To Be Free
Free Software Collections
When you are not looking for a single app name, but the best free choices for a specific job, start with these collections.
Recommended Claude Skills and Agent Skills
Free Claude Skills and Agent Skills: Anthropic's official skills, engineering workflows, design, science and security audits, plus official skill packs from Hugging Face, Cloudflare and Expo and the best curated skill lists.
27 recommendations CollectionFree Accounting and Personal Finance Software
Eleven free tools for bookkeeping, budgeting, subscription and portfolio tracking, storing data locally or on your own server, with no bank credentials uploaded and no per-transaction pricing.
11 recommendations CollectionFree Chrome Alternatives
Thirteen free browsers with their engines, blocking approach and account requirements — from clean-by-default daily drivers to fully anonymous options.
13 recommendations CollectionFree Code Editors and IDEs
Seven free code editors and IDEs, from works-out-of-the-box to fully configurable, with each one's telemetry behaviour and commercial licensing stated.
7 recommendations CollectionFree Command-Line Tools
Fifteen open-source command-line tools for search, file management, terminal sessions, version control, prompts and media processing — all offline and account-free.
15 recommendations CollectionFree Download Managers Without Ads or Throttling
Seven free download tools covering BitTorrent, multi-threaded downloads, video and gallery fetching, and cloud storage sync. All open source or genuinely ad-free — no throttling, no bundles, no membership tier.
7 recommendations CollectionFree Encrypted Messaging and Meeting Apps
Twelve end-to-end encrypted chat, mail and meeting tools, with their protocols, registration requirements and metadata handling. Four of them — SimpleX, Session, Jami and Briar — need no sign-up at all.
12 recommendations CollectionFree Learning and Science Software
Thirteen free tools for flashcards, early learning, mathematics and geometry, astronomy, chess, learning to code, scientific computing and reference management — from primary school to graduate research.
15 recommendations CollectionFree macOS Software
Fifteen free macOS applications covering window management, clipboard, media playback, terminals, office work, notes and passwords — all ad-free and subscription-free.
15 recommendations CollectionFree Privacy and Security Tools
Twelve free tools for ad blocking, anti-tracking, two-factor authentication, encryption and anonymity, layered by where they intercept — from a browser extension up to an entire operating system.
13 recommendations CollectionFree Remote Desktop and Screen Sharing Tools
Twelve free tools for remote control, game streaming, phone mirroring, keyboard-and-mouse sharing and file transfer — all supporting self-hosted servers or direct peer-to-peer connections, with no per-device pricing.
12 recommendations CollectionFree Screen Recording and Screenshot Tools
Five free tools for screen recording, screenshots and post-processing — no watermark on the output, no time limit, no account.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Self-Hosted Software
Twenty-six free and open-source services to run on your own server or NAS — reverse proxies, private networking, container management, photos, media, documents, passwords, team chat, push notifications and monitoring.
30 recommendations CollectionFree System Cleanup and Productivity Utilities
Thirteen free launchers, text expanders, duplicate finders, disk analysers, archivers, backup and package tools — no ads, no bundles, and no "one-click speed boost" upsell.
13 recommendations CollectionFree Open-Source AI Coding Agents
Seven free and open-source AI coding assistants and agents, with their licences, where they run and how models attach. All are bring-your-own-model, and pointing them at a local model costs nothing.
16 recommendations CollectionFree AI Image Generation Tools
Five tools for generating images locally for free — all open source, offline-capable and account-free. Includes maintenance status: the two most-starred are no longer developed.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Terminal Emulators
Eight free and open-source terminals with their licences, platforms and offline behaviour. Seven of the eight run with the network unplugged.
8 recommendations CollectionFree Speech-to-Text Tools
Free tools that turn recordings into text offline on your own machine — meeting notes, video subtitles, interview transcripts. All open source, no account required.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Tools to Run LLMs Locally
Four common ways to run large language models on your own machine: all free, no account required, all able to run offline. Includes licence facts and measured installer sizes.
9 recommendations CollectionFree Ad-Free Software
A practical list of free, ad-free software for office work, development, media, privacy and everyday utilities.
12 recommendations CollectionFree Open-Source Software
A curated set of free open-source software for development, design, notes, office work, media, privacy, security and utilities.
23 recommendations CollectionFree PDF Tools
Free PDF tools for reading, editing, merging, splitting, compressing and converting documents.
11 recommendations CollectionFree Windows Software
Essential free Windows software for new PCs and everyday workflows, including compression, search, screenshots, PDFs, office work, media and system utilities.
15 recommendations CollectionRecommended MCP Servers
Recommended free and open-source MCP servers for filesystems, Git, databases, browsers, search, documents, cloud services and developer workflows.
26 recommendations CollectionFree Ad Blockers
Nine free ad and tracker blockers in four groups — browser extensions, browsers with blocking built in, network-wide DNS filtering and an ad-free video client — all open source, with no paid whitelisting.
9 recommendations CollectionFree Ad-Free Android Apps
Eighteen free, ad-free Android apps covering video, podcasts, browsing, maps, two-factor codes, passwords, file transfer, reading, notes, budgeting and habits — all open source.
18 recommendations CollectionFree Ad-Free iPhone Apps
Fourteen free, ad-free iPhone apps covering browsing, messaging, passwords and two-factor codes, file transfer, media playback, offline maps, notes, photo backup, streaming and ID photos.
14 recommendations CollectionFree Backup and Sync Software
Eight free tools for backup, sync and encryption — incremental backup, multi-device sync, moving data between clouds, encryption before upload and photo backup — with storage wherever you choose and no subscription by capacity.
8 recommendations CollectionFree Educational Software for Kids
Ten free programs for children: early-learning activities, block programming, dynamic geometry, astronomy, an offline encyclopedia, painting, chess and two open-source games. No ads, no energy meters, no paid levels.
10 recommendations CollectionFree Linux Software
Twenty-two free Linux applications covering browsing, email, office work, media, image and video editing, development, passwords, sync, backup and gaming — all ad-free and subscription-free.
22 recommendations CollectionFree Markdown Editors
Eight free Markdown tools: three editors built for writing, four note apps built on Markdown, and a converter that turns Markdown into Word, PDF and EPUB.
8 recommendations CollectionFree Music Players and Podcast Apps
Eight free and open-source music and audio programs: a local library player, self-hosted music and audiobook servers, an RSS-based podcast client, and three general players that handle any format.
8 recommendations CollectionFree Office Software
Nine free office tools covering documents, spreadsheets, slides, PDF reading and page handling, diagrams and typesetting — they open and save docx, xlsx and pptx, with no subscription.
9 recommendations CollectionFree Open-Source Games
Five free and open-source games and game tools: a block sandbox, a real-time strategy game, a kart racer, chess, and a Minecraft Java Edition launcher. No in-app purchases, no ads, no energy meters.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Animation, Game Engine and Pixel Art Tools
Seven free tools for 2D animation, pixel art, game engines and 3D creation — commercial use takes no revenue share, exports carry no watermark, and nothing is charged against your earnings.
7 recommendations CollectionFree API Testing and Database Clients
Six free API clients, traffic inspectors and database tools that keep request collections and connection settings local — no forced login, no per-seat pricing.
12 recommendations CollectionFree Audio Editing and Music Software
Five free tools for recording and editing, music production, score writing, local music playback and podcasts — no watermarked exports, no length limits, no subscription.
6 recommendations CollectionFree CAD and 3D Printing Software
Twelve free tools for modelling, circuit design, interior layout, brick building and 3D print slicing — no watermarked exports, no file count limits, no cloud lock-in.
12 recommendations CollectionFree Diagram, Whiteboard and Mind Mapping Tools
Four free tools for flowcharts, collaborative whiteboards, mind maps and interface design — no diagram limits, no node limits, no registration.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Ebook Readers and Library Managers
Six free tools for ebook management, format conversion, reading and references — books stay on your own disk, tied to no bookstore account.
6 recommendations CollectionFree Email Clients and RSS Readers
Six free email clients, encrypted mail, RSS readers and read-it-later tools — subscriptions and mail stored locally or on your own server, with nothing reordered by an algorithm.
6 recommendations CollectionFree Emulators and Compatibility Layers
Eleven open-source emulators, library managers and Windows compatibility layers — all official builds, with no ads, no in-app purchases and no video before launch.
11 recommendations CollectionFree Image Compression, Upscaling and Photo Library Tools
Six free tools for image compression, AI upscaling, batch processing, ID photos and photo library management — all local, with not a byte of your images uploaded.
7 recommendations CollectionFree Media Players and Home Theatre Software
Seven free players and media centres that play anything without codec packs, show no ads, and never gate 4K behind a membership.
7 recommendations CollectionFree Network Analysis and Packet Capture Tools
Seven free tools for packet capture, port and LAN scanning, route tracing, HTTPS interception and private networking — all local, with no licence and no subscription.
7 recommendations CollectionFree OCR Tools
Four free OCR tools that run locally — screenshot text capture, scanned PDFs turned searchable, and batch archiving, with no image uploaded and no usage cap.
4 recommendations CollectionFree Offline Maps and Navigation Apps
Three free OpenStreetMap-based offline maps that store data on the phone, search and navigate without a connection, and collect no location history.
3 recommendations CollectionFree Subtitle and Video Processing Tools
Six free tools for subtitle editing, muxing, lossless cutting, transcoding and colour grading — output with no watermark, no length cap and no export limit.
6 recommendations CollectionFree Task and Time Tracking Tools
Five free tools for task lists, kanban boards, habit tracking and time statistics — no task limits, no per-seat pricing, and data kept locally or on your own server.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Text-to-Speech Tools
Three free speech synthesis tools that run locally — no per-character billing, no API key, and sound with the network off.
3 recommendations CollectionFree Typesetting and Font Tools
Five free tools for typesetting, font editing, desktop publishing and document conversion — PDF output with no watermark and no charge by page count or export.
5 recommendations CollectionFree Note-Taking Apps
Free note-taking, knowledge management and writing tools for local notes, linked notes, Markdown and long-term personal knowledge bases.
15 recommendations CollectionFree Notion Alternatives
Free Notion alternatives for local Markdown, linked notes, team knowledge bases, open-source collaboration and personal organization.
14 recommendations CollectionFree Password Managers
Free password managers, encryption and account security tools for individuals, families and privacy-conscious users.
4 recommendations CollectionFree Photoshop Alternatives
Free tools for photo editing, painting, RAW processing and vector design when looking for Photoshop, Lightroom or Illustrator alternatives.
10 recommendations CollectionFree Video Editors Without Watermarks
Free video editing, recording and transcoding tools without forced watermarks or harsh export limits.
6 recommendations