all satisfy your gaming needs once the free games arent enough.

This isnt an official recommendation because the best way toback up your PC for freeis to use a hodgepodge of native Windows utilities and no-cost third-party solutions. But backing up your data issovitalespecially in this rising age of ransomwarethat it needs to be highlighted here.

If the idea of using a mish-mash of tools makes you wince, check out PCWorlds guide to thebest Windows backup softwarefor more options. Youre going to need some portable storage to stash your bits on, too. PCWorldsbest external drives roundupcan help there.

Is it worth it to upgrade to a paid version?

Yes. The best strategy for backing up your PC isnt just throwing your files on a hard drive over USB. You also need to have an online backup, and there are many services to choose from such asBackblaze, andCarbonite.Check out our guide to thebest online backup servicesfor more details.

Now that youve loaded up your PC with the best free software around, its time to put Windows itself to work. Head on over to PCWorldsguide to 10 little-known Windows features that will blow your mind to seize even more control over your PC for the low, low price of nothing.

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The best free software for a new PC | PCWorld