For more about how to spot and avoid this problem, see How to Rid a New PC of Crapware.Ī related pro tip: Only download desktop software from the maker of the software directly. Worse, the installation routine obfuscates the steps, so you provide the unwanted program tacit permission to be installed. To make ends meet, many creators of otherwise great free software, or the services that offer the programs for download, bundle in things you don't want.

Something to always watch for: crapware installers. Finally, this list is about software for productivity there are plenty of other places to find free PC games.

Preferably, the program had an update in the last year or two, and the program should have little or no advertising to support it. It has to have at least a free-for-life option. If the software is on a tiered sales model, the free version cannot be trial-ware. However, we've included web-based apps that are as good as, or better than, most downloadable programs. It should (typically) have a Windows-based download-no browser extensions here because we're not all on the same browser. To be included in this roundup, the software must be available directly from the developer/creator/original publisher. Software developers can adopt an ad-based model, donation-ware to keep things afloat, or a shareware/freemium model that charges for extra features. You can find all manner of free audio and video editors, office suites, file utilities, organizers, photo converters, and more. Software can be expensive, but free programs have been a mainstay of the desktop experience for decades, and today's offerings are pretty powerful.

The real work (and a lot of the play) of computing requires a full personal computing system, and to get the most out of that, you need software. It's a mobile world, but we have not fully abandoned the desktop. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

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