The best of "Must have" freeware

Top Audio & Video freeware

  • Winamp Media Player

    Fast, flexible, high-fidelity, skinnable audio/video player for Windows

  • AIMP Classic

    Qualitative and pure playing multimedia of files, including MP3

  • Foobar2000

    Just play any kind of audio file you can imagine in Windows

  • Spotify

    Find, share and enjoy your favorite music online

  • iTunes

    Create MP3 playlists, burn CDs, and download music with this top-rated jukebox

  • Format Factory

    Multifunctional media converter

  • iWisoft Free Video Converter

    Freeware for fast convert video and audio files between any formats

  • MediaCoder

    A free audio/video batch transcoder

  • K-Lite Mega Codec Pack

    Includes codecs and related tools needed to play your audio and video files

  • QuickTime Alternative

    QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play QuickTime files without QuickTime Player from Apple

  • VLC Media Player

    Highly portable multimedia player supporting most audio and video formats

  • KMPlayer

    One of the most powerful freeware video players

  • Miro

    Online videos, TV shows and podcast client, thousands of free videos

  • Audacity

    Easy to use audio editor, capable of saving in multiple compressed formats

  • TagScanner

    Support basic and extended tags, complete with Music Renamer and Tag Processor

  • Zortam Mp3 Media Studio

    MP3 tag editor, MP3 organizer, lyrics, cover album finder, auto tagger

Top Business freeware

  • Adobe Reader

    Easily view, print, and collaborate on PDF files from your desktop or on the Web

  • Foxit Reader

    PDF document viewer, with incredible small size, breezing-fast launch speed and rich feature set

  • PDFCreator

    Free tool to create PDF files from nearly any Windows application

  • Free PDF to Word Converter

    Easy and free pdf to word freeware, convert pdf file to word doc file

  • LibreOffice

    Free, Open Source alternative to MS Office, also allows to save to PDF file

  • OpenOffice.org

    Comprehensive Office Suite compatible with all other major office suites

  • SSuite Accel Spreadsheet

    A professional spreadsheet application

  • MSD Organizer

    Mail, calendar, organizer, to-do list, notebook and contact manager with tags

  • Promet-ERP

    ERP System, Messagemanagement, Projectmanagement, Dokumentmanagement

  • PhoneDeck

    Flexible, configurable lightweight phone and addressbook with a phone dialer

  • Copernic Desktop Search Home

    Instantly search files, e-mails, and e-mail attachments stored anywhere on your PC

  • GnuCash

    Personal and small-business financial-accounting software

  • AceMoney Lite

    Personal finance manager. It has all the features of its big brother except multiple accounts management

  • Dia

    General-purpose diagramming software, inspired by the commercial software "Visio"

  • Exportizer

    Free database export tool

Top Security & Privacy freeware

  • Comodo Internet Security

    Integrates Comodo Antivirus, Comodo Firewall and Comodo Defense

  • Avira AntiVir Personal Free

    Reliable free antivirus, antispyware and antirootkit solution

  • AVG AntiVirus Free

    Use the AVG Anti-Virus System to reliably protect your computer

  • avast! Free Antivirus

    With a new interface that makes it easier to master, as well as a new heuristic engine

  • CCleaner

    Freeware system optimization and privacy tool

  • Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+

    Real-time protection against virus, spyware, trojans, rootkits, hijackers, keyloggers

  • IObit Malware Fighter

    Advanced malware & spyware removal utility that detects and removes the deepest infections

  • Spyware Terminator

    Easy-to-use and effective spyware remover providing real-time protection

  • Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

    Fast at scanning a system for problems and cleaning up what it finds

  • ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

    Keep hackers and data thieves out of your computer with this free firewall

  • UltraSurf

    Protects your Internet privacy with anonymous surfing and browsing

  • OperaTor

    Allows you to browse the web anonymously. It combines the power of the Opera, Tor and Polipo

  • Hotspot Shield

    Access the likes of Pandora and Hulu from outside the US

  • File Shredder

    Permanently shred and delete files and folders on your computer

  • Eraser

    Securely erase selected files and folders, or even whole disks

  • TrueCrypt

    Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux

Top System Utilities freeware

  • Free Registry Cleaner

    Powerful tool for cleaning Registry, Fixing PC errors and optimizing PC

  • Advanced SystemCare Free

    Takes an one-click approach to help protect, repair and optimize your computer

  • Auslogics Disk Defrag

    Designed for fast optimization of today´s modern hard disks

  • Easeus Partition Master Home Edition

    Very easy to use user interface and powerful features

  • DriveImage XML

    Easy to use and reliable program for imaging and backing up partitions and logical drives

  • Autoruns

    Shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login

  • DAEMON Tools Lite

    A virtual DVD-ROM emulator based on a SCSI miniport driver

  • BlueStacks App Player

    Allows users to quickly run their favorite Android apps on any Windows PC

  • ImgBurn

    Powerful image burning application with advanced features, supports from CD to Blu-Ray

  • HWiNFO

    Professional hardware information and diagnostic tools supporting latest components

  • SpeedFan

    Monitors fan speeds, temperatures and voltages

  • Sysinternals Suite

    Troubleshooting Utilities have been rolled up into a single Suite of tools

  • 7-Zip

    A file archiver with a high compression ratio

  • Revo Uninstaller

    Innovative uninstall utility, Much fater than Windows Add/Remove applet

  • FBackup

    Makes copies of your important data

  • Dropbox

    Syncs your files online and across your computers

  • DriverMax

    Download the latest driver updates for your computer

Top Communications freeware

  • Skype

    VoIP technology to call all around the world

  • ooVoo

    Straight-up two-way video chat via Webcam

  • Windows Live Messenger

    Latest version of Windows Live Messenger from Microsoft

  • Yahoo! Messenger

    Free Chat, Instant message, SMS, PC Calls and More

  • ICQ

    Contact friends and family online, instantly with the most popular instant messaging tool

  • Pidgin

    Universal instant messenger client for AIM, ICQ, MSN, IRC, Yahoo, and Jabber

  • Nimbuzz

    Call, chat and interact with your friends on all popular instant messaging and social networks

  • Digsby

    Manage all your IM, e-mail, and social network accounts from one easy-to-use application

  • Trillian Astra

    Chat and keep in touch with your friends and family

  • Camfrog Video Chat

    Easy-to-use application that allows you to video chat with friends

  • 1and1 Mail

    Free email marketing software to create, schedule and send personalized mass emails

  • Windows Live Mail

    A faster, easier, and safer way to manage your e-mail accounts

  • Thunderbird

    Mozilla's email application is more powerful than ever

  • IncrediMail

    Powerful, easy to use, feature-rich and fun email program

  • SPAMfighter Standard

    Spam blocker that automatically and efficiently filters spam and phishing fraud

  • EssentialPIM

    Keeps all your appointments, tasks, to do lists, notes, contacts and email messages

  • ECTkeyboard

    Text input and messaging for individuals with limited motor skills

Top Network & Internet freeware

  • Mozilla Firefox

    A fast browser that includes tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, plugins, skins, more

  • Google Chrome

    Browser that combines minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier

  • Opera

    Fly across the Web with the latest release of this superfast browser

  • Free Download Manager

    Download files and convert videos (including flash) faster, integration with all browsers

  • FlashGet

    Powerful download manager

  • BitComet

    A powerful, clean, fast, and easy-to-use bittorrent client

  • uTorrent

    An efficient and feature rich BitTorrent client sporting a very small footprint

  • eMule

    Search and share files over the eDonkey network

  • Shareaza

    Shareaza is a spyware free P2P client that connects to modern networks

  • Strong DC++

    Client for sharing files in Direct Connect network

  • MP3 Rocket Download

    Fast search and download 100 million virus-free songs for free

  • FileZilla

    Fast and reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client

  • Nexus Radio

    Search and download over 15 million songs directly to your PC

  • Netman

    Achieve remote control by simply inputting partner's IP displayed on Netman

  • UltraVNC

    Powerful, easy to use and free software that can display the screen of another computer

  • Capsa Network Analyzer Free Edition

    Free network analyzer for network monitoring and troubleshooting

Top Graphics freeware

  • IrfanView

    A fast free image viewer/converter for Windows

  • XnView

    Xnview is an easy to use graphics viewer/converter

  • Faststone Image Viewer

    Fast, stable, user-friendly image browser, converter and editor

  • Picasa

    Automatically finds and organizes all of your pictures

  • Photoscape

    Fun and easy image editing software with a number of useful features

  • Paint.Net

    Image and photo editing software that features an intuitive and innovative user interface

  • The GIMP

    Retouch photos, compose and author images

  • Photo Pos Lite

    User-friendly powerful multifunctional software offering a complete set of image editing tools

  • Tux Paint

    A drawing program for young children

  • ImageMagick for Windows

    ImageMagick is a software suite to create, edit, and compose bitmap images

  • Sweet Home 3D

    A free interior design application helping you placing your furniture

  • ProfiCAD

    Software for electrical diagrams, schematics and other technical documents

  • Easy Picture2Icon

    Tool for converting images or digital photos in to Windows icons

  • FastStone Photo Resizer

    Convert, resize, rename, rotate, crop, change color depth, add text and watermarks quickly

  • ExifTool

    Renames files and organizes in directories

  • Blender

    Rendering, animation, post-production, interactive creation, 3D modeling and playback

Top Desktop freeware

  • CamStudio

    Records screen activity from your Windows Desktop into standard AVI

  • PicPick

    Capture full screen, active window, window control, rectangular, fixed or freehand region

  • Dexpot

    Virtual desktops with well-organized interface and easy switching

  • VirtuaWin

    Virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system

  • Launchy

    Ultimate application launcher no matter what your operating system

  • Simdock

    SimDock is a fast and customizable dockbar for Linux

  • Dell Dock

    Organize your short cuts in a friendly manner to access easily from a dock

  • Talking Alarm Clock

    Uses Microsoft® Agent to remind you of events and appointments

  • AbAlarm

    A virtual and free alarm clock for your PC

  • Clock.NET

    A very useful clock utility that has many settings and features

  • QuickMonth Calendar

    Displays a calendar on the desktop whenever your mouse hovers over the clock in the system tray

  • Seven Remix XP

    Program designed to beautify the Window XP GUI

  • VirtuaGirl

    Girls dancing on your desktop. Completly free to use. New HD version

  • DesktopOK

    Save and restore the positions of icons on the desktop

  • DesktopCal

    Cool calendar placed on your Windows desktop

  • Icons8

    Icons collection in PNG format in multiple sizes

Top Development freeware

  • Eclipse SDK

    An open-source Java IDE and platform for rich client applications

  • KompoZer

    Complete web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG editor

  • HTML-Kit

    Full-featured editor and an IDE designed to help HTML, XHTML, XML and script authors

  • PSPad

    Programmers editor with support for multiple syntax highlighting profiles

  • Notepad++

    Complete source code editor and Notepad replacement

  • Hxd

    Fast hex editor, raw disk and RAM editing, handles files of any size

  • AnySQL Maestro

    Universal admin tool for management, control and development of any database engine

  • DBEdit 2

    Database editor, suitable as front-end for all your relational databases - Oracle, DB2, MySQL ...

  • SQLite2009 Pro Enterprise Manager

    Enables you to manage your SQLite3 databases

  • Replace Text

    Replacements in individual files, in a group of files, or indeed every file in a folder

  • Color Cop

    Light multi-purpose color picker for web designers and programmers

  • Inno Setup

    Installer for programs, support for all versions of Windows in use today

  • Turbo C++

    Free C++ compiler from Borland with an IDE and debugger

  • Free Pascal

    Free Pascal (aka FPK Pascal) is a 32 and 64 bit professional Pascal compiler

  • Armadillo

    C++ matrix library designed with optional interface to LAPACK and ATLAS libraries

Top Games freeware

  • Yukon Solitaire

    Yukon Solitaire combines elements from Klondike Solitaire and Freecell Solitaire

  • Ancient Gems

    Mini-game puzzles, amazing background scenes, 100 Match-3 levels

  • Just Sudoku

    Play lots of free Sudoku puzzles on your PC without using pen and paper

  • LANPoker

    Play Texas Hold'em No-Limit over LAN and Internet

  • Mortal Kombat

    Mortal Kombat is a popular series of fighting games, released first time in 1992

  • Arena

    Graphical User Interface (GUI) for chess programs (engines)

  • FlightGear

    An open-source flight simulator

  • Poker Mania

    Simulates all the fun and action of Vegas-style video poker machines

  • Multiplayer Backgammon

    Your goal in this game is to move all your pieces in counterclockwise direction

  • Pacman 2005

    New version that will satisfy young and old alike

  • Free FreeCell Solitaire

    Completely free collection of 4 great solitaire games

  • Cross Fire

    Online military first-person shooter for the PC

  • Counter-Strike 2D

    2D conversion of the popular game Counter-Strike

  • Memory III

    Play with colorful balls in the third round of memory training

  • MAME

    Arcade Machine Emulator that recognizes over six thousand game ROM sets

  • GameEx

    A graphical DirectX based front-end for MAME, Zinc, Daphne, PC Games

  • Cheat Engine

    Open source tool designed to help you with modifying games

  • ArtMoney

    Free Universal Game Cheater for All games

  • Tunngle

    Comes to hosting and joining multi-player games that support a local network style of game play

The best freeware blog posts

The Best Free Software - Part 1
Anti-virus Tools: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 , Avira AntiVir Personal , Comodo Internet Security, Microsoft Security Essentials , Avast! Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, Spybot + Search & Destroy
System Utilities: Absolute Uninstaller, 7-zip
Security: ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

The Best Free Software - Part 2
Office: OpenOffice, DropBox, FoxIt reader, doPDF, Evernote, CDBurnerXP
Productivity: Fences, Rainlendar Lite, VirtuaWin, Launchy

The Best Free Software - Part 3
CD/DVD Tools: ImgBurn, bitRipper, CDex, DVDShrink
Pictures and Photos: Paint.NET, FastStone Image Viewer,IrfanView, GIMP, PhotoScape, Google Picasa
Backup Tools: FBackup, EASEUS Todo Backup Home, Clonezilla, SyncBack Freeware
Download Managers: uTorrent, Deluge, YouTube Downloader HD

The Best Free Software - Part 4
Network Monitoring / Firewall: PC Tools Firewall Plus 7, Online Armor Free, Comodo Firewall, Ashampoo FireWall Free
File & Disk Management: Auslogics Disk Defrag, Defraggler, IObit Smart Defrag
Recovery: Recuva, FreeUndelete, ADRC Data Recovery
Uninstall: Revo Uninstaller Free, IObit Uninstaller
System: Glary Utilities, CCleaner, IObit Toolbox
File Compression: Universal Extractor, IZArc, PeaZip

The Best Free Software - Part 5
Internet Browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera
E-mail: Thunderbird, Postbox Express, Gmail Notifier
Communication: Skype, Pidgin, Digsby