Best Free Sofware Alternatives

Facilitator: Dr. Bruce Ellis (@DrBruceEllis) | https://ly.tcea.org/BestFreeSoftware23

You don't have to have a large budget to get great software. Join us to learn about helpful alternative software to the popular titles WITHOUT spending much (if any) money.

Ninite

Ninite allows users to quickly and easily install multiple programs at once. It offers a wide selection of popular applications, including antivirus, productivity tools, and media players, and allows users to customize their installation by selecting which programs they want to install. The site automatically installs the programs and updates them in the background, making it a convenient solution for busy users.

The Free Learning List

The Free Learning List curates a list of free online resources for learning various subjects, including computer science, business, language, and more. The site allows users to browse and filter the resources by category, level of difficulty, and format, making it easy to find high-quality learning materials that meet their needs. The Free Learning List is a useful tool for students, educators, and lifelong learners who are looking to expand their knowledge and skills at no cost.

Instead of Microsoft Word...

Microsoft Word is a word processing software that allows users to create, edit, and format documents. It features various tools for text formatting, paragraph layout, and document collaboration.

Google Docs - Google Docs is an online word processor, part of Google Drive, that lets you create and format text documents and collaborate with other people in real time.

LibreOffice Writer - Writer has all the features you need from a modern, full-featured word processing or desktop publishing tool.

Apache OpenOffice Writer - Writer, part of the Apache OpenOffice suite, is an open-source word processor. It supports the ISO standard Open Document Format (ODF) for data interchange as its default file format, as well as Microsoft Office 97-2003 formats.

Instead of adobe photoshop...

Adobe Photoshop is a professional graphic design and image editing software used for creating and manipulating images and designs. It offers a wide range of tools and features for retouching, color correction, compositing, and more.

GIMP - GIMP is a free program for such photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Essentially it's the closest thing to Photoshop you can get for free.

Photopea - Online photo editor, which can work with PSD, XCF and Sketch files (Photoshop, Gimp and Sketch App). Convert between PSD, XCF, JPG, PNG and many other formats.

Krita - Krita is a complete creative sketching and painting application with advanced, commercial quality features. It's open-source and available across all major desktop platforms. Krita is free on the official website and paid on Steam and Microsoft Store.

Instead of adobe Acrobat DC...

Adobe Acrobat is a software used to create, edit, and view PDF documents. It includes features such as text editing, image insertion, and form creation. It is available as a desktop application or as a cloud-based service.

PDF24 Creator - Swiss Army Knives for PDFs to use offline

PDF Arranger - Small python-gtk application, which helps the user to merge or split pdf documents and rotate, crop and rearrange their pages using an interactive and intuitive graphical interface. PDF Arranger is a frontend for PikePDF. Which is a popular Python library for reading and writing PDF files. PikePDF is based on QPDF. A powerful PDF manipulation and repair library.

Instead of XMIND...

XMind is a mind mapping and brainstorming software that helps users visually organize and structure their ideas and thoughts. It allows users to create mind maps, flowcharts, and diagrams to better understand and communicate complex information.

diagrams.net - An open source, online, desktop and container deployable diagramming software

FreeMind - Free and open source, Java-based mind-mapping app for the desktop featuring a hierarchical editor that emphasizes folding

MindMeister - (freemium) MindMeister is the market-leader in online mind mapping. Unlike traditional mind mapping tools, MindMeister allows for real-time brainstorming sessions between an unlimited number of users and requires only a standard web browser. MindMeister's intuitive editor is perfect for taking notes, brainstorming ideas, planning projects and outlining all sorts of texts. Users can choose between the classical mind map layout and org chart mode, and can export their mind maps into various formats like MS Word, PowerPoint, PDF, PNG etc.

Instead of techsmith snagit...

Snagit is described as 'The ultimate screen capture tool. With Snagit’s capture, edit, organize and share technology… it’s easy to create engaging visuals that grab attention and keep it.

ShareX - ShareX is a free and open source program that lets you capture or record any area of your screen and share it with a single press of a key.

Flameshot - Powerful yet simple to use free and opensource screenshot software for Linux and Windows

LightShot - The fastest way to take a customizable screenshot

Screenshot Captor - A powerful screenshot tool for your computer that gives you many features to streamline your screenshotting process

Instead of CleanShot X...

CleanShot X is a screen recording and screenshot tool that allows users to capture high-quality images and videos of their computer screen. It features customizable recording settings, annotation tools, and automatic uploading to cloud storage. It is available for macOS and Windows.

Loom - Loom is a video recording and screen sharing solution that allows teams to communicate with ease, without wasting hours of productivity from non-productive meetings. Teachers can get it free using Loom for Education.

OBS Studio - Full-featured screen recording and live streaming software for Mac, Windows and Linux.

ShareX - Screen capture, file sharing and productivity tool

CamStudio - Record your computer screen with audio input from Mic or Speakers. Also shows mouse clicks in addition to the regular cursor. Simple interface with ability to record in AVI or export to multiple formats.

Now Your Turn...

Go to https://alternativeto.net/ and find an alternative to a software that you know. For the output, you can be specific as to what type of software you are looking for based on the operating system, license, platform, etc. Search and share with the group what you found.

Report abuse