The Best Free Software of 2020 Part 2
Ebooks and Comics
Comixology Comics
Amazon-owned Comixology is the store for purchasing digital comics from just about all the major funny-book publishers. You read them in the app, and it’s a wonder, making page-by-page or panel-by-panel reading a delight, especially on a comic book page-sized tablet. The synced view means you stop on one device and pick up at the next one in the same spot. Pair it with Comixology's unlimited reading subscription option or buy new comics the same day they appear in stores. For comic book nerds, it's a must. (Windows users are stuck with the web-based interface.)
Kindle
Practically the de facto reader for ebooks these days, the Kindle brand is more than just hardware—it extends to apps and programs for reading ebooks (which you have to buy from Amazon, of course). Start the book on any device, continue it elsewhere—the Kindle WhisperSync feature knows where you stopped reading. X-Ray gives you insight into the book; GoodReads integration gives you a social aspect. PageFlip lets you keep your page while scouring the rest of the book.
Calibre
If you've got a lot of ebook files, Calibre is the open-source tool you need to organize them. It converts files into different formats, so you can use ebooks on many different devices, with which it will also sync. It's constantly updated with new features and support for non-Amazon ebook reader hardware, like the devices from Kobo.
Microsoft Outlook.com
If you've got a Microsoft account, you have access to Outlook.com, the successor to Hotmail and Live mail and our Editors' Choice for web-based email. There's still the Outlook program itself for Windows and Mac—it comes with Microsoft Office—but this free option is a perfect, minimalist, consumer-based webmail, complete with OneDrive integration. Interesting features include Sweeps, so you can, for example, delete all messages from one sender at once, and built-in chat—including Skype video chat. The version for iOS is particularly great.
Gmail
The ultra-popular option for individuals and businesses alike, Gmail sports a clean interface and works with a lot, if not all, third-party email apps you can imagine. Plus, it probably has the best spam filter you'll ever use.
Thunderbird
Mozilla's email client extraordinaire still has all the features that made it great years ago: account setup wizards, multiple languages, hundreds of add-ons, a tabbed interface, great search, junk mail and phishing tools, and the option for a personalized email address with your own choice of a domain name. Migration from previous versions is a breeze and worth it if you're on the desktop.
SPAMfighter
If you use a desktop email client like Outlook, Thunderbird, or even Windows Mail, you're probably not getting as much spam-fighting power—especially with POP3 email accounts. Stick SPAMfigher on the system—it works directly with Microsoft to make it as tough against spam as possible. The Windows version is totally free for home use.
File Recovery and Deletion
Recuva
Recuva (say it out loud) is a must on the tool belt of any techie: it's the key to helping recover a lost file. It's easy to understand, though should really be installed before you lose a file. It's portable, so you have the option to run it from a USB thumb drive.
TestDisk
TestDisk does a lot more than just find lost files. It can recover an entire lost hard drive partition, and makes what was once a non-bootable disk drive bootable again. It's open source so it might not have as fancy a user interface as you're used to, but it's powerful. Companion tool PhotoRec specializes in recovering lost images.
Eraser
The opposite of file recovery is utter destruction—the thing you do to keep a file out of someone else's hands. Eraser does that, writing over the spot on your drive where the file(s) lived until it's scrubbed clean, with no chance of it coming back to haunt you. Use it to schedule a wipe of the free space on the disk, or just to purge your recycle bin.
File Transfer
Filezilla
The former computer-science project is now one of the best standalone file transfer protocol (FTP) clients around. It's a must-have for website owners who transfer a lot of files to a server, fast. It comes in a client and Windows-only server option.
Teracopy
Windows copies files between folders and drives just fine. TeraCopy takes over that job and makes it sing—it's faster, better looking, provides more information/feedback, and can recover from transfer errors.
µTorrent
Still one of the biggest clients for downloading and uploading torrent files, this works on its own or paired with web or mobile accounts for remote downloads. There's a web-based option and desktop download-based options for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android for more experienced users.
File Management
Multi Commander
There are many, many attempts out there to replace Windows Explorer (a file manager marinating in weak sauce). Multi Commander stands out, providing multiple tabs, a file viewer, and dual panels to efficiently show you everything.
7-Zip
Eventually in this life, you're going to run into an archive file—a single file with multiple files stored (and compressed) inside it. They have different extensions, from RAR to ZIP to 7z and many more, and sometimes the program to open them costs you. Not 7-Zip. It opens all of those and more, and allows creation of new archives. It'll even encrypt the contents for safety. It's entirely open source.
CDBurnerXP
Don't let the XP in the name fool you, this is a frequently updated tool for burning ISO images and much more to CDs and DVDs. It comes in multiple languages and lists all the drives with which it's compatible. It works on all versions of Windows.
File Viewers and Converters
IrfanView
IrfanView (pronounced ear-fan-view) has been the leader in file viewing for over two decades. Not only does it view multiple file types, it can convert them, batch process changes, even play media. Plug-ins and add-ons give it even more power.
XnView MP
With an enhanced version that works across platforms, XnView MP actually has multiple uses, like batch file conversion and support for 500 image formats. It's only free for private or educational use.
FastStone Image Viewer
View, manage, and compare your images with this fast and intuitive freebie. It supports a slew of image formats, plus a ton of RAW image formats from specific digital camera manufacturers. It has companion apps for screenshots and photo resizing.
Graphics and Imaging
Adobe Photoshop Express
When you don't need the full strength of Photoshop, but still want Adobe in your arsenal, the low-end, consumer-oriented Express is there to help you with the basics of image editing. It'll auto-fix a lot in your images, plus has photo filters and, of course, in-app purchases to extend functions.
GIMP
The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) remains a top pick for free image editing for good reason. It has all the high-end tools you could want for playing with graphics and, naturally, costs 100 percent less than Photoshop.
Inkscape
Vector graphics illustration tools typically cost a lot but not Inkscape. You'll be designing, drawing, and shaping gorgeous SVG formatted files in no time with this tool. Check the online gallery for excellent examples of its capabilities on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Icecream Image Resizer
Icecream Apps has many nice programs, but the most useful for designers with a batch of graphics that need a quick resize is the aptly named Image Resizer. Drag images to it, pick a size and a destination folder, and they'll be converted in an eye-blink.
Paint.net
Is Paint.net a perfect replacement for Photoshop? Nothing is as powerful, but at this price—free—it is pretty close. For any minor (and some major) picture manipulation, it's fast, comprehensive, and easy to use.
Pixlr X
Pixlr X is a "next generation" web-based photo editor for making quick adjustments and retouches to a photo when more advanced tools aren't available. Every change is automatically saved and it also works directly with Dropbox.
Maps
Google Earth
As if high-end software that lets you fly across the globe isn't cool enough (especially with all the same features of its online sibling, Google Maps), Google Earth Pro for the desktop—with advanced features like high-res printing, distance measuring, and global guided tours—is totally free. It also comes in a web-only and mobile versions now.
Media Players/Centers
Spotify
If all you need in life is a constant shuffle play of your music (with the occasional advertisement), then Spotify is for you. It offers 50+ million song possibilities no matter where you are, on every possible device you can think of. The free version is ad-supported, which is why Spotify wants you to subscribe for $10 per month. But if you can get over those confines, you're no worse off than when listening to FM radio, and arguably far ahead.
VLC media player
The premier way to watch just about any video, ever, no matter what the weird codec, VLC has features like auto-rotating smartphone videos taken at the wrong orientation, and resuming playback from where you stopped. Seriously, VLC plays back anything on all desktop platforms, and guarantees it comes with no ads, tracking, or spyware.
Kodi
Kodi has become the open-source serious media center. Run the software in one place and stream all your media (you bring the content) to other devices. It's all about content, so it's the best option in many ways for a home media center.
Plex
If you don't know or care what a media server is—you just want to stream your videos and music collection around the house—Plex is probably for you. Install it on all your devices, point it at some media, and those audio and video files become available on everything. Even remotely over the internet.
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