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Free tools we actually recommend

This is the list we point readers to from our tutorials. Every entry is free for personal use, still maintained, and free of the two things we refuse to recommend: forced trials and "free" utilities that quietly bundle extra software. We earn nothing from these links.

How we choose. A tool makes this list if (1) the free version does the whole job for a home user, not a crippled demo, (2) it has a real update history, and (3) we can tell you its limitations in one sentence. Where a free tier has a catch, the catch is written next to it. Prices and licensing can change, so check the vendor page before you install.

Two quick helpers

Small jobs we get asked about most. Both run entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored.

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Rough password strength

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The list, by job

Archives, files and drives

7-Zip · Windows
Handles zip, 7z, tar, and just about everything else, with better compression than the Windows built-in. Catch: the interface looks dated, and that is the whole trade-off.
Rufus · Windows
Builds bootable USB drives from an ISO, including the Windows bypass options people look for during a clean install. Catch: no installer — it is a single portable .exe, which is a feature.
CrystalDiskInfo · Windows
Reads the S.M.A.R.T. health data your drive already reports, so you can see a failing disk before it dies. Catch: it warns far more often than a drive actually fails — use it as a signal, not a verdict.
WizTree · Windows
Shows what is eating your disk, folder by folder, by reading the file table directly instead of walking every file. Catch: it needs administrator rights to read the whole drive.

Images and media

IrfanView · Windows
Fast image viewer with batch resize and convert — the free way to compress a folder of photos. Catch: the download gets you a plain installer that asks about a toolbar once; decline it and you are fine.
GIMP · Windows, macOS, Linux
Full image editor with layers and masks, and export controls for JPEG quality. Catch: the learning curve is real, and it is not trying to be a lightweight photo app.
HandBrake · Windows, macOS, Linux
Shrinks video while keeping quality, with sensible presets for phone and web. Catch: re-encoding is slow on older machines, and you should keep the original file.
VLC · every desktop platform
Plays files nothing else will, and can record your screen or re-encode a video without an account. Catch: only bother with it for playback — the converter is slow.
ShareX · Windows
Screenshots, scrolling captures and screen recording, with no watermark and no time limit. Catch: the settings tree is enormous, so it rewards ten minutes of configuration.

Security, passwords and cleanup

Bitwarden · Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, browser
Open-source password manager whose free tier covers unlimited passwords and device sync. Catch: the free tier does not include the built-in authenticator or file attachments.
Malwarebytes Free · Windows, macOS
A useful second opinion scan alongside Windows Security, especially for adware and unwanted toolbars. Catch: the free version is scan-on-demand only — there is no real-time protection.
Revo Uninstaller Free · Windows
Removes programs and then sweeps the registry and leftover folders Windows' own uninstaller leaves behind. Catch: read what it plans to delete before confirming — it is thorough by design.

Everyday work

LibreOffice · Windows, macOS, Linux
Documents, spreadsheets and slides that open and save Microsoft formats without a subscription. Catch: complex Word files with heavy formatting can shift slightly on import.
Notepad++ · Windows
Plain-text editor that opens files Notepad chokes on, remembers unsaved tabs, and searches across a folder. Catch: Windows-only, and plugin quality varies.
SumatraPDF · Windows
Opens PDFs instantly and remembers where you were, with none of the upsells of big-name readers. Catch: it is a reader, not an editor.

What is not on this list, and why

"Driver updater" utilities. Windows Update plus your GPU vendor's own tool covers this. Third-party updaters mostly resell free drivers and add risk.
Free VPNs that are not really free. If a VPN has no paid tier, you are usually the product. We only list one if we can explain how it is funded.
Registry cleaners. The measurable benefit is close to zero, and the failure mode is a broken Windows install.

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