10 Best Free Alternatives to Expensive Software
If you don’t have a company buying licenses for you, tools like Photoshop, Pro Tools, Maya, or even Windows can be a major problem for your wallet. Here are a few more more affordable options for those usually expensive apps to help you stop worrying and get more done.
10. GIMP (free, for Windows, macOS and Linux)
The first option is a little obvious. If you don’t have the money for an Adobe Creative Cloud membership, or you’ve never bought a copy of Photoshop for yourself, GNU Image Manipulation Software (GIMP for short) is for you. It’s feature-rich, powerful ( especially with the GIMPShop plugin ), and with a little work it can work almost like Photoshop when you need it.
If you have a little trouble getting started with it, no big deal – it might sound a little intimidating, but this cheat sheet full of shortcuts and tips can help you get your bearings and get up to speed quickly. After all, this is your favorite PhotoShop alternative for a reason. If you want other alternatives, Windows users can try Paint.net (free), and Mac users can try the highly acclaimed Pixelmator ($ 30).
9. Libre Office (free, for Windows, macOS and Linux)
Microsoft Office is the productivity standard in offices around the world, but when it comes to your home computer, if you don’t want to fork out for a license or don’t have access to it in other ways, you still need something to work with, especially if you need to work with Word documents, Excel spreadsheets or PowerPoint presentations that are sent to you. Discover Libre Office , our long-standing favorite alternative if you need a local office suite off the Internet.
Libre Office has come a long way in recent years, too. What used to look a lot like the stereotypical “design by committee,” the utilitarian toolbox is now a more than capable and elegant competitor to Office, which can still open Office documents, edit them and save them for smooth use. use by people using Office. And of course it’s completely free.
8. Inkscape (free, for Windows, macOS and Linux)
Adobe Illustrator is indispensable if you’re working with vector graphics, creating logos, or even formatting documents for print or other publications, but again, if you’re not ready to shell out for a Creative Cloud membership, Inkscape has gone unnoticed for a long time . The best time is , well, pretty much anything you can do in Illustrator, without the bells and whistles that most people don’t actually use. Plus, it’s free, open source, and cross-platform.
Inkscape also has a large user community and many tutorials on its tutorial blog to help you get started and get you up and running quickly if you need a little help. We’ve discussed this in more detail in our guide to replacing Creative Suite with available applications , as well as some alternatives if Inkscape isn’t right for you.
7. Blender (free, for Windows, macOS and Linux)
If you are interested in 3D modeling, 3D printing or 3D animation, Blender is your best tool, at least to get started in this area. Sure, Maya and other similar tools are used in animation and modeling studios, but if you want to get started or even model your own 3D printing objects , Blender is for you.
It can be a little tricky to grasp at first, however, and our 3D Modeling Night School can help you get started. If that’s not enough for you, this free eBook from Wikibooks is another great tool to help you learn Blender.
6. Avira (free for Windows) and Sophos (free for macOS)
Make no mistake, good browsing hygiene and a reasonable understanding of what you click, what you download, and what sites you visit are no substitute. However, it is a good idea to have a good antivirus and / or anti – malware combo tool at the same time on your computer, or especially on the computer of someone who may not have the same skill that you might have.
For this reason Avira is our top choice for Windows , Sophos is the top choice for macOS when it comes to antivirus, and MalwareBytes when it comes to malware protection . If you prefer something different? We have more options . In the end, there is absolutely no reason to pay for expensive antivirus or anti-malware subscriptions, and the free tools – despite some sloppy methods in use lately – do the same job without resorting to the bloat and confusion inherent in big names. that can be found on office computers all over the place. …
5. LMMS (free, for Windows, macOS and Linux)
LMMS , formerly known as Linux MultiMedia Studio, is a great, powerful and free alternative to Apple Garageband or even more expensive industry standard applications like Pro Tools. It probably won’t replace it if you want to work professionally, but if you’re a hobbyist at home, this free cross-platform tool is worth a try .
In addition to turning your computer into a music sequencer, whatever computer you use, it has a wide range of multitrack editing capabilities, which is not the case with Audacity , our favorite simple tool for recording and editing sound . LMMS has everything from sequencing, compositing, mixing and editing to mixing effects and built-in instruments for effects, loops and other sounds.
4. VirtualBox (free, for Windows, macOS and Linux)
Virtualization is not just a game for computer geeks. This is a great way to test new tools and software and make sure they don’t damage your computer . Virtualbox , free and cross-platform, may not be the best or most efficient tool for the job, but its features and value for money are unmatched. It’s super powerful and completely free.
Our Virtualbox Getting Started Guide can help you with the basics if you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to have a computer to test one that wasn’t mine,” and our Power User’s Guide can help you if it’s all old hat to you. If you’re wondering what you’re missing when using Virtualbox instead of a tool like Fusion or Parallels, check out our virtualization demo comparing all three here .
3. DaVinci Resolve (free, for Windows and macOS)
It’s hard to find a good free video editing tool, especially when compared to regular home tools like iMovie or professional-grade tools like Adobe Premiere. However, if you’re looking for an alternative, DaVinci Resolve , which started out as a complex (and expensive) color grading tool, picked up video editing features a few years ago. It has since earned a name for itself as a complete and robust alternative video editor that, while a bit tricky for beginners, is reliable enough if you have the skills to replace other, more expensive tools. There is a paid version if you want to fork out, and a comparison between the free and paid versions is here.
2. Linux (free)
Of course Linux deserves a spot on the list. Which distribution you use is of course completely up to you – as well as which desktop environment you choose – but if you’re moving from macOS or Windows to Linux, either for simplicity or because you don’t want to fork out for new licenses , or you just want to bring your old computer back to life, Ubuntu and Linux Mint are two of your best options for getting things right.
If you want to dive into the core, Arch Linux is the favorite for these parts, but not very beginner-friendly. That said, we’ve got a great tutorial on how to set it up – and we’ll learn a lot about Linux along the way. Also, do not forget to check out our package Lifehacker Pack for Linux, where you will find the most necessary tools to help efficiently and use a new Linux installation as efficiently as possible.
1. Google Drive (free, online)
Finally, everyone knows – and probably uses – Google Drive (formerly Google Docs, because Google ). We live and die of it here at Lifehacker, and when combined with Gmail, it’s fast, flexible, free, available on any computer that has a web browser, and it’s powerful to download. Sure, it may not have some of the benefits of a traditional desktop office suite, but there are ways to get around that .
Combined with a variety of plugins, add-ons, and other tools that can dramatically improve your productivity with documents, spreadsheets and slides, you get a pretty powerful set of tools that you don’t have to pay a dime to use. And we haven’t even discussed the cheat sheets, templates, and other tricks to become a G Suite ninja yet.