Free Software Picks (2015 Edition)

The following is a list of my Free Software picks. This list is intended for users of Windows, although some applications offer versions for alternative Operating Systems. While it is debatable whether the products in these lists are the best in their fields, there is no doubt that each product ranks highly when it comes to quality and value. Many of these applications have portable versions available from their website (which don't require a setup file to run). Each category has three different programs to choose from. At the bottom of the page you will find helpful websites for finding the best free software.

Please be aware that using any of the following software is done at your own risk and neither I nor ATS can be held responsible for any system problems you might encounter if you decide to do so. Always make sure your important data is backed up before installing new software onto your system.

Anti-malware:
- 360 Total Security
- Avast 2015
- Microsoft Security Essentials

Audio Players:
- AIMP
- foobar2000
- Xion

Compression Utilities:
- Bandizip
- PeaZip
- ZipGenius

CD/DVD Software:
- Any Burn
- CDBurnerXP
- BDlot DVD ISO Master

Defragmentation Software:
- Auslogics Disk Defrag Free
- Defraggler
- WinContig

Email Programs:
- Mozilla Thunderbird
- hMailServer
- Pegasus Mail

File Transfer:
- WinSCP
- FileZilla
- Core FTP LE

Image Software:
- Paint.NET
- XnView
- FastStone Image Viewer

Internet Browsers:
- Mozilla Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Avant Browser

Office Software:
- OpenOffice.org
- LibreOffice
- SSuite OfficeSSuite Office

Password Managers:
- RoboForm
- KeePass Password Safe
- Access Manager

PDF Creators:
- doPDF
- PDFCreator
- CutePDF

PDF Readers:
- Sumatra PDF
- PDF-XChange Viewer
- Nitro PDF Reader

System Cleaning:
- CCleaner
- Wise Disk Cleaner
- AnyCleaner

System Information:
- HWiNFO
- System Information Viewer
- CPU-Z

Video Converters:
- Video to Video Converter
- Hybrid
- XMedia Recode


* * * * * *

Useful Websites:
* Freeware Files
* File Hippo
* CNET Downloads
* Source Forge
* Softpedia

Thanks for the list and links. Has anyone here used Avant browser? I use Mozilla and it is turning into a pile of crap when it comes to speed and using media sites like YouTube and Netflix. Don't really want to use Chrome although I have and it works better I just don't like Google products.

I have 3 more to add:
Image viewer - IrfanView
System information - Speccy
Drive encryption - Truecrypt

IrfanView is great. It's clean, minimal, lightweight, fast... With a few minor options tweaks, it's just the perfect little image viewer.

These three categories should include Comodo Free Internet Security, VLC Media Player, and 7-zip.

originally posted by: Dark Ghost
Anti-malware:
- 360 Total Security
- Avast 2015
- Microsoft Security Essentials

Audio Players:
- AIMP
- foobar2000
- Xion

Compression Utilities:
- Bandizip
- PeaZip
- ZipGenius

a reply to: Dark Ghost

What...no Gimp??

a reply to: trollz
Last I heard the writers of Truecrypt ended support and strongly advised against using it. The popular theory was that they had been ordered to compromise it under secret Homeland Security laws and were not legally allowed to tell anyone so they decided to end it instead. Has that changed recently?

My favourite lately is Bullzip PDF Printer.

Oh, and K-Lite codec pack. Especially because it comes with Media Player Classic, a swell alternative to Windows Media Player.

Very mediocre list..

originally posted by: funkadeliaaaa
Very mediocre list..

Your contribution to this thread wasn't very helpful.
Try harder next time.

a reply to: Aliensun

Im entitled to my opinion as youre entitled to yours.

a reply to: funkadeliaaaa

Your list was MUCH more insightful......oh wait.

a reply to: planetyeck

Yeah i didñt have one, go figure.... (im not a geek)

Then how would you know what is good or not? If you have some insight then please do add to the list. Everyone has preferences on what they like to use.

originally posted by: Dark Ghost
The following is a list of my Free Software picks. This list is intended for users of Windows, although some applications offer versions for alternative Operating Systems. While it is debatable whether the products in these lists are the best in their fields, there is no doubt that each product ranks highly when it comes to quality and value. Many of these applications have portable versions available from their website (which don't require a setup file to run). Each category has three different programs to choose from. At the bottom of the page you will find helpful websites for finding the best free software.

Please be aware that using any of the following software is done at your own risk and neither I nor ATS can be held responsible for any system problems you might encounter if you decide to do so. Always make sure your important data is backed up before installing new software onto your system.

Anti-malware:
- 360 Total Security
- Avast 2015
- Microsoft Security Essentials

Audio Players:
- AIMP
- foobar2000
- Xion

Compression Utilities:
- Bandizip
- PeaZip
- ZipGenius

CD/DVD Software:
- Any Burn
- CDBurnerXP
- BDlot DVD ISO Master

Defragmentation Software:
- Auslogics Disk Defrag Free
- Defraggler
- WinContig

Email Programs:
- Mozilla Thunderbird
- hMailServer
- Pegasus Mail

File Transfer:
- WinSCP
- FileZilla
- Core FTP LE

Image Software:
- Paint.NET
- XnView
- FastStone Image Viewer

Internet Browsers:
- Mozilla Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Avant Browser

Office Software:
- OpenOffice.org
- LibreOffice
- SSuite OfficeSSuite Office

Password Managers:
- RoboForm
- KeePass Password Safe
- Access Manager

PDF Creators:
- doPDF
- PDFCreator
- CutePDF

PDF Readers:
- Sumatra PDF
- PDF-XChange Viewer
- Nitro PDF Reader

System Cleaning:
- CCleaner
- Wise Disk Cleaner
- AnyCleaner

System Information:
- HWiNFO
- System Information Viewer
- CPU-Z

Video Converters:
- Video to Video Converter
- Hybrid
- XMedia Recode


* * * * * *

Useful Websites:
* Freeware Files
* File Hippo
* CNET Downloads
* Source Forge
* Softpedia

Good post! I work in IT but when I leave the office I don't do anything IT related at home. So it's nice to get opinions on these tools!

originally posted by: funkadeliaaaa
a reply to: planetyeck

Yeah i didñt have one, go figure.... (im not a geek)

Geek enough to have what must have been a legitimate opinion on what is a mediocre software list.

Trolling isn't an acceptable practice here on ATS. We have standards.

a reply to: CraftBuilder

Ok i apologise, sorry if i offended the op.

if one wanted a free OS, Linux Mint is very good, clean interface much like older windows versions. You can install Virtual Box also free to emulate windows for any windows programs you want to keep,