28 Best Free Software for Windows PC

December 23, 2022

Finding the best free software is no easy task. Software is the data or set of instructions that is used to run a computer. Essentially, it is the internal aspect of a computer and is commonly used to refer to applications, programs, and scripts that run on a device. Today in this article, we bring you the best software download sites that will lead you to the best software available. Keep reading to find out about the best free PC software.

The Best Free Windows PC Software to Download

In this age where everything is in or around software, finding and testing the best free software can be quite a hassle. But what qualities make software good? Keep reading to find out about the best free PC software.

What is good software?

There are several types of software such as application software, system software, programming software, and more. But among the hundreds of programs available today, how do you know which software is best for your PC? Let's find out about it, but first let's understand what good software is.

When looking for the best software download sites, you need to make sure you know how to identify good software. Here are some attributes of good software.

User Experience: The user's perception of the software or the usability of the application affects the overall perception of the application.
Availability: The software must be ready to go when needed.
Performance: The performance must match the user's requirements.
Security: Ensuring confidentiality and authenticity is a must.
Adaptability: The ease with which the functionality of an application can be changed.
Maintainability: Maintaining software should be easy.

We have compiled a whole list of the best software download sites. We categorized it by streaming, gaming, folder lock, conference, animation, antivirus, photo editing, audio recording, recording, and additional software. Look at it.

Best Streaming Software

We have listed the best streaming software for you. Here is a list of the best free PC streaming software.

1. Single thread

OneStream is one of the best free programs, it allows the user to stream and record, both live and pre-recorded, to multiple platforms at the same time. You can add subtitles to pre-recorded live broadcasts using an SRT file.

Import your videos directly from any S3 or cloud storage from around the world and save internet bandwidth.
Both live and pre-recorded on over 40 platforms simultaneously.
You can manage your team members to collaborate and livestream together.
Schedule live streams or pre-recorded videos up to 60 days in advance.
Team access to one account.
Allows you to shoot 360 degree video.
5 GB limit when uploading videos from your device.
Complex configuration that can be challenging for new streamers.
Free trial available. The paid plan costs $89 per month and allows you to use up to 50 social accounts.

2. Living storm

Live Storm claims to be the first video engagement platform that manages meetings, webinars and virtual events from start to finish. This is cloud-based software, so all attendees need to click on the webinar link and they will automatically join the session.

It is very interactive with features.
Ability to create user-friendly landing pages.
Get useful data like number of members and email subscriptions.
You can interact with your audience using the chat tool and use the Q&A tab.
Get up to 12 hours per session.
Unlimited number of team members.
Recorded webinar videos are of lower quality.
There is no option to download slideshows.
Free trial available. The Pro plan costs $88 per month.

3. Studio OBS

OBS Studio is a free and open source video recording and streaming software. As one of the first streaming software in the industry. It remains one of the most popular platforms due to its high audio and video quality. The software is highly customizable, making it suitable for advanced users.

Available in Windows, Linux and Mac
Easy to use and powerful customization tools.
Add new sources, customize their properties and duplicate existing ones.
Intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters such as noise reduction, squelch, etc.
Allows you to check sources and scenes in studio mode before broadcasting.
Use chroma key, masking and color correction.
Streamers can only link to video files as a source, no audio options.
Frequent software updates are annoying.
It's free.

4. Twitch

twitch , being one of the most popular streaming platforms, is also one of the best free programs available. It is easily accessible across multiple platforms including mobile phones, desktop computers, browsers, etc.

Trimming tool included.
Sync your Twitch account with your Discord account.
Diverse content.
Offers its own software for broadcasting from a PC.
Convenient.
There is no official Roku app.
No mobile broadcast.
The basic subscription does not remove ads.
It's free to watch, but a basic subscription will cost $4.99.

5. Spotify

As one of the most used music streaming platforms, Spotify makes it to the list of one of the best free software. Spotify claims to offer several full-featured playback solutions depending on your needs.

The Web Playback SDK allows you to play music directly in your web browser.
Can seamlessly connect to control and stream playback between any of the user's active devices.
Read users' recently played tracks.
Musical discovery.
Available everywhere.
Premium offers many features.
Too many ads.
Low bitrate.
Free trial available, paid version will cost $1.46.

Best Folder Lock Software

Stealing your files or breaching the security of your system can be a nightmare, and locking folders can save your life. Read our article on 23 Best Free Folder Lock Software for Windows 10 to find out more.

The best gaming software

Here is the gaming software you have been waiting for. Let's take a look at the best free gaming software.

1. Par

Steam is by far one of the best free downloads for PC when it comes to gaming. You can search for free games as well as some of the most popular ones.

Available for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Numerous recommendations for games.
Large picture mode.
Huge library of games.
Video broadcast.
Powers Steam Deck worked on PC.
There are no built-in video capture tools.
Bad customer service.
Free and paid games are available.

2. LogMain Hamachi

If you love free stuff, then LogMeV Hamachi is for you. This allows you to set up a sealed network between multiple computers. It does everything from file sharing to private gaming.

Compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS.
Uses P2P protocol for seamless access to the server.
Professional, polished, feature rich, personalized applications.
Network management and recovery.
Supports desktop computers only.
A free trial is available, and the paid plan costs $4.8 per month.

3. Discord

As we all know about the popularity of Discord , the online communication tool quickly became popular. It's incredibly easy to use and you can chat with your friends via text, audio or video. It has gained so much popularity that even non-gaming users such as popular YouTubers have started using it as well.

Compatible with Linux, macOS and Windows.
The Discord mobile app is compatible with Android and iOS.
Customizable and organized.
The user can communicate in text, audio or video chat.
Compatible with game consoles.
It can be useful not only in games.
Interference mess.
Must pay for higher quality video as well as audio.
The premium subscription costs $9.99 per month.

Best Conferencing Software

Conferencing software has proven to be extremely useful for virtual education. Let's take a look at some of the best conference software.

1. Zoom meetings

Zoom is the perfect software for anyone who works with team members and has been a great help to virtual tutors. It is very easy to use and adjust zoom. All you have to do is create and share a private meeting link with your team or individual and connect via video without compromising quality.

1-1 and group meetings.
Unlimited meetings.
Accept up to 100 participants
Screen sharing.
Scheduled meetings.
Team or private chat.
Board access.
Meetings with 3 or more participants are limited in time to 40 minutes.
It's free, but you can get the pro version for $161.44.

2. Skype

Climbing to the next place Skype . Its free version works well for teams with less than 10 members. It also offers a tool specifically designed for virtual education called Skype in the classroom . You can easily access video chat from your phone, PC or tablet.

Available for Windows, macOS X and Linux.
HD video calls.
Screen sharing.
Access to video chats.
Location sharing.
Video call recording.
Private conversation.
It's free.

3. Free conference

FreeConference is another ideal software for small teams with no more than five participants. Extremely user friendly and no downloads are required to start using it.

Online board.
Private chats.
The moderator is in control.
Exchange of documents.
Auto decryption.
Individual greetings.
Free online meetings.
Individual music to greet guests in the conference room.
It's absolutely free.

4. Google chats

Google Chats , formerly known as Google Hangouts, is a great and free way to connect your contacts. You can use it for both personal and business purposes. Use it for group meetings and chat with people for hours.

Compatible with PC, Android mobile app, iOS mobile app and Gmail account.
Access to team meetings, recorded demos and private chats.
Up to 25 video participants.
Join calls with Google Calendar.
Screen sharing.
Free use.

5. Weak video calls

Weak Video Calls is simple and one of the best free programs you can find. You can make calls directly from Slack whenever you need to. Slack with up to 15 people when you start a call from a channel, allowing the rest of the members to join. This is a great tool for small teams.

Team calls up to 15 participants.
Individual calls.
Personal correspondence.
Create short audio, video and screen recordings.
Screen sharing with multiple people.
A free version is available, the pro version costs $2.66 per month.

Best Animation Software

Here is a list of the best animation software for your PC.

1. Multiplier 5

Animator 5 , formerly known as CrazyTalk Animator, is the latest release from the Reallusion team. It contains many useful and creative features that will make you love animation even more. Create 2D and 3D characters from the creative field.

Available in Windows and Mac.
Intelligent IK/FX motion editing.
Whole body motion capture
Arbitrary deformation is possible.
Render CTA designs as AE layers.
Add professional visuals with after effects.
Apply face tracking to 2D and 3D characters.
There are no drawing tools.
Steep learning curve.
Offers a free trial for 30 days, but the paid version costs $129.

2. Adobe Character Animator

Adobe Character Animator allows you, as a creator, to explore all the tools provided to create something out of the box. Bring your favorite characters to life with seamless Photoshop and Illustrator. The best part is that you can stream your characters live. This is great software if you're new to animation and want to learn the basics first.

Available on Windows and Mac.
Choose from over 350 full-length character animations from the Motion Library.
Live animation with automatic lip sync.
Face and body tracking.
Customize your characters.
Trigger control.
Stream your character live.
Limited use cases.
There are no drawing tools.
Free version available, paid version costs $29.34.

3. Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint comes in at number three for its all-in-one painting and animation solution. It allows you to combine stop-motion animation with camera effects to create full-length animations. The best thing about it is that it can run on any platform. Whether you're a beginner, hobbyist, or professional animator, Clip Studio Paint is the way to go.

Available on Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, iPad and Chromebook.
Create comics, manga and webtoons.
Unlimited drawing styles.
Presets available.
AI coloring.
Managing multipage jobs.
3D viewing works from all sides at the same time.
Convert photos to illustrations.
Offers a free trial. The Pro version costs $49.99.

Note. Free trial time varies by device.

If you want to know more about animation software, read our article on 20 Best Free 2D Animation Software for Windows 10.

Best Voice Changer Software

Want a voice changer but can't find it? Don't worry because we have listed the best of the best for you. Read our article on 13 Best Free Voice Changer Software for Windows 10.

The best antivirus software

Below we have listed the best antivirus software that you can use to protect your PC for free.

1. Free AVG Antivirus

AVG Free Antivirus protects against ransomware by preventing all unauthorized changes to protected files. It identifies junk files but won't solve any problems unless you pay. AVG, one of the best free software, provides a network security inspector. If you need powerful protection against both malicious websites and malware, then AVG is for you.

Provides a secure browser.
Provides a tool for finding deals.
Scan during download removes malware.
The initial score is below average.
Load times may be slow.
An update is required to fix issues.
It's free, but the paid version costs $12.55.

2. Avira

Avira ranks second on the list of the best free programs and is highly rated in independent tests for virus and malware protection. You can get Avira on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. You don't get any limits with a single subscription.

Includes free VPN.
Provides browser security.
Offers a password manager, tracker remover, scan optimizer, and spam remover.
Can be used on multiple platforms.
Cleans up your PC and speeds up your work.
Very aggressive upselling.
Firewall update required.
Free download. $24.63 per subscription.

3. Avast free antivirus

One of the best free programs, Avast free antivirus has been in the antivirus industry for a long time. You get impressive antivirus protection for free. See what Avast Free Antivirus has to offer.

Compatible with Windows, iOS, macOS and Android.
Includes productivity and privacy features.
Protection on restricted Android and iOS devices.
No WiFi Inspector.
Needs an update for many features.
It offers a free version and the paid version costs $19.61.

4. Bitdefender

Bitdefender offers some of the best malware and virus protection available and is one of the few companies that consistently ranks at the top of the independent testing organizations rankings. It offers a wide range of features that many users enjoy.

Provides a password manager.
Offers webcam protection and file encryption.
Scan websites in real time.
Provides fraud prevention.
Free version for Windows only.
Firewall update required.
It offers a free version, but the premium version costs $43.97.

5. Defender Microsoft

Microsoft Defender is undoubtedly one of the best software to download on PC. While it's not as feature-rich as other options, it provides solid protection against malware and viruses. It is also very easy to use.

Offers a firewall for free.
Provides real-time protection.
Comes pre-installed on a Windows PC.
Not compatible with Android or Mac.
Not as feature rich as others on this list
It's free.

The best photo editing software

Quick photo editing can work wonders when they are meant to be shared on social media. We have prepared a list of the best photo editing software for you. Read our article on the 25 Best Free Photo Editing Software for PC.

Best Social Media Platforms

Here we have top 5 social media software that are not only popular but also offer you a lot of features. You can use this best free social media software for pc to download.

1. Linkedin

LinkedIn is a widely used job-focused online service that works through websites or a mobile app. LinkedIn, launched May 5, 2003, is primarily used for career development and professional networking. Create a LinkedIn profile to grow your career.

Track your applications.
Offers job postings.
Interview management.
Sometimes outdated recommendations for posting vacancies.
Easy to use.
It offers a free version, but the premium version costs $40 and offers a 1-month free trial.

2. Instagram

Instagram is a popular social media application that allows users to share content such as photos and videos. It is one of the most popular free platforms, which makes it one of the best free software. The user can view their Instagram handles from any web browser, but can only upload from their Android and iOS.

Group or private chats.
Collaboration tools.
Real time notification.
Live videos.
Manage multiple accounts.
ROI tracking.
It's completely free.

3. Facebook

Facebook is another free and popular social media platform that has been around for quite some time. Through Facebook, you can connect with people, share content, and follow trends.

Group or private chats.
Provides collaboration tools.
Real time notification.
Content Sharing
Live videos.
Manage multiple accounts.
It's free.

4. Twitter

Twitter , a real-time short messaging app, is one of the best free sites to download software. Twitter is used to share content such as photos, videos, short messages, in the form of posts.

Group management.
Individual or group chat.
Provides monitoring, reporting and analytics.
Content sharing.
Post schedule.
It's absolutely free.

5. Telegram

Telegram is a cloud-based voice chat and messaging service supported by a free app. Even the app is compatible with all devices. You can make voice calls and send instant messages with emojis and custom stickers, share videos, images and file attachments of any format. See what he has to offer.

Provides SSL security.
Live chat and batch communication.
Secure data storage.
Videoconferencing is possible.
Offers multilingualism.
It's free.

Best Audio Recording Software

Audio recording software is not hard to find. In fact, to find out which is best for you, you should read our article on the 22 Best Free Podcast Recording Software.

The best writing software

No matter how creative a person is, sometimes writing can be extremely difficult. Whether it's a poem or a novel, finding a good writing program that's also easy to use can be quite time consuming. To save time, read our article on the 25 Best Free Ebook Writing Software.

Additional productivity software

Below are a few more popular programs that you can download for PC.

1. MS Office

Microsoft Office or Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications designed specifically for commercial use by Microsoft. Microsoft Office, first released in 1990, has been the dominant model in the delivery of office document management software. It is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux.

MS Office comes with ten main programs:

Word: MS Word is word processing software first released in 1983. Create documents and collaborate with others.
PowerPoint: With MS PowerPoint , create simple, effective and well-designed slides. Show your style with templates in over 40 categories and save time.
Excel: MS Excel helps you organize your data to save you time. Create spreadsheets from templates and use modern formulas to easily perform calculations.
Access: MS Access is an easy-to-use tool for creating business applications from scratch or based on templates. Access to intuitive design tools will help you create compelling and highly functional applications in the blink of an eye.
One note: One note organized into notebooks and divided into sections and pages. Thanks to convenient navigation and search, you will always find all your notes where you left them.
Publisher: From MS Publisher , layout and style for text, borders, images, calendars and more. Share your unique designs in print, online or via email.
Appearance: In MS Outlook , you can connect and organize with free personal email and calendar.
Teams: MS Teams allows you to share files, interact with your team members on a larger scale. You can make audio calls, video calls, chat and improve your professional productivity.
Yammer: Improve communication and communication across your organization. With Yammer , build communities of interest, collect ideas and feedback, and keep everyone in the loop, aligned, and moving forward.
SharePoint: SharePoint facilitates collaboration with productive team sites for every project team, department, and business unit. Share files, data, resources and news. Easily and securely collaborate with team members inside and outside your organization on virtually any device.

2. Adobe

Adobe has a lot of great software like Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat Pro, Animate, Express and many more. Here are some of the best Adobe programs that make the list of the best free programs.

2А. Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator allows you to be as creative as possible. You can create compelling graphics as well as infographics and bring them to market. It offers you a 7-day free trial and the paid version costs $20.50.

2B. Adob InDesign

With Adobe InDesign , create beautiful graphic designs with typography from the world's leading manufacturers and images hosted by Adobe. Share content and your creativity with a 7-day free trial and buy it for $20.50.

2С. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop lets you explore the world of photo editing. Photoshop for your business or social media post. It also offers a 7-day free trial that you can purchase for $20.50.

2D. Adobe Lightroom

Capture or create your vision with Adobe Lightroom . You can learn with easy-to-use tools or level up your skills. It allows you to edit your photos on another level. Try the 7-day free trial it offers or buy it for $20.50.

2E. Adobe Premier Pro

With Premier Pro , edit and share your videos. It gives you amazing features like adding custom captions, built-in tutorials to make it easier for you to learn, and best of all, it gives you a free analog error video package. Premier Pro also offers a 7-day free trial package, while the paid version costs $20.50.

Hence, this is a list of the best free download PC software.

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Here it is, the best free software on the market. We hope you could find the best PC software for free and use it with ease. Feel free to ask any questions and don't forget to add your suggestions in the comments section below.