When you unbox a new Windows computer, you have a general idea of what to expect. It comes with the Windows operating system, a browser, and some basic pre-installed software like a calculator, clock, and MS Paint. However, your computer is essentially an empty shell waiting to be customized and filled with the software and applications that suit your needs.
While most computers are mass-produced to provide a consistent user experience, you can still personalize your computer by installing specific software based on your usage habits. After setting up your online profiles and downloading your favorite games, you might be interested in exploring free apps that can enhance your Windows experience.
Here are some of our favorite free apps that can take your Windows experience to the next level:
- Audacity: A free and open-source software for recording and manipulating audio files. It’s perfect for beginners interested in audio mixing and editing.
- Zoom: A popular video communication service that allows you to have online meetings with real-time audio and video. It’s great for work projects, online hangouts, and playing games with friends.
- Google Earth Pro: An advanced version of Google Earth that provides a bird’s eye view of the entire planet. You can explore and discover locations using satellite data.
- Plex: A free media server that organizes and streams your personal media collection, including movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, and video games.
- GIMP: A free and open-source raster graphics editor that offers similar tools to Adobe Photoshop. It’s a great alternative for image manipulation and editing.
- LibreOffice: A free and open-source office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet editor, image creator, and mathematical formula editor. It’s a suitable alternative to Microsoft Office.
- Lively Wallpaper: A software that allows you to set actively moving images as your desktop wallpaper. You can choose from a collection of live wallpapers or create your own.
- Duolingo: A language learning app that gamifies the learning process and offers courses in more than 40 languages. It’s free to download and use.
- Phone Link: An app that allows you to connect your Windows computer with a compatible Android phone. You can receive messages and phone calls on your computer and easily transfer content.
- Avira: A popular free antivirus program that provides basic protection against viruses and malware. It also includes a VPN, ad blocker, and password manager.
- VLC Media Player: A versatile media player that can handle various video file types and offers additional features like downloading videos, converting files, and streaming content to a Chromecast.
- Rambox: A workspace organizer that helps you manage and group your applications, browsers, tabs, and windows into projects or tasks, making it easier to find and organize your work and personal content.
These free apps can significantly enhance your Windows experience without breaking the bank. Whether you’re into audio editing, video conferencing, media streaming, image manipulation, language learning, or productivity, there’s an app on this list for you.