The best free software for your PC

IN DEPTH Essential PC programs you should download today

 

The best software doesn't always come with a price tag attached. There are a host of free PC programs available on the web that can improve the way you work and play.

Plus, you can often unearth programs that will help you solve problems you didn't know you had, improving your PC's overall performance.

What follows is a handy list of what we believe is some of the best free PC software available - some applications you might know, some you might not. But once you've used them, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. It starts with …

 

1. Adobe Flash Player

Speaking of plug-ins, if you want to get the best web experience, view every website, play games in your web browser and watch videos in Firefox, you're going to need the Adobe Flash Player. This plug-in is an internet essential.

Flash powers most Facebook games, YouTube, and an array of innovative, interactive websites that include WeChooseTheMoon.org (a recreation of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon) and moodstream.gettyimages.com(an interactive mood board from Getty Images). If you're going to have a good time on the web, and experience it to its full potential, you need Adobe Flash.

 

2. OpenOffice

Microsoft Office is the obvious choice when it comes to business productivity, but its price tag can put some people off. You might think that a free alternative wouldn't be able to match Microsoft's suite for functionality, but OpenOffice can prove you wrong.

Instead of Word and Excel, try Writer and Calc. PowerPoint too has a free equivalent - Impress is ideal for creating multimedia presentations. Of course, there'd be no point in singing OpenOffice's praises if it wasn't compatible with Microsoft Office document formats. It is, enabling you to save out OpenOffice files that can be opened by Office users and vice-versa.

 

3. Avira 2014

A PC without anti-virus software is like a car without any doors. Anybody could get in and wreak havoc. The most popular AV products, including McAfee and Norton require you to take out a yearly subscription. But before you do, consider a free alternative like Avira 2014.

This software equips your PC with a layer of key defenses that protect your computer from threats automatically, eliminating harmful viruses and Trojans, blocking sneaky adware, zapping spyware, and even warning you if you visit a website that could infect your system. And yes, it's completely free.

014

4. CCleaner 4.09

If Avira 2014 helps you to protect your PC from viruses and unwanted installs, CCleaner 4.09 will help you get rid of anything that has already slipped through. Using a simple interface, CCleaner can be set up to find unnecessary files and unused applications and, with a nod from you, delete them. This frees up space on your PC, cleans up your Registry, and lessens the load on your system. A win-win-win situation.

 

5. AdwCleaner 3.0

AdwCleaner 3.0 does much the same as CCleaner above, but it's a much simpler application. Set it to search your PC for unused files, rogue installs and unwanted toolbars and it will cut through the clutter like a digital knife, deleting junk data and optimising your PC system.

 

9. Free YouTube to MP3 Converter

With all this talk of work and security, you'd be forgiven for thinking that we have no playful software to recommend. The Free YouTube to MP3 Converter does exactly what it says on the tin - takes any YouTube video and extracts the audio track from it, saving it as an MP3 file on your PC's hard disk.

This makes it ideal for grabbing music tracks from videos or stripping out the content from an interview, webinar or TED talk, so you can listen to it later on an MP3 player or smartphone. Handy.

3 Fun Apps That Will Make You Feel Epic

Looking around the app stores for your iPhone or Android can feel a little like taking a drink out of a firehose. With so much variety, it can be overwhelming to decide which apps are really worth your time and money.

Sure, there are reviews, but will that app work for your life? Some apps feel like one more thing to keep track of in your already over-tapped schedule. However, the right app in the right hands can streamline your day and make you uber effective. So to help, here are three fun apps that will actually help you be epic in the year ahead:

Related: This App Made $200,000 Right After It Premiered On 'Shark Tank'

Lift: This self-proclaimed life-coach app really is all that. Lift helps you set any kind of goal, track and monitor it and even inspires you along the way. Its tagline is “succeed at everything,” and it certainly feels like that’s possible. The other cool thing about Lift is that it acts like its own mini social media platform, allowing you to get community support from other Lift users as you go for your goals.

When you meet your own pre-set goals, the folks at Lift send out encouraging emails to keep you motivated and going. It’s a cool concept for staying on track with your New Year resolutions (remember those?) in 2014. And while you can’t necessarily put a price on success, this free app to get you there is one to try.

Related: This New Service Will Print Your Digital Photos for Free -- With a Catch

WorkFlowy: Need a way to organize that’s easy and convenient? WorkFlowy is a lifesaver. The setup is straightforward and helps you track your overflowing to-do list in a simple, all-in-one spot on your phone. No more post-it notes lying around the office. The app design is clean and simple, organized the same way your brain thinks with lots of lists and sub-bullets that feed into bigger overall tasks or jobs.

There’s no learning curve. If you can read and write, the app is already fully functional for you. With some big name fans already using this “stress less, do more” app such as Evan Williams, the founder of Blogger and Twitter, there are plenty of reasons to download it now. It’s free! Save time and be epic with WorkFlowy.  

Oyster: It was only a matter of time before someone thought of an app such as Oyster. This epic app allows you unlimited access to more than 100,000 books from your mobile device for less than $10 a month.

Reading is a huge part of success. It trains your brain to focus, inspires you with ideas, jumpstarts creativity and allows you to learn from others' mistakes. For the same cost as a Netflix membership or a Spotify premium account, you could be cramming some great information into your brain. The selection is vast and representative of all kinds of titles and genres and there’s no limit to the amount of books you can read a month with your app membership. So download Oyster and get reading!