Free Software Directory (updated 28/07/23)

The idea of this thread is to list the best software and utilities that provide excellent functionality and usability, but cost nothing to use.

To submit a piece of software for inclusion, please PM Curly99 or Post in the forum, stating the following:

  1. Category for inclusion in
  2. Brief Description
  3. URL of homepage

Please only suggest software that is really worth listing, not just every free utility under the sun. :slight_smile:

As point of clarification, ‘free’ should mean free. Shareware products that have time-limited trials, but require registration do not qualify. I’ll add a separate section at the end of the thread for software that isn’t free, but is very cheap. Only products that are truly excellent additions to anyone’s system will qualify.

Windows Software

FTP Clients

Smart FTP
A fully featured FTP client, including support for multiple simultaneous connections, and secure FTP.

FileZilla
FileZilla is a fast and reliable FTP client and server with lots of useful features and an intuitive interface.

Anti_Virus/Spyware removal

AVG Anti-Virus
AVG are currently offering their fully features virus scanning software free, but without tech support, to all users.

avast!
ALWIL Software offers specialized security solutions designed for personal use on individual machines - either at home or in your

office. These products combine high performance with exceptional ease of use and outstanding design.

Spybot Search & Distroy
Application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software.

Remote Control

VNC - Virtual Network Computing
One of the most popular remote control software solutions (clients available for many operating systems).

Audio/DVD Tools

[CDex] [Link removed]
A digital audio extraction tool for conversion from cda to wav/mp3.

DVD Shrink
A versatile freeware tool for fitting a DVD-Video disc on a single DVDR disc.

Web Browsers

Firefox
Excellent technology preview for The Mozilla Foundation future flag ship browser.

Mail Clients

Pegasus Mail
One of the oldest and still one of the best graphical email clients

Thunderbird
One of the newest and one of the best graphical email clients.

Download Managers

Star Downloader
A download manager without annoying pop-ups and ads.

Office Software

Open Office
A powerful alternative for those who don’t want to pay the exorbitant prices for Office.

Enhanced Text Editors

Crimson Editor
A powerful editor with syntax highlighting plug-ins for many programming languages

[u]Image Manipulation[/u]

Gimp
GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image

composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.

Photofiltre
layer management, animated GIF, automatic insertion of copyright, supports 8BF filters

Irfanview
IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows

9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003.

Miscelanious

CCleaner
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool.

CPU-z
CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.

SpeedFan
SpeedFan is a freeware program that monitors voltages, fan speeds and temperatures in computers with hardware monitor chips.

Filzip
Zip archive malipulation

PDF reDirect v2
The full-featured freeware alternative to PDF995 and CutePDF

DOS Software

Disk Tools

Partition Manager
A powerful partition table editor and boot manager.

Windows Shareware Software

Enhanced Text Editors

EditPlus
A powerful editor with syntax highlighting plug-ins for many programming languages

All links updated and verified 13/09/06

Thanks to Mincer and all who contributed.

Curly

I wonder if I reply and ask @Curly99 to update the thread if he will come back :smiley:

Worth a try, I did send him a message on FaceBook as well - going full stalker mode …

DT.

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