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Finding affordable and effective software solutions is essential for both any business. Unfortunately, many software giants have hiked prices over the years, leading SMEs to seek cheaper and alternative solutions.
Fortunately, there are lots of free alternative software solutions available, of which many rival or even surpass their paid counterparts in terms of functionality and ease of use.
Here, we explore a variety of free software options across different categories, ensuring that you can find the right tool for your needs without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re a professional designer or a casual photographer, having the right image editing software is crucial.
Here are some of our favourite free options:
Photopea is an online photo editor that works directly in your browser. It supports various formats, including PSD, making it an excellent alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
Features: Layers, filters, masks, and blending modes.
Platform: Web-based (Online and local web app).
Krita is a powerful digital painting application designed for artists. It offers a range of tools for drawing, painting, and creating intricate artwork.
Features: Brush stabilisers, pop-up palette, and advanced resource manager.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a versatile image editor suitable for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.
Features: Customisable interface, photo enhancement, digital retouching, and support for various plugins.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
RawTherapee is an advanced photo editing tool primarily aimed at raw image processing. It’s perfect for photographers looking to enhance their raw images.
Features: High-quality image processing, colour management, and batch processing.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
For seamless playback of various video formats, these free video players are top contenders:
VLC is a highly versatile media player that can handle almost any video format you throw at it. It’s known for its robustness and extensive format support.
Features: Supports numerous file formats, streaming capabilities, and customisable interface.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Media Player Classic – BE (Black Edition) is a free and open-source video and audio player for Windows.
Features: Lightweight, supports a wide range of formats, and customisable.
Platform: Windows.
mpv is a free, open-source, and cross-platform media player that is highly configurable and scriptable.
Features: High-quality video output, minimalistic interface, and support for various video and audio formats.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Efficient file compression tools are essential for managing large files. Here are two excellent free options:
7-Zip is a popular file archiver known for its high compression ratio.
Features: Supports various file formats, strong AES-256 encryption, and integration with Windows Shell.
Platform: Windows, with unofficial ports for other systems.
PeaZip is a free archiver tool that supports a wide range of file formats and offers a user-friendly interface.
Features: Extracts over 180 file formats, secure file deletion, and archive encryption.
Platform: Windows, Linux.
For those who need speech-to-text capabilities, consider this free solution:
LilySpeech is a free speech recognition software that allows you to dictate text.
Features: High accuracy works with any application, and supports multiple languages.
Platform: Windows.
Creating and editing videos is made easier with these free video editing tools:
OpenShot is an easy-to-use, free video editor that offers a range of features for beginners and professionals alike.
Features: Unlimited tracks, video effects, 3D animations, and keyframe animation.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Olive is a free, open-source video editor that’s currently in alpha, but it shows great promise with its feature set.
Features: Non-linear editing, real-time preview, and multi-track timeline.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Kdenlive
Kdenlive is a powerful video editor that offers a comprehensive set of features for video editing.
Features: Multi-track editing, configurable interface, and wide format support.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade video editing software that offers both free and paid versions. The free version is packed with features.
Features: Advanced colour correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux (Note: Some features may require an account and may be pay-walled).
Shotcut
Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor that’s known for its simplicity and wide range of features.
Features: Native timeline editing, support for various formats, and extensive video and audio filters.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
For audio recording and editing, these free software options are excellent choices:
Audacity is a popular, free, open-source audio editor and recorder.
Features: Multi-track editing, support for various audio formats, and a range of effects and plugins.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
ocenaudio is a user-friendly, cross-platform audio editor that is perfect for daily use.
Features: Real-time preview of effects, support for large files, and multiple selection editing.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Finding the right software doesn’t always mean spending money. With these free alternatives, you can handle a wide range of tasks from image and video editing to file compression and design.
We hope you found value in this blog post and if you give any of our suggestions a try, let us know what you think.