Every Free App You Actually Need Explained (Part 1-4)

LibreOffice [00:04]

• Microsoft Office subscriptions cost around $100 annually, totaling roughly $1,000 over a decade.
• Accessing files can become restricted once a subscription ends.
• Many paid software services, including Photoshop and Premiere Pro, contribute to users spending over $1,000 yearly without realizing it.

• "A lot of people are quietly spending over $1,000 every year on software subscriptions without realizing it."

VLC Media Player [02:05]

• Default media players often fail with uncommon file formats, leading users to download less safe alternatives.
• VLC Media Player, started in 2001, plays virtually all media file formats, including obscure ones.
• It remains lightweight, under 50 megabytes, and runs on older hardware.

• "If a file exists, VC will probably play it."

DaVinci Resolve [04:00]

• Professional video editing traditionally required monthly Adobe subscriptions.
• DaVinci Resolve, from Blackmagic Design, offers a powerful, free editing suite.
• The free version includes 95% of features needed by most users, with the paid version offering advanced noise reduction and AI features.

• "Entire Hollywood films, including movies like John Wick, La La Land, and Deadpool were color graded in Resolve."

OBS Studio [05:41]

• OBS Studio became the standard for streamers by providing professional video production tools for free.
• It uses a scene-based system to layer screen captures, webcams, and other media for live switching.
• The software supports streaming to multiple platforms and has a vast plugin ecosystem.

• "It turns your computer into a realtime production studio."

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) [07:40]

• GIMP, launched in 1996, is a full raster graphics editor with layers, masks, filters, and brushes.
• It supports Photoshop PSD files and can handle raw photo files through plugins.
• While not as polished as Photoshop, it covers most everyday image editing needs for free.

• "Yes, the interface looks like it was designed in a Linux forum from 2004."

Audacity [09:24]

• Good audio quality is crucial, and Audacity has been a free, default audio editor for over 25 years.
• It's a multi-track audio editor and recorder that can remove background noise, normalize volume, and apply effects.
• It supports VST and LV2 plugins, allowing expansion with professional audio tools.

• "If audio sounded bad, they're gone immediately."

Blender [11:01]

• Professional 3D software like Maya and Cinema 4D traditionally cost thousands of dollars.
• Blender, open-source since 2002, offers a complete 3D production pipeline including modeling, animation, and rendering.
• It has been used in major productions like "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."

• "Blender replaces software suites that can cost thousands every year."

Obsidian [12:42]

• Modern note-taking apps often push cloud storage and subscriptions, sometimes with unwanted AI features.
• Obsidian stores notes locally as markdown files, requiring no account or internet connection.
• Its bidirectional linking and graph view visualize note relationships.

• "Everything is stored locally on your computer using simple markdown text files."

Scratch [14:25]

• Scratch, developed by MIT Media Lab, teaches programming through visual blocks, making it accessible.
• It uses concepts like loops, variables, and conditions, similar to professional programming languages.
• The platform has over 100 million shared projects, fostering a large community.

• "Scratch teaches programming through visual blocks instead of typed code."

Godot Engine [15:57]

• Indie game development was dominated by Unity and Unreal Engine, which have associated costs or royalty fees.
• Godot, an open-source game engine with an MIT license, allows building and selling games with no royalties.
• It supports both 2D and 3D development and uses GDScript (Python-like) or C++.

• "GDAU is the most quietly important project on this entire list."

Krita [17:40]

• Krita, originating from the KDE project, pivoted to digital painting in 2009 and is highly respected.
• It focuses on digital painting with a powerful brush engine, stabilizers, and animation tools.
• It's used by professional illustrators and concept artists worldwide, offering a free alternative to expensive software.

• "Creta was built for it by artists for artists and somehow still costs less than a cup of coffee."

Photopea [19:14]

• Photopea functions as Photoshop within a browser tab, requiring no installation or account.
• It supports Photoshop's PSD files, layer masks, and blend modes.
• It's ideal for school Chromebooks, old laptops, or work computers where installing software is difficult.

• "It's basically Photoshop cosplaying as a website."

Inkscape [20:46]

• Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor, an alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
• It creates scalable logos, icons, and branding that maintain quality at any size.
• The software supports node editing, path operations, layers, and live filters.

• "Pixels panic when you start scaling them. Vectors just shrug and Inkscape gives you that infinite resolution power for absolutely nothing."

LMMS [22:14]

• LMMS (Linux Multimedia Studio) is a free, open-source digital audio workstation for music production.
• It offers a workflow similar to FL Studio with a piano roll, pattern-based system, and built-in synths.
• It supports VST plugins for expanding sound libraries.

• "It's the kind of software that lets you go from, I wonder how songs are made, to I accidentally spent 6 hours making a drum loop surprisingly quickly."

Shotcut & Kdenlive [23:56]

• Shotcut and Kdenlive are free, open-source video editors suitable for YouTube, tutorials, and general video creation.
• Shotcut is simpler with a gentler learning curve, focusing on basic editing tasks.
• Kdenlive offers more advanced features, better multitrack editing, and more control for complex projects.

• "Neither matches Resolve's professional color tools, or Adobe Premiere's massive plug-in ecosystem."

KeePassXC [25:26]

• KeePassXC is a free, open-source password manager that stores passwords in an encrypted, local file.
• It uses military-grade encryption and offers features like browser integration and password generation.
• Unlike cloud-based managers, the vault file is owned by the user and can be synced via personal cloud storage.

• "Your password vault isn't stored on somebody else's servers by default. It's a file, a file you own."

Thunderbird [27:01]

• Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client that consolidates multiple email accounts into one inbox.
• It offers features like unified inboxes, advanced filters, calendar integration, and built-in encryption.
• It provides a cost-free alternative to paid email clients like Outlook.

• "Thunderbird pulls them all into one place. One inbox, one app."

Calibre [28:30]

• Calibre is a free, open-source ebook library manager that organizes and transfers ebooks between devices.
• It supports numerous ebook formats and helps manage libraries independent of specific storefronts.
• It addresses issues like Amazon removing USB transfer options for Kindle purchases.

• "Calibbre is the difference between having a pile of ebooks scattered across devices and having an actual digital library."

Joplin [29:46]

• Joplin is a free, open-source notetaking app focused on privacy and simplicity, offering an encrypted alternative to Obsidian.
• It uses notebooks and tags for organization, supports markdown, and includes end-to-end encryption.
• A key feature is its web clipper for saving articles and web pages directly into notes.

• "Joplin is a free open-source notetaking app built around a much more traditional approach."

MPV [31:01]

• MPV is a free, open-source media player focused on playing video with minimal interface and high performance.
• It's lighter than VLC and preferred by users who prioritize video quality, HDR, and advanced color management.
• Customization often involves configuration files rather than graphical menus.

• "If VLC feels like an appliance, MPV feels like something built by people who genuinely enjoy editing text files."

Affinity Suite [32:35]

• Canva acquired Serif, the company behind Affinity, and merged Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher into a single, free application.
• This combined app offers professional photo editing, vector design, and page layout capabilities.
• It replaces software that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars annually.

• "Adobe spent a decade convincing people that renting creative tools every month was normal. Affinity looked at that idea and dropped the price to zero."

ProtonVPN [33:58]

• ProtonVPN offers a free, unlimited data VPN service from the creators of Proton Mail, adhering to strict no-logs policies.
• It provides a secure alternative to free VPNs that often monetize user data.
• The free plan offers connections to servers in about 10 countries.

• "Most free VPNs give you a few gigabytes a month before informing you that privacy now costs extra."

Bitwarden [35:43]

• Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager that stores unlimited passwords across unlimited devices without a subscription.
• It uses zero-knowledge encryption, ensuring even Bitwarden cannot access vault contents.
• It offers features like passkey support, autofill, and two-step login.

• "Bit Warden is a free open-source password manager that stores unlimited passwords and syncs them across unlimited devices."

PDF24 Creator [36:49]

• PDF24 Creator is a free toolkit for managing PDF files, offering features beyond basic conversion.
• It allows merging, splitting, compressing, editing, and securing PDFs without feature limits or subscriptions.
• The desktop version works offline, ensuring file privacy.

• "Adobe looked at one of the world's most common file formats and found about 30 ways to put basic buttons behind a subscription."

LocalSend [38:13]

• LocalSend is a free, open-source app that enables easy, encrypted file transfers between devices on the same network, similar to AirDrop but cross-platform.
• It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
• Files transfer directly between devices, bypassing cloud servers.

• "Imagine AirDrop, except it doesn't care what devices you're using."

VirtualBox [39:22]

• VirtualBox allows users to run separate operating systems within a window on their existing computer.
• It's ideal for testing Linux, older Windows versions, or suspicious software without risking the main system.
• It provides an isolated environment for experimentation.

• "It's a computer inside your computer."

Notepad++ [40:28]

• Notepad++ is a free, powerful text editor for Windows that enhances basic Notepad functionality.
• It features syntax highlighting, code folding, and advanced search capabilities for programming and configuration files.
• It replaces paid editors like Sublime Text, offering robust features for free.

• "Windows Notepad is perfectly fine right up until you need it to do literally anything beyond plain text."

FreeCAD [41:43]

• FreeCAD 1.0, released in late 2024, fixed the infamous topological naming problem, making parametric modeling more reliable.
• It offers integrated assembly workbenches, sketching, part design, and BIM tools.
• This free alternative to expensive CAD software like SolidWorks and Fusion 360 is now more robust for engineering work.

• "That infamous topological naming issue was finally fixed, making parametric models far more reliable for real engineering work."

Ardour [42:55]

• Ardour is a free, open-source digital audio workstation for serious recording, editing, and mixing.
• It supports unlimited audio tracks, non-destructive editing, and broad plugin support.
• While source code is free, optional payments support development and provide ready-made installers.

• "Ardour is designed for real instruments, vocals, podcasts, and full studio projects."

WinRAR [43:53]

• WinRAR has operated on a perpetual trial model for nearly 30 years, with users often not paying for the license.
• A critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-88) in 2025 allowed malicious software delivery via crafted archives.
• Users must manually update WinRAR to patch security flaws, as it does not auto-update.

• "The problem is that WinRAR doesn't automatically update."

Everything [45:09]

• Everything is a free, lightweight file search utility that instantly indexes and finds files on Windows computers.
• It bypasses Windows' slow search index by reading the drive's Master File Table.
• It searches file and folder names, not content, making file location rapid.

• "Once you start using everything, Windows Search doesn't just feel slow. It feels broken."

SyncThing [46:23]

• SyncThing is a free, open-source app that synchronizes files directly between devices peer-to-peer, without cloud storage.
• It uses encrypted connections and is only limited by the storage space on users' devices.
• It works across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

• "Instead of uploading your files to someone else's servers, Sync Thing creates an encrypted peer-to-peer connection that syncs files directly between your own devices."

Penpot [47:48]

• Penpot is a free, open-source design and prototyping tool that serves as a strong alternative to Figma.
• Its self-hosted version is completely free with unlimited users and projects.
• Built on SVG, it facilitates easier handoffs between designers and developers.

• "Penpot is the door that opened just as people started looking for one."

Proton Pass [49:06]

• Proton Pass is a free password manager from the Proton team, offering unlimited passwords, notes, credit cards, and devices.
• It uses end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption.
• The free version includes 10 "hide my email" aliases for privacy.

• "The free version is surprisingly generous."

KDE Connect [50:15]

• KDE Connect is a free, open-source app that wirelessly connects phones and computers on the same Wi-Fi network without servers.
• Features include a shared clipboard, instant file transfer, phone browsing via SFTP, and remote control capabilities.
• It works best with Android phones and Windows, macOS, or Linux computers.

• "Your phone and your computer can be sitting 6 in apart and somehow they still refuse to talk to each other."

Parsec [51:19]

• Parsec is a free remote desktop application designed for ultra-low latency, originally for cloud gaming.
• It allows accessing a PC from anywhere using hardware-accelerated video encoding.
• The personal use version is completely free, unlike many paid business-focused alternatives.

• "The secret is its hardware accelerated video encoding and game streaming technology."

VS Codium [52:03]

• VS Codium is a free, open-source build of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code, stripped of telemetry and proprietary licensing.
• It offers the same editor, debugging tools, and language support as VS Code.
• It uses an open-source marketplace for extensions instead of Microsoft's official one.

• "It's called VS Codium. VS Codium is a free open-source build of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code."

Scribus [53:11]

• Scribus is a free, open-source desktop publishing program considered the best free alternative to Adobe InDesign.
• It's designed for professional print layouts like books, magazines, and brochures, supporting CMYK and spot colors.
• It replaces InDesign, saving users around $260 annually.

• "Scribbus is built specifically for creating books, magazines, brochures, flyers, newspapers, posters, and other professional print layouts."

HandBrake [54:13]

• HandBrake is a free video converter and compressor that significantly reduces file sizes while maintaining quality.
• It supports batch processing, device presets, and codec conversion, useful for preparing videos for platforms like YouTube.
• It offers the same functionality as paid converters like Movavi or Wondershare UniConverter.

• "Handbreak is a free video converter and compressor that takes massive files and shrinks them down dramatically while keeping quality surprisingly intact."

7-Zip [54:49]

• 7-Zip is a free file compression tool that opens nearly every archive format, including its own highly efficient 7z format.
• It supports encryption and password-protected archives.
• It's a free alternative to WinRAR, which has a perpetual trial and security vulnerabilities.

• "7-Zip is a free file compression tool that opens basically every archive format."

ShareX [55:29]

• ShareX is a free, open-source screenshot and screen capture tool that replaces multiple paid software options.
• It offers standard screenshots, region captures, scrolling screenshots, screen recording, and GIF creation.
• Its powerful automation system allows for annotation, blurring, and instant cloud uploads with link copying.

• "Shareax has a huge automation system built in."

qBittorrent [56:15]

• qBittorrent is a free, ad-free, lightweight BitTorrent client that avoids the bundled software and pop-ups of other clients.
• It includes built-in search, bandwidth scheduling, and RSS support.
• It serves as a clean alternative for legal file sharing, such as Linux distributions.

• "Q Bit Torrent is the answer to what if Utorrrent didn't get weird? free, adree, lightweight, no bundled software, no pop-ups, no premium speed boost buttons that do nothing except exist."

Free Download Manager (FDM) [56:46]

• FDM is a free, open-source download manager that boosts download speeds by splitting files into multiple segments.
• It supports pause and resume, browser integration, and scheduling.
• It offers functionality similar to paid managers like Internet Download Manager but remains free.

• "Instead of one stream, it splits files into multiple segments to boost speeds when the server allows."

Total Commander [57:21]

• Total Commander is a dual-pane file manager that simplifies organizing and managing large numbers of files.
• It offers features like batch renaming, file comparison, FTP support, and extensive keyboard shortcuts.
• It acts as a powerful replacement for Windows File Explorer, with a long-standing trial model.

• "Total Commander is a dualpane file manager that makes copying, moving, comparing, and renaming large batches dramatically faster."

Honorable Mentions [56:46]

• Free Download Manager: Accelerates downloads by segmenting files and supports pause/resume.
• Total Commander: A dual-pane file manager for efficient file operations, with a long-standing trial.
• WinRAR: A file archiver known for its perpetual trial, though security vulnerabilities require updates.
• Everything: An ultra-fast file search utility for Windows.
• SyncThing: A peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that bypasses cloud storage.
• Penpot: An open-source design and prototyping tool rivaling Figma.
• Proton Pass: A free password manager with end-to-end encryption from the Proton team.
• KDE Connect: Connects phones and computers wirelessly for seamless file sharing and control.
• Parsec: A low-latency remote desktop application, free for personal use.
• VS Codium: A privacy-focused, open-source build of Visual Studio Code.
• Scribus: Desktop publishing software for professional print layouts.
• HandBrake: A free video converter and compressor.
• 7-Zip: A versatile file compression tool supporting multiple archive formats.
• ShareX: A powerful screenshot and screen recording tool with automation features.
• qBittorrent: A clean, ad-free BitTorrent client.

• "40 apps replacing well over $4,000 a year in paid software for absolutely nothing."