Discover the best software for different tasks on our “Software We Love” page. We have carefully curated a list of the most useful software that can help enhance your workflow, improve productivity, and make your tasks more efficient. Our list includes a wide range of software from different categories, such as productivity tools, graphic design software, system utilities, and more. Each software has been thoroughly evaluated by our team to ensure that it is of high quality, easy to use, and reliable.
We understand that it can be overwhelming to choose the right software for your needs, that’s why each software on our list is accompanied by a short blurb describing its features, pros, and things we like about them. Additionally, we’ve included a brief explanation of the software’s purpose and what it’s particularly great for, so you can easily understand how the software can be helpful for you.
We understand that technology is constantly evolving, and new software is being developed all the time, that’s why we update our list regularly with new software to keep up with the latest advancements in technology. Our goal is to ensure that you get the best recommendations for your needs, whether you’re a professional, a student or a casual user. With our “Software We Love” page, you can be sure that you’re getting the best software recommendations to enhance your workflow and improve your productivity
7-Zip
7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiving software that allows you to compress and decompress files in a variety of formats, including ZIP, RAR, and GZIP. One of the biggest advantages of 7-Zip is its high compression ratio, which allows you to save space on your hard drive when storing files. Additionally, 7-Zip has a clean and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. It also supports encryption and password protection, which can help keep your files safe and secure. Another great feature of 7-Zip is its ability to create self-extracting archives, which can make it easy for others to extract the files you’ve compressed. Overall, 7-Zip is a versatile and powerful file archiving tool that is great for both personal and professional use.
Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader is a free software application developed by Adobe Systems that allows you to view, print, and annotate PDF files. One of the biggest advantages of Adobe Reader is its wide compatibility, as it can open and display PDF files on a variety of devices and platforms, including Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. Additionally, Adobe Reader has a variety of tools and features that make it easy to navigate and interact with PDF files, such as the ability to search for text, zoom in and out, and add comments and annotations. Adobe Reader also provides security features such as password protection and digital signature validation which makes it safe to use. It’s also a great tool to have when working with PDF forms. Overall, Adobe Reader is a reliable and essential tool for anyone who frequently works with PDF files.
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a free web browser developed by Google that is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices. One of the biggest advantages of Chrome is its speed and performance, as it is designed to quickly load and display web pages. Additionally, Chrome has a clean and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. Google Chrome also has a vast library of extensions and apps available in its store, that allows users to customize their browsing experience to their liking, and also has a built-in task manager, developer tools, and a password manager. Chrome also offers a variety of security features, such as Safe Browsing, which alerts users of potential phishing scams and malware. Additionally, Chrome also supports synchronization across multiple devices, which makes it easy to access your bookmarks, history, and other settings on any device. Overall, Google Chrome is a fast, secure, and versatile web browser that is great for both personal and professional use.
Microsoft Security Essentials / Windows Defender
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) (also known as Windows Defender on Windows 10+) is a free antivirus software developed by Microsoft that is designed to protect Windows computers from malware, spyware, and other malicious software. One of the biggest advantages of MSE/Windows Defender is that it is built into the Windows operating system, which means that it is always running in the background and can detect and remove malware in real-time. Additionally, MSE/Windows Defender is designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive, so it will not slow down your computer while it is running. MSE/Windows Defender also offers automatic updates, which ensures that the software is always up to date with the latest malware definitions. It is a great option for those who want a simple, easy-to-use antivirus solution that does not require a lot of configuration. Overall, MSE/Windows Defender is a solid and reliable option for protecting your Windows computer against malware and other malicious software.
Mozilla Firefox
If Google Chrome wasn’t an option, Mozilla Firefox is a tried-and-true trusted internet browser. Mozilla Firefox is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation. Firefox is known for its speed, security, and customizable features. One of the biggest advantages of Firefox is its privacy-focused features. Firefox has a built-in tracking protection, which blocks third-party trackers from collecting your browsing data. Additionally, Firefox has a variety of add-ons and extensions available, which can be used to customize your browsing experience and add extra functionality. Firefox also has a clean and user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to navigate and use. Firefox is also highly customizable, you can change the theme, layout, and functionality of the browser to suit your needs. Firefox also offers a variety of developer tools, such as a web inspector, and a javascript debugger, that makes it a great choice for web developers. Overall, Firefox is a fast, secure, and customizable web browser that is great for both personal and professional use.
VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a free and open-source multimedia player developed by the VideoLAN project. VLC is a versatile media player that can play a wide variety of audio and video formats, including MP3, MP4, AVI, and MKV. One of the biggest advantages of VLC is its cross-platform compatibility, as it can run on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices. Additionally, VLC has a clean and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. It also has a lot of advanced features such as the ability to adjust playback speed, take screenshots and record your screen, and even stream your media over a network. VLC also supports subtitles and has options to customize the font, size, and colors. It also includes a built-in equalizer and audio effects. VLC is also known for its ability to play damaged or incomplete files, which is handy when a media file is corrupted. Overall, VLC Media Player is a versatile and powerful multimedia player that is great for both personal and professional use.
Notepad++
Notepad++ is a free and open-source text editor developed for the Windows operating system. It is designed for code editing and supports a wide variety of programming languages. One of the biggest advantages of Notepad++ is its speed and performance, as it is designed to quickly open and edit large text files. Additionally, Notepad++ has a clean and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. It also offers advanced features such as syntax highlighting, line numbering, and code folding, which can make it easier to read and write code. Notepad++ also has a built-in file explorer, and it supports multiple tabs, which allows you to work with multiple files at the same time. It also includes a variety of plugins and macros to enhance its functionality. Notepad++ also supports a variety of encoding, making it a great tool to work with different languages files. Overall, Notepad++ is a powerful and versatile text editor that is great for programmers and anyone who frequently works with text files.
WinDirStat
WinDirStat is a free, open-source disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Windows. It allows users to visually analyze the contents of a hard drive and identify large files and folders that are taking up space. The information is presented in a graphical format, with each file and folder represented by a colored rectangle, the size of which is proportional to the amount of disk space it uses. This makes it easy to identify which files and folders are taking up the most space and decide which ones to delete or move to another location. WinDirStat also includes a cleanup tool that allows users to quickly delete or move files and folders directly from the application. It also supports multiple languages and can be run on all version of windows. It’s a great tool for system administrators, and anyone looking to free up space on their hard drive.
PuTTY
PuTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator, serial console and network file transfer application. It supports various network protocols such as SSH, Telnet, rlogin, and raw socket connection. One of the key features of PuTTY is its ability to allow users to securely connect to a remote server, making it a popular choice among system administrators and developers. Additionally, PuTTY’s small footprint and support for multiple platforms make it a versatile and useful tool for many users.
ClipClip
ClipClip is a clipboard manager software that allows users to store and easily access multiple items that they have copied to their clipboard. With ClipClip, users can save multiple items to their clipboard and then easily access them later by searching through the saved items or by using keyboard shortcuts. This can save a lot of time and effort as users don’t have to manually re-copy items that they need to use again. Additionally, ClipClip also supports syncing clipboard history across multiple devices, so you can easily access your copied items on different devices.
Snagit
Snagit is a powerful screen capture and image editing software that is widely used by professionals and businesses. It allows users to capture screenshots, videos, and GIFs of their entire screen or specific areas, and then easily edit and share them with others. One of the key features of Snagit is its wide range of image editing tools, such as image cropping, image resizing, image effects and callout creation. Additionally, Snagit also includes a built-in image editor, which allows users to add text, shapes, and arrows to their captures, making it easy to annotate and explain their captures. Snagit also includes a built-in file sharing feature, allowing users to quickly share captures with others via email, social media, or cloud services. With its advanced features and ease of use, it’s no surprise that some users describe Snagit as the “one app” they couldn’t live without, and that they would “remove it from their cold dead hands”
Micrsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys is a set of system utilities designed to enhance the Windows user experience. It includes a variety of tools such as a window manager, a shortcut guide, and a file renamer. One of the most popular PowerToy is the “Windows key + Number” shortcut feature that allows users to launch any application pinned to the taskbar by using the Windows key and the corresponding number key. Another popular feature is “FancyZones” which is a window manager that allows users to organize their open windows quickly and easily into customizable zones on their desktop. PowerToys are also open source, and you can find the development on GitHub. Overall, Microsoft PowerToys is a great tool for power users looking to customize their Windows experience and streamline their workflow.
ShareX
ShareX is a free and open-source screen capture and file sharing software. It allows users to capture screenshots, videos, and GIFs of their entire screen or specific areas, and then easily share them with others. ShareX also includes a wide range of image editing tools, such as image cropping, image resizing, image watermarking and image effects. Additionally, ShareX also supports more than 80 different image, text, and file hosting services, allowing users to easily upload and share their captures. One of the most powerful features of ShareX is its support for custom uploaders and workflows, so you can automate and streamline your workflow for file sharing. Users can also schedule tasks and automation using the built-in task scheduler.
ASAP Utilities
ASAP Utilities is a powerful Excel add-on that provides users with a wide range of tools and functions to streamline their workflow and improve productivity. It includes over three hundred distinct functions and tools that can be used to automate repetitive tasks, such as removing duplicates, merging cells, and formatting data. Some of the key features of ASAP Utilities include the ability to quickly sort, filter, and search data, and the ability to easily insert and delete rows and columns. It also includes tools for working with dates and times, and for working with text and numbers. Additionally, ASAP Utilities also includes a number of tools that are specifically designed to help users work with large and complex data sets, such as the ability to quickly split and merge worksheets. Overall, ASAP Utilities is a great tool for Excel users who are looking to save time and improve their productivity.
mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG is a free, open-source, and multi-protocol remote connection management software. It allows users to manage all their remote connections, such as RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), SSH (Secure Shell), VNC (Virtual Network Computing) and many more in a single application. One of the key features of mRemoteNG is its ability to organize remote connections into folders and subfolders, making it easy to find and manage them. Additionally, mRemoteNG also supports saving login credentials for each connection, so users don’t have to enter them every time they connect. It also has built-in support for SSH-VPN Tunnel, and support for using the External Tools. mRemoteNG is a great tool for system administrators, IT professionals, and anyone who needs to access multiple remote computers.
BalenaEtcher
BalenaEtcher is a free and open-source tool for creating bootable USB drives and SD cards. It is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for creating installation media for operating systems, such as Linux distributions, and other software. One of the key features of BalenaEtcher is its ability to verify the integrity of the image being written to the USB drive or SD card, ensuring that the media is created correctly and without errors. Additionally, BalenaEtcher also supports flashing multiple images to the same drive and can also flash images directly from the compressed files, without the need to uncompress them first. It’s also available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so it’s a cross-platform solution. BalenaEtcher is a great tool for anyone who needs to create bootable USB drives or SD cards, whether for installing operating systems or for other purposes.
NDI (Network Device Interface)
Network Device Interface (NDI) is a royalty-free software standard developed by NewTek that allows video-compatible products to communicate, deliver, and receive broadcast-quality video in a high-quality, low-latency manner that is frame-accurate and suitable for switching in a live production environment. NDI allows multiple video systems to identify and communicate with one another over IP, and to encode, transmit, and receive many streams of high quality, low latency, frame-accurate video and audio in real-time. This enables video systems to be connected over IP networks, with video and audio sources available to any other NDI-compatible video system for switching, recording, or streaming. NDI is widely adopted by the professional video industry, and is compatible with a wide range of software, hardware, and workflows. It is also supported by many manufacturers and developers, making it a versatile and reliable solution for video over IP.
OBS Studios
OBS Studios (Open Broadcaster Software) is free and open-source software for video recording and live streaming. It is designed for professional and amateur video production, and is widely used by content creators, streamers, and gamers. OBS Studios allows users to capture video and audio from multiple sources, such as webcams, desktop screens, and external devices, and then mix and edit them together in real-time. It also includes a wide range of tools for adding effects, transitions, and overlays, as well as support for plugins and scripts, to further customize the output.
One of the key features of OBS Studios is its ability to stream live video to a variety of platforms, such as YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, making it a great choice for content creators who want to reach a wider audience. Additionally, it also supports NDI as an input source which makes it easy to add multiple video sources from a network. OBS Studio is also compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux, so it’s a cross-platform solution. Whether you’re a professional video producer or a casual streamer, OBS Studios is a powerful and versatile tool that can help you create high-quality video content.
MSI Viewer
MSI Viewer is a tool for viewing and analyzing Windows Installer (MSI) files. MSI files are used by Windows to install and manage software on a computer. MSI Viewer allows users to open and view the contents of an MSI file, including its tables, properties, and resources. It also allows users to extract files and folders from an MSI and export the data in the MSI tables to a CSV file.
Additionally, MSI Viewer also includes a built-in editor that allows users to modify the properties of an MSI, such as its product name, version, and manufacturer, without having to rebuild the entire MSI package. It also supports the viewing of the internal MSI’s sequences, and the actions that are performed during installation. MSI Viewer is a great tool for software developers, system administrators, and anyone else who needs to view or modify MSI files. It is available for Windows only.
pfSense
pfSense is a free and open-source firewall and router software distribution based on FreeBSD. It is designed to be used as a firewall and router for small to medium-sized networks. pfSense allows users to control and monitor network traffic and includes a wide range of features such as stateful packet filtering, VPN support, and network address translation (NAT).
One of the key features of pfSense is its web-based management interface, which makes it easy to configure and monitor the firewall and router. It also includes a package manager that allows users to easily install and manage additional software packages, such as intrusion detection and prevention systems, and traffic shapers. Additionally, pfSense also supports diverse types of VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IPSec, L2TP and more. It supports load balancing and failover. pfSense is a great choice for businesses, schools, and other organizations that need a powerful and flexible security system and router solution. It’s also compatible with multiple hardware platforms, so it can be run on a wide range of devices.
WPForms
WPForms is a WordPress plugin that allows users to easily create and manage forms on their website. It is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for beginners and non-technical users. WPForms includes a wide range of form templates, such as contact forms, surveys, polls, and online payments forms. It also includes a drag-and-drop form builder that makes it easy to customize forms, add fields, and create custom forms.
One of the key features of WPForms is its ability to collect and store form submissions, allowing users to view and manage submissions from within the WordPress dashboard. It also includes built-in spam protection to prevent spam submissions and it supports multiple types of form fields including file uploads, signature, and more. WPForms also includes support for email notifications, so users can be notified when a form is submitted. Additionally, it also supports integration with popular email marketing services, such as Mailchimp, AWeber, and GetResponse. WPForms is a great tool for anyone who needs to create forms for their WordPress website, whether for collecting contact information, collecting payments, or for any other purpose.
Yodeck
Yodeck is a cloud-based digital signage software that allows users to create, manage and schedule content for display on digital screens and TVs. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and is easy to use and set up. Yodeck allows users to create and upload content, such as videos, images, and web pages, and then schedule them to play on one or multiple screens. It also supports integration with popular services like YouTube, Vimeo, and Google Calendar, which enables users to easily import and display content from these platforms.
One of the key features of Yodeck is its ability to remotely manage and update content on the screens, this allows users to easily update content on all screens from a central location. It also includes a built-in analytics feature, which allows users to track the performance of the content and monitor the engagement of the audience. Additionally, it also supports multiple languages, and it’s compatible with a wide range of devices, including Raspberry Pi and Chrome devices. Yodeck is a great tool for businesses that want to display dynamic, engaging content on their digital screens and TVs.
AdminDroid
AdminDroid is a cloud-based Office 365 reporting and management tool. It allows Office 365 administrators to monitor and manage their Office 365 environment from a single console. It includes a wide range of reports and tools that can be used to monitor the usage, security, and compliance of Office 365 services, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Azure Active Directory.
One of the key features of AdminDroid is its ability to generate detailed reports on the usage and activity of Office 365 services, such as the number of emails sent and received, the amount of storage used, and the number of active users. It also includes a set of management tools that can be used to perform common administrative tasks, such as creating and managing user accounts, managing licenses, and enforcing compliance policies. Additionally, AdminDroid also supports automating repetitive tasks and generating alerts on major events. It’s a great tool for Office 365 administrators looking to simplify the management of their Office 365 environment and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
ActivTrak
ActiTrack is an employee monitoring software that allows businesses to monitor and track employee activity on their computer and internet usage. It is designed to help businesses increase productivity, reduce wasted time, and improve security. ActiTrack captures data on employee activity, such as website visits, keystrokes, and application usage, and presents it in an easy-to-read format, making it easy for managers to identify and address any issues.
One of the key features of ActiTrack is its ability to monitor and record employee activity in real-time, allowing managers to quickly identify and address any issues as they arise. It also includes a set of tools for managing and monitoring employee productivity, such as the ability to set productivity goals, and track progress towards those goals. Additionally, ActiTrack also includes built-in security features, such as the ability to track and block access to potentially harmful websites and applications. It’s a great tool for businesses looking to increase productivity, reduce wasted time, and improve security.
IrfanView
IrfanView is a free, compact, and lightweight image viewer and editor for Windows. It supports a wide range of image file formats, including popular formats like BMP, JPG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. IrfanView is designed to be fast, stable, and easy to use, making it a smart choice for viewing and editing images.
One of the key features of IrfanView is its ability to quickly open and view large numbers of images, even on older or lower-powered computers. It also includes a wide range of image editing tools, such as cropping, resizing, and color adjustments, as well as support for batch processing, which allows users to apply the same editing steps to multiple images at once. Additionally, IrfanView also includes a basic set of image management tools, such as the ability to create image thumbnails, and support for image metadata, making it easy to organize and manage your images. It’s a great tool for anyone who needs to view and edit images on their windows computer.
WordPress
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL. It is used to create and manage websites, blogs, and web applications. WordPress is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, making it a great choice for beginners and non-technical users. It can be used to create a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites, and it is highly customizable through the use of themes, plugins and widgets.
One of the key features of WordPress is its ability to easily manage and organize content, including text, images, and videos. It also has a built-in commenting system, which allows visitors to leave comments on your site, and it has the support of a large community of users and developers, who have created a wide range of plugins and themes, which can be easily installed to add additional functionality to your site. Additionally, WordPress is search engine friendly and optimized for SEO, and it has a built-in support for media management, and it’s also compatible with multiple languages. WordPress is a great choice for anyone looking to create a website, whether for personal or business use.